Origin
Blackhawk, IL
Afternoon in Blackhawk on Wednesday
Local time
3:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blackhawk, IL to Waukegan, IL
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
3h 2m
Distance
178.3 mi
287 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 51m
★
6 AM
3h 2m
8 AM
3h 25m
10 AM
3h 10m
12 PM
3h 8m
3 PM
3h 12m
5 PM
3h 24m
8 PM
2h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blackhawk, IL
Derek Keats
Trip Overview
The drive from Blackhawk, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 178.3 miles and takes about 3h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Army Depot Road, Washington Street, U for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.88 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
89.2 miles from Blackhawk, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 2m drive with frequent turns across 178.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Army Depot 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Blackhawk, IL to Waukegan, IL is easy. At 3h 2m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Blackhawk, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Army Depot Road | — | — |
| Washington Street | — | — |
| U | — | — |
| Madison Street | — | — |
| West Diagonal Street | — | — |
| North Main Street | — | — |
| East Woodbine Street | — | — |
| West North Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Army Depot Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blackhawk, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on Blackhawk Trail
335 ft
·
16 sec
·
Blackhawk Trail
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Army Depot Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Army Depot Road
3
Turn sharp left
6.6 mi
·
9 min
4
At the end of the road, turn right onto Washington Street
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Washington Street
5
At the end of the road, turn right onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
6
Continue on Madison Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Street
7
Continue on West Diagonal Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
West Diagonal Street
8
Continue on North Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
9
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
10
Continue on East Woodbine Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Woodbine Street
11
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
12
Continue on West North Avenue
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West North Avenue
13
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
33 mi
·
41 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
14
Continue on West State Road
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
West State Road
15
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
14 mi
·
16 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
16
Take the exit slight right toward US 20 East: Belvedere
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 20 East: Belvedere
17
Keep slight right to continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
14 mi
·
20 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
18
Continue on West Grant Highway
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
West Grant Highway
19
Turn left onto South State Street
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South State Street
20
Turn right onto Telegraph Street
9.0 mi
·
13 min
·
Telegraph Street
21
Turn right
0.8 mi
·
1 min
22
Turn left
7.1 mi
·
12 min
23
Turn left
5.1 mi
·
8 min
24
Turn right onto Bull Valley Road
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Bull Valley Road
25
Continue on Charles J Miller Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Charles J Miller Road
26
At the end of the road, turn left onto South River Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South River Road
27
Continue on Chapel Hill Road
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
Chapel Hill Road
28
Turn slight right
207 ft
·
6 sec
29
Turn straight onto West Elm Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Elm Street
30
Continue on Rand Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Rand Road
31
Continue on West Belvidere Road
10 mi
·
16 min
·
West Belvidere Road
32
Continue on Belvidere Road
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Belvidere Road
33
Continue on Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
34
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
35
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
36
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 89.2 miles from Blackhawk, IL, or about 1h 31m 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 39 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.2 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 29m
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 Blackhawk, 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 Blackhawk, IL
This is one driving day of about 178.3 miles and 3h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Blackhawk, 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 89.2 mi from Blackhawk, IL · 1h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
89 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 89.2 miles from Blackhawk, 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
$27.88 one way
$55.75 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $30.61 | $61.21 |
| premium | $4.89 | $34.31 | $68.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.37 | $78.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.5 | 0 | $18.72 | $8.56 |
| Efficient EV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.60 | $7.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.3 | 0 | $24.96 | $11.41 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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 Wednesday
Local time
3:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
4 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
3h 2m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Blackhawk, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 178.3 miles and takes about 3h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Army Depot Road, Washington Street, U. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 89.2 miles from Blackhawk, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.88 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Blackhawk, IL to Waukegan, IL is easy. At 3h 2m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Blackhawk, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Blackhawk, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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