Trip from Arthur, IL to Waukegan, IL

Drive Time

4h 19m

Distance

215.1 mi

346 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 40 min

4 AM

4h 6m ★

6 AM

4h 19m

8 AM

4h 46m

10 AM

4h 28m

12 PM

4h 26m

3 PM

4h 30m

5 PM

4h 44m

8 PM

4h 11m

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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Arthur, IL

Stéphane Tendon

Trip Overview

Traveling from Arthur to Waukegan spans 215.1 miles across the Illinois Midwest, a journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 19 minutes. Because this route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it is best suited for a single, focused day trip. You should budget approximately $32 for fuel to cover the distance. While the drive is manageable in one stint, the turn-heavy nature of the path means you will need to stay alert throughout the journey. It is a straightforward trek through the heart of the state, connecting the rural landscapes of Arthur to the northern reaches of Waukegan.

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

107.5 miles from Arthur, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that trades high-speed highway cruising for a more deliberate pace. With a highway share of 0%, you will spend your time navigating North County Road 000 East, Route 36, and County Road 950 North. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on North County Road 000 East, meaning you will be managing turns and intersections consistently rather than settling into a cruise-control rhythm. This profile makes for a hands-on driving experience where the road surface and navigation require your full attention. It is a departure from the typical interstate grind, offering a more intimate look at the local road network.

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

There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

North County Road 000 East 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 19m 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 Arthur, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North County Road 000 East	Unavailable	Refreshing
Route 36	Unavailable	Refreshing
County Road 950 North	Unavailable	Refreshing
East Southline Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
I-57 North	Unavailable	Refreshing
Dan Ryan Expressway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)	Unavailable	Refreshing
Kennedy Expressway	Unavailable	Refreshing

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

Longest stretch: North County Road 000 East — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on South Vine Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Vine Street

Continue on North County Road 000 East

4.6 mi · 6 min · North County Road 000 East

At the end of the road, turn right onto United States Route 36

0.6 mi · 52 sec · United States Route 36

Continue on County Road 950 North

9.3 mi · 13 min · County Road 950 North

Continue on East Southline Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Southline Road

Continue on County Road 950 North

0.8 mi · 1 min · County Road 950 North

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

0.5 mi · 1 min · I-57 North: Champaign

Merge slight left

147 mi · 2 hr 42 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 dedicated stop to break up the 4-hour and 19-minute travel time. Since you are relying entirely on local roads, leave with plenty of daylight to navigate the frequent turns safely. Check your fuel levels before departing Arthur, as you will need about $32 to complete the 215.1-mile trek. Given the technical nature of the road, prioritize a morning departure to avoid navigating unfamiliar local intersections after dark. A helpful tip for this specific route is to keep your GPS active at all times, as the transition between North County Road 000 East, Route 36, and County Road 950 North requires precise navigation.

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 107.5 miles from Arthur, IL, or about 2h 9m 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 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 107.5 miles or 2h 9m 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 32m

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 Arthur, 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 Arthur, IL

This is one driving day of about 215.1 miles and 4h 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Arthur, 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 107.5 mi from Arthur, IL · 2h 9m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Addison, IL

108 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

Addison, IL

Fuel and coffee

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

Addison, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 107.5 miles from Arthur, 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

$32.67 one way

$65.34 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 75 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$36.02	$72.03
premium	$4.80	$40.61	$81.21
diesel	$5.64	$47.79	$95.58

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: 75.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	64.5	0	$22.59	$10.32
Efficient EV	53.8	0	$18.82	$8.60
EV Truck/SUV	86	1	$30.11	$13.77

Gas CO2

75 kg

EV CO2

25 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 3 days ago

Origin

Arthur, IL

Evening in Arthur on Sunday

Local time

5:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Evening in Waukegan on Sunday

Local time

5:34 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 19m 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 Arthur, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 215.1 miles and takes about 4h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North County Road 000 East, Route 36, County Road 950 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 107.5 miles from Arthur, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.67 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 19m 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 Arthur, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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