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Trip from Calumet, IL to Waukegan, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 7m

Distance

53.3 mi

86 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 2m ★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 4m

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

Downtown Calumet, IL, IL

Calumet, IL

Claudia Solano

Trip Overview

The drive from Calumet, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 53.3 miles and takes about 1h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East 92nd Street, I 90 West, Chicago Skyway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.33 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

26.6 miles from Calumet, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 33m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 7m drive with frequent turns across 53.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East 92nd 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. 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 Calumet, IL to Waukegan, IL is easy. At 1h 7m 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 Calumet, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East 92nd Street
I 90 West
Chicago Skyway
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Kennedy Expressway
Edens Expressway
Skokie Highway
Skokie Valley Road

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: East 92nd Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Commercial Avenue

0.2 mi · 31 sec · South Commercial Avenue
2

Turn right onto East 92nd Street

0.2 mi · 35 sec · East 92nd Street
3

Take the ramp right toward I 90 West: Chicago Skyway

0.3 mi · 37 sec · I 90 West: Chicago Skyway
4

Merge slight left onto Chicago Skyway

0.3 mi · 34 sec · Chicago Skyway
5

Turn straight onto Chicago Skyway

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Chicago Skyway
6

Merge slight left onto Chicago Skyway

4.1 mi · 6 min · Chicago Skyway
7

Keep slight left to continue on Chicago Skyway

0.4 mi · 31 sec · Chicago Skyway
8

Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

7.2 mi · 10 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

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 26.6 miles from Calumet, IL, or about 33m 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 12 miles or 15m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 26.6 miles or 33m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 57m

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 Calumet, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Calumet, IL

This is one driving day of about 53.3 miles and 1h 7m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 12 miles from Calumet, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 26.6 mi from Calumet, IL · 33m into the drive

suburban city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Evanston, IL

27 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

Chicago, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Evanston, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.6 miles from Calumet, 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.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.33 one way

$16.67 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $9.15 $18.30
premium $4.89 $10.26 $20.51
diesel $5.61 $11.77 $23.54

Estimated Tolls: $6.15

Chicago Skyway $6.15

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$8

Tolls

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16 0 $5.60 $2.56
Efficient EV 13.3 0 $4.66 $2.13
EV Truck/SUV 21.3 0 $7.46 $3.41

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Calumet, IL

Night in Calumet on Wednesday

Local time

9:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Night in Waukegan on Wednesday

Local time

9:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

11 degrees warmer at arrival

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

Road read

1h 7m 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 Calumet, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 53.3 miles and takes about 1h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 92nd Street, I 90 West, Chicago Skyway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.6 miles from Calumet, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.33 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Calumet, IL to Waukegan, IL is easy. At 1h 7m 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 Calumet, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Calumet, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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