Origin
Bridgeport, IL
Afternoon in Bridgeport on Friday
Local time
1:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bridgeport, IL to Waukegan, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 23m
Distance
304.1 mi
489 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 11m
★
6 AM
6h 24m
8 AM
6h 49m
10 AM
6h 33m
12 PM
6h 30m
3 PM
6h 34m
5 PM
6h 48m
8 PM
6h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bridgeport, IL
Andreas Staver
Trip Overview
The drive from Bridgeport, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 304.1 miles and takes about 6h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 5th Street, Judy Avenue, 800E for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.54 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
152 miles from Bridgeport, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 11m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 23m. Total distance: 304.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 23m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 23m drive with frequent turns across 304.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
5th Street 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.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 23m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bridgeport, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 5th Street | — | — |
| Judy Avenue | — | — |
| 800E | — | — |
| East Main Street | — | — |
| North Lincoln Avenue | — | — |
| East Butler Street | — | — |
| North West Street | — | — |
| County Road 1100 East | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
5th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bridgeport, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto 5th Street
26 ft
·
3 sec
·
5th Street
3
Turn left onto Judy Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Judy Avenue
4
Continue on 800E
0.9 mi
·
3 min
·
800E
5
Turn left
16 mi
·
21 min
6
Turn right onto East Main Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
7
Turn right onto North Lincoln Avenue
482 ft
·
19 sec
·
North Lincoln Avenue
8
Turn left onto East Butler Street
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
East Butler Street
9
Turn right onto North West Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North West Street
10
Continue on County Road 1100 East
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
County Road 1100 East
11
Continue on South Van Buren Street
11 mi
·
15 min
·
South Van Buren Street
12
Turn right
36 mi
·
53 min
13
Turn left onto Lincoln Avenue
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Lincoln Avenue
14
Continue on Illinois Route 16
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Illinois Route 16
15
Continue on Charleston Avenue East
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Charleston Avenue East
16
Take the ramp slight right toward I-57 North: Champaign
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I-57 North: Champaign
17
Merge slight left
169 mi
·
3 hr 5 min
18
Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
19
Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
20
Continue on Kennedy Expressway
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
21
Continue on Edens Expressway
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
22
Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
23
Continue on Skokie Valley Road
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
24
Continue on South Skokie Highway
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
South Skokie Highway
25
Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
IL 120 East
26
Turn straight onto Belvidere Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Belvidere Road
27
Continue on Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
28
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
29
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
30
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 152 miles from Bridgeport, IL, or about 3h 11m 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 67 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152 miles or 3h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 14m
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 Bridgeport, 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 Bridgeport, IL
This is one driving day of about 304.1 miles and 6h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Bridgeport, 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 152 mi from Bridgeport, IL · 3h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
152 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 67 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 152 miles from Bridgeport, 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
$47.54 one way
$95.09 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
106 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $52.20 | $104.40 |
| premium | $4.89 | $58.52 | $117.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $67.14 | $134.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 91.2 | 1 | $31.93 | $14.60 |
| Efficient EV | 76 | 0 | $26.61 | $12.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 121.6 | 1 | $42.57 | $19.46 |
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Friday
Local time
1:02 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
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
6h 23m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bridgeport, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 304.1 miles and takes about 6h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 5th Street, Judy Avenue, 800E. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 152 miles from Bridgeport, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.54 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 23m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bridgeport, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bridgeport, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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