How far is Harvard, IL from Aurora, IL?

The driving distance from Harvard, IL to Aurora, IL is about 56.9 miles (91.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 48.2 miles (77.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 38m 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
56.83 mi
01h 19m
Flight
48.13 mi
77.46 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Harvard.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
48.13 mi
Kilometers
77.46 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
56.83 mi
Kilometers
91.46 km
Drive Time
01h 19m

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 01h 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Aurora
Wed, Apr 22, 8:57 PM CDT
Return by in Harvard
Wed, Apr 22, 10:16 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Harvard
2026-04-22T19:38
Arrive Aurora
Wed, Apr 22, 8:57 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:19 AM to 11:19 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:52 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Harvard
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
Salina
IL

Township of Illinois

From Harvard
28.4 mi
00h 39m
To Aurora
28.5 mi
00h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E
Destination
75°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Harvard and Aurora.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Harvard and Aurora.

  1. 1

    Start on North Division Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · North Division Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto State Route 23

    10.6 mi · 16 min · State Route 23

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Grant Highway

    4.4 mi · 6 min · East Grant Highway

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Grant Highway

    33 m · 2 sec · East Grant Highway

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto East Grant Highway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · East Grant Highway

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Grant Highway

    35 m · 2 sec · East Grant Highway

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto East Grant Highway

    1.1 km · 55 sec · East Grant Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

    2.8 mi · 4 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on Brier Hill Road

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Brier Hill Road

  10. 10

    Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Turn right

    4.9 mi · 7 min

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    39 m · 2 sec

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout

    2.4 mi · 4 min

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    33 m · 2 sec

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout

    10.8 mi · 16 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    1 mi · 2 min

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    2700 ft · 44 sec

  18. 18

    Take the exit left toward I 88 East Toll: Chicago

    1417 ft · 35 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    7 mi · 8 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  20. 20

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

    2953 ft · 1 min

  21. 21

    Turn right onto South Lincolnway Street

    1904 ft · 53 sec · South Lincolnway Street

  22. 22

    Continue on North Lake Street

    2.2 mi · 5 min · North Lake Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard

    575 ft · 10 sec · West Galena Boulevard

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Galena Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Harvard and Aurora.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
24 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
1 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
42.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
19.2 mi · 34%
State Route 23
10.6 mi · 19%
East Grant Highway
8.4 mi · 15%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
6.99 mi · 12%
North Lake Street
2.17 mi · 4%
Brier Hill Road
1.64 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Exit the roundabout

10.8 mi · 00h 16m

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
01h 19m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.7 mi
48.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Salina
00h 39m from Harvard
Leave By
3:52 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Harvard and Sunny near Aurora.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Harvard to Aurora?

The road trip is about 56.9 miles (91.5 km) and usually takes 01h 19m 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?

Salina is a useful midpoint, sitting about 28.4 miles from Harvard and 28.5 miles from Aurora.

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

The direct path is about 48.2 miles (77.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.7 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 3:52 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.58 one way or $15.16 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Harvard and Sunny near Aurora.

Stop Ideas Near Salina

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Salina, 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 Salina.

RAIL

Naperville

41 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Plano

43 mi away
101 West Main Street
BUS

Rockford, Illinois

47 mi away
7559 Walton St.
RAIL

Glenview station

57 mi away
1116 Depot St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Harvard and Aurora. Straight-line distance: 48.13 mi (77.46 km).

Harvard

#1 Harvard

Private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Population8,979
Coordinates42.4222400, -88.6137100
Altitude292
CountryUnited States
Aurora

#2 Aurora

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population196,383
Coordinates41.7605800, -88.3200700
Altitude207
CountryUnited States
Start: North Division Street (-88.613506, 42.422242)
End: West Galena Boulevard (-88.320111, 41.76053)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 91 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 56m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.01 gal
7.59 L · about $7.58
Round trip
$15.16
4.02 gal · 15.18 L
Estimated CO2
17.9 kg one way
Round trip: 35.7 kg / 79 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $7.58 $15.16
Mid-grade $4.25 $8.55 $17.10
Premium $4.65 $9.35 $18.71
Diesel $5.30 $10.66 $21.32

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Harvard and Aurora. The current time is 19:38:03.

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.