How far is Knox, IL from Aurora, IL?

The driving distance from Knox, IL to Aurora, IL is about 164.9 miles (265.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 115.5 miles (185.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 12m 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
164.91 mi
02h 36m
Flight
115.46 mi
185.81 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Knox.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
115.46 mi
Kilometers
185.81 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
164.91 mi
Kilometers
265.4 km
Drive Time
02h 36m

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 02h 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Aurora
Thu, Apr 23, 11:17 AM CDT
Return by in Knox
Thu, Apr 23, 1:53 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Knox
2026-04-23T08:41
Arrive Aurora
Thu, Apr 23, 11:17 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:36 AM to 12:36 PM CDT

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

Leave by
1:18 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Knox
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Round Grove
IL

Township in Livingston County, Illinois

From Knox
83.8 mi
01h 18m
To Aurora
81.1 mi
01h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 22 mph S
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Knox Station Road

    45 m · 10 sec · Knox Station Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Mine Road

    2682 ft · 2 min · Mine Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Knox Road 1020 E

    1.4 mi · 5 min · Knox Road 1020 E

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right toward I 74 West: Galesburg

    1921 ft · 47 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    39.3 mi · 42 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    6.3 mi · 7 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls

    116.7 mi · 2 hr 6 min

  8. 8

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

    2953 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Turn right onto South Lincolnway Street

    1904 ft · 53 sec · South Lincolnway Street

  10. 10

    Continue on North Lake Street

    2.2 mi · 5 min · North Lake Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard

    575 ft · 10 sec · West Galena Boulevard

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Galena Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Knox 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
12 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 88 East
117 mi · 71%
I 74 West
39.7 mi · 24%
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
6.29 mi · 4%
North Lake Street
2.17 mi · 1%
Knox Road 1020 E
1.35 mi · 1%
IL 31 East
0.56 mi
Longest Stretch

I 88 East

Take the exit slight right toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls

117 mi · 02h 06m

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
02h 36m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+49.4 mi
115.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Round Grove
01h 18m from Knox
Leave By
1:18 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Knox and Mostly Sunny near Aurora.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 164.9 miles (265.4 km) and usually takes 02h 36m 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?

Round Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 83.8 miles from Knox and 81.1 miles from Aurora.

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

The direct path is about 115.5 miles (185.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.4 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 1:18 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.95 one way or $43.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Knox and Mostly Sunny near Aurora.

Stop Ideas Near Round Grove

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Round 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 Round Grove.

RAIL

Princeton

56 mi away
107 Bicentennial Dr.
RAIL

Kewanee

60 mi away
Loomis and North Tremont Sts.
BUS

Moline, Illinois

64 mi away
1200 River Drive
BUS

Rock Island, IL

64 mi away
3500 5th Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Knox and Aurora. Straight-line distance: 115.46 mi (185.81 km).

Knox

#1 Knox

County seat of Knox County, Tennessee, United States; third-largest city in Tennessee

Population2,692
Coordinates40.9342000, -90.2548500
Altitude201
CountryUnited States
Aurora

#2 Aurora

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population196,383
Coordinates41.7605800, -88.3200700
Altitude207
CountryUnited States
Start: Knox Station Road (-90.255018, 40.934202)
End: West Galena Boulevard (-88.320111, 41.76053)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 265 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 17m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.82 gal
22.03 L · about $21.95
Round trip
$43.89
11.64 gal · 44.06 L
Estimated CO2
51.7 kg one way
Round trip: 103.4 kg / 228 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $21.95 $43.89
Mid-grade $4.25 $24.75 $49.50
Premium $4.65 $27.09 $54.17
Diesel $5.30 $30.87 $61.74

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 Knox and Aurora. The current time is 08:41:21.

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.