Origin
Atwood, IL
Afternoon in Atwood on Sunday
Local time
4:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Atwood, IL to Waukegan, IL
Drive Time
4h 11m
Distance
209.6 mi
337 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 58m
★
6 AM
4h 11m
8 AM
4h 37m
10 AM
4h 20m
12 PM
4h 18m
3 PM
4h 22m
5 PM
4h 36m
8 PM
4h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atwood, IL
Mike Tyurin
Trip Overview
Traveling from Atwood to Waukegan covers approximately 209.6 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 11 minutes of driving time. Because this route is manageable within a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budget roughly $31 for fuel to complete the trip comfortably. You will be traversing the Illinois landscape, moving from the central part of the state toward the northern region near the coast. This journey is straightforward enough for a quick getaway, offering a clear connection between these two Midwest locations.
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
104.8 miles from Atwood, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route relies on a mix of local roads like County Road 950 North and East Southline Road. While you will utilize I-57 North to make progress, the highway share is 0% of the total distance, meaning you should be prepared for frequent turns and navigating local infrastructure. There is no long-haul uninterrupted stretch, as the longest segment remains 0 miles on County Road 950 North. Consequently, you should stay alert behind the wheel, as the road conditions demand constant attention compared to a standard high-speed highway experience.
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.
County Road 950 North 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 11m 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 Atwood, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Edens Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Skokie Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
County Road 950 North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atwood, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left onto County Road 950 North
9.2 mi
·
13 min
·
County Road 950 North
3
Continue on East Southline Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Southline Road
4
Continue on County Road 950 North
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road 950 North
5
Take the ramp slight left toward I-57 North: Champaign
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I-57 North: Champaign
6
Merge slight left
147 mi
·
2 hr 42 min
7
Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
8
Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
9
Continue on Kennedy Expressway
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
10
Continue on Edens Expressway
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
11
Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
12
Continue on Skokie Valley Road
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
13
Continue on South Skokie Highway
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
South Skokie Highway
14
Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
IL 120 East
15
Turn straight onto Belvidere Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Belvidere Road
16
Continue on Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
17
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
18
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy drive, plan to depart early in the day to ensure you reach Waukegan before fatigue sets in from navigating local roads. You only need to build in one stop to manage the 4-hour and 11-minute duration effectively. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between County Road 950 North and the other local connectors, as the lack of highway stretches means you will be making frequent adjustments to your route. Flexibility is your best asset here, so don't hesitate to pull over for a break if the local turns become repetitive. Given the $31 fuel estimate, filling up your tank before you leave Atwood will help you avoid searching for stations during the more rural portions of your drive.
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 104.8 miles from Atwood, IL, or about 2h 5m 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 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.8 miles or 2h 5m 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 25m
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 Atwood, 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 Atwood, IL
This is one driving day of about 209.6 miles and 4h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Atwood, 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 104.8 mi from Atwood, IL · 2h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 104.8 miles from Atwood, 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
$31.84 one way
$63.67 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $35.10 | $70.19 |
| premium | $4.80 | $39.57 | $79.14 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $46.57 | $93.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.9 | 0 | $22.01 | $10.06 |
| Efficient EV | 52.4 | 0 | $18.34 | $8.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.8 | 1 | $29.34 | $13.41 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Afternoon in Waukegan on Sunday
Local time
4:21 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 11m 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 Atwood, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 209.6 miles and takes about 4h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are County Road 950 North, East Southline Road, I-57 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 104.8 miles from Atwood, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.84 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 11m 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 Atwood, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Atwood, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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