How far is Des Plaines, IL from North Aurora, IL?

The driving distance from Des Plaines, IL to North Aurora, IL is about 37.7 miles (60.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 27.7 miles (44.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 43m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
37.63 mi
00h 51m
Flight
27.7 mi
44.58 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Des Plaines.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
27.7 mi
Kilometers
44.58 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
37.63 mi
Kilometers
60.56 km
Drive Time
00h 51m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in North Aurora
Sat, Jul 25, 8:03 PM CDT
Return by in Des Plaines
Sat, Jul 25, 8:55 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Des Plaines
2026-07-25T19:11
Arrive North Aurora
Sat, Jul 25, 8:03 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:52 AM to 10:52 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:46 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Des Plaines
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Downers Grove
IL

Village in Downers Grove, Lisle, and York Townships, DuPage County, Illinois, US

From Des Plaines
18.8 mi
00h 25m
To North Aurora
18.8 mi
00h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
This Afternoon

Cloudy

Starts
Sat, Jul 25 3:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph SW
Destination
78°F
This Afternoon

Cloudy

Starts
Sat, Jul 25 3:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Des Plaines and North Aurora.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Des Plaines and North Aurora.

  1. 1

    Start on Henry Avenue

    557 ft · 25 sec · Henry Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · South Des Plaines River Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 294 South: Indiana

    2265 ft · 55 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    8.9 mi · 12 min · Tri-State Tollway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana

    1.5 km · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1251 ft · 31 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  7. 7

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1937 ft · 47 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 88 West Toll: Aurora

    2633 ft · 50 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    1.2 km · 60 sec · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    22.1 mi · 27 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 31, IL 56 East

    3280 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Turn left onto South Lincolnway Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · South Lincolnway Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto West State Street

    21 m · 3 sec · West State Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West State Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Des Plaines and North Aurora.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
14 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
37.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
22.8 mi · 61%
Tri-State Tollway
10 mi · 27%
South Des Plaines River Road
1.77 mi · 5%
South Lincolnway Street
0.87 mi · 2%
IL 31
0.62 mi · 2%
I 88 West Toll
0.5 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

22.1 mi · 00h 27m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10 mi
27.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Downers Grove
00h 25m from Des Plaines
Leave By
4:46 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Cloudy leaving Des Plaines and Cloudy near North Aurora.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Des Plaines to North Aurora?

The road trip is about 37.7 miles (60.6 km) and usually takes 00h 51m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Downers Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.8 miles from Des Plaines and 18.8 miles from North Aurora.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 27.7 miles (44.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 10 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:46 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.02 one way or $10.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Cloudy around Des Plaines and Cloudy near North Aurora.

Stop Ideas Near Downers Grove

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Downers Grove, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Downers Grove.

RAIL

La Grange Road

12 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Naperville

12 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Summit

17 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

32 mi away
225 South Canal Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Des Plaines and North Aurora. Straight-line distance: 27.7 mi (44.58 km).

Des Plaines

#1 Des Plaines

The most populous city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population58,179
Coordinates42.0333600, -87.8834000
Altitude193
CountryUnited States
North Aurora

#2 North Aurora

City in Illinois, United States of America

Population18,144
Coordinates41.8061400, -88.3273000
Altitude207
CountryUnited States
Start: Des Plaines (-87.8834, 42.03336)
End: North Aurora (-88.3273, 41.80614)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 61 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.33 gal
5.03 L · about $5.02
Round trip
$10.03
2.66 gal · 10.06 L
Estimated CO2
11.8 kg one way
Round trip: 23.6 kg / 52 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $5.02 $10.03
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.66 $11.31
Premium $4.65 $6.19 $12.38
Diesel $5.30 $7.05 $14.11

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · Jul 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Des Plaines and North Aurora. The current time is 19:11:48.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.