Origin
Carrollton, IL
Afternoon in Carrollton on Sunday
Local time
2:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carrollton, IL to Waukegan, IL
Drive Time
5h 40m
Distance
298.3 mi
480 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 27m
★
6 AM
5h 40m
8 AM
6h 7m
10 AM
5h 49m
12 PM
5h 47m
3 PM
5h 51m
5 PM
6h 5m
8 PM
5h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carrollton, IL
Choco Kitty
Trip Overview
The drive from Carrollton, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 298.3 miles and takes about 5h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North 5th Street, Route 67, South Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.31 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
149.2 miles from Carrollton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 40m drive with frequent turns across 298.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North 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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 40m 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 Carrollton, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Route 67 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South State Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South State Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 1440 E | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 72 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North 5th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carrollton, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on North Main Street
161 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn right onto North 5th Street
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
North 5th Street
3
Continue on United States Route 67
8.1 mi
·
9 min
·
United States Route 67
4
Continue on South Main Street
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
5
Continue on South State Avenue
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South State Avenue
6
Continue on South State Street
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South State Street
7
Continue on 1440 E
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
1440 E
8
Continue on Main Street
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Main Street
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 72 East: Quincy
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 72 East: Quincy
10
Merge slight left
51 mi
·
54 min
11
Continue straight
20 mi
·
21 min
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 55 North: Chicago
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
121 mi
·
2 hr 14 min
·
I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 294 North: Wisconsin
16
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
17
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
37 mi
·
45 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
18
Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
19
Turn straight onto Belvidere Road
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Belvidere Road
20
Continue on Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
21
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
22
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
23
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 149.2 miles from Carrollton, IL, or about 2h 50m 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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.2 miles or 2h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 38m
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 Carrollton, 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 Carrollton, IL
This is one driving day of about 298.3 miles and 5h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Carrollton, 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 149.2 mi from Carrollton, IL · 2h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
149 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 149.2 miles from Carrollton, 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
$45.31 one way
$90.62 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
104 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $49.95 | $99.90 |
| premium | $4.80 | $56.31 | $112.63 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $66.27 | $132.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89.5 | 1 | $31.32 | $14.32 |
| Efficient EV | 74.6 | 0 | $26.10 | $11.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 119.3 | 1 | $41.76 | $19.09 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Sunday
Local time
2:56 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
11 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
5h 40m 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 Carrollton, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 298.3 miles and takes about 5h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North 5th Street, Route 67, South Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 149.2 miles from Carrollton, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.31 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 5h 40m 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 Carrollton, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Carrollton, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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