Trip from Arcola, IL to Waukegan, IL

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

4h 4m

Distance

207.9 mi

335 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

3h 52m ★

6 AM

4h 5m

8 AM

4h 31m

10 AM

4h 14m

12 PM

4h 11m

3 PM

4h 15m

5 PM

4h 30m

8 PM

3h 57m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Arcola, IL

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Trip Overview

Traveling from Arcola to Waukegan spans 207.9 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 4 minutes to complete. Because this journey fits comfortably into a single day, you can easily manage it without an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via East Springfield Road, E County Road 200 N, and I-57 North. Budgeting approximately $31 for fuel should cover your transit costs across the Illinois heartland. This route is a practical connection between central and northern Illinois, making it a straightforward trip for those heading toward the Chicago suburbs. Whether you are driving for business or visiting family, the direct nature of this path keeps your travel time predictable.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

103.9 miles from Arcola, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route relies on local roads rather than high-speed highway stretches. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a more involved driving experience compared to standard freeway travel. There is no significant uninterrupted stretch on East Springfield Road, meaning you will be navigating constant changes in direction. This profile makes for a hands-on trip, so stay alert as you transition between the smaller local roads and the primary transit corridors.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

East Springfield Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 4m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Arcola, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
East Springfield Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
E County Road 200 N	Unavailable	Refreshing
I-57 North	Unavailable	Refreshing
Dan Ryan Expressway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)	Unavailable	Refreshing
Kennedy Expressway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Edens Expressway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Skokie Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: East Springfield Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arcola, IL and Waukegan, IL.

Start on North Locust Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · North Locust Street

Turn left onto East Springfield Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Springfield Road

Continue on E County Road 200 N

0.3 mi · 28 sec · E County Road 200 N

Take the ramp slight left toward I-57 North: Champaign

466 ft · 14 sec · I-57 North: Champaign

Turn left onto I-57 North: Champaign

0.3 mi · 37 sec · I-57 North: Champaign

Merge slight left

155 mi · 2 hr 50 min

Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

3.3 mi · 4 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

7.9 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

Continue on Kennedy Expressway

8.2 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway

Continue on Edens Expressway

14 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway

3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

Continue on Skokie Valley Road

3.4 mi · 3 min · Skokie Valley Road

Continue on South Skokie Highway

8.2 mi · 10 min · South Skokie Highway

Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East

0.3 mi · 36 sec · IL 120 East

Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Belvidere Road

Continue on Belvidere Street

1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

Turn left onto South Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Jackson Street

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one stop during the 207.9-mile journey to break up the local road segments. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy for avoiding traffic congestion as you move toward your destination. Since this is a turn-heavy route, double-check your GPS navigation before you pull out of Arcola to ensure you stay on the correct path through the local road network. Keep your fuel budget of $31 in mind while planning your stops, as local roads may offer fewer refueling options than major interstates. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, allowing you to pace your travel according to your own comfort level.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 103.9 miles from Arcola, IL, or about 2h 2m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 103.9 miles or 2h 2m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waukegan, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Arcola, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Arcola, IL

This is one driving day of about 207.9 miles and 4h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Arcola, IL.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 103.9 mi from Arcola, IL · 2h 2m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Orland Park, IL

104 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Joliet, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Orland Park, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 103.9 miles from Arcola, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Waukegan, IL

The final approach into Waukegan, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Waukegan, IL.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$32.50 one way

$65.01 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 73 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$35.69	$71.37
premium	$4.89	$40.01	$80.02
diesel	$5.61	$45.90	$91.80

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 72.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	62.4	0	$21.83	$9.98
Efficient EV	52	0	$18.19	$8.32
EV Truck/SUV	83.2	1	$29.11	$13.31

Gas CO2

73 kg

EV CO2

24 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Arcola, IL

Afternoon in Arcola on Tuesday

Local time

3:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Afternoon in Waukegan on Tuesday

Local time

3:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

12 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 4m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Arcola, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 207.9 miles and takes about 4h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are East Springfield Road, E County Road 200 N, I-57 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 103.9 miles from Arcola, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.50 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a straightforward 4h 4m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Arcola, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Arcola, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.