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Trip from Cerro Gordo, IL to Waukegan, IL

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

4h 15m

Distance

211.4 mi

340 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 2m ★
6 AM
4h 15m
8 AM
4h 42m
10 AM
4h 25m
12 PM
4h 22m
3 PM
4h 26m
5 PM
4h 40m
8 PM
4h 7m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Cerro Gordo, IL, IL

Cerro Gordo, IL

Ton Souza

Trip Overview

The drive from Cerro Gordo, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 211.4 miles and takes about 4h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 57, I 72, Edens Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 123.5 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.05 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

105.7 miles from Cerro Gordo, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 4m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 15m. Total distance: 211.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 4h 15m highway drive covering 211.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and I 72. The longest continuous stretch is about 123.5 miles on I 57.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 123.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 72. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East South Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 211.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (East South Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IL 32 / Carter Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 163.1 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East South Street

Turn right onto East South Street

Navigation decision point

6
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | IL 32 / Carter Street

At end of road, turn right onto IL 32 / Carter Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

8
163.1 mi into trip | ~3h 9m in | I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Roa...
6
192.7 mi into trip | ~3h 49m in | US 41 / Skokie Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 41 / Skokie Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
208.1 mi into trip | ~4h 8m in

Take the exit toward IL 120 East

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward IL 120 East

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 57 123.5 mi 2h 17m
I 72 25.6 mi 27m
Edens Expressway 13.5 mi 17m
North 100 East Road 8.3 mi 14m
South Skokie Highway 8.2 mi 10m
Kennedy Expressway 8.2 mi 11m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) 7.9 mi 11m
Skokie Highway 3.8 mi 4m
Longest stretch: I 57 — 123.5 mi, about 2h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Monroe Street

166 ft · 9 sec · Monroe Street
2

Turn right onto East South Street

465 ft · 25 sec · East South Street
3

Turn left onto IL 32

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Jackson Street
4

At end of road, turn right onto IL 32

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Carter Street
5

Continue on IL 32

8.3 mi · 14 min · North 100 East Road
6

Turn left onto IL 32

1.1 mi · 1 min · Old Route 47
7

Turn right onto IL 48

0.2 mi · 30 sec · IL 48
8

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward I-72 East: Champaign
9

Merge onto I 72

26 mi · 27 min · I 72
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Exit 182B Toward I 57 North: Chicago
11

Merge onto I 57

124 mi · 2 hr 17 min · I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on I 94

3.3 mi · 4 min · Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

7.9 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on I 90; I 94

8.2 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on I 94

14 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: Milwaukee Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork onto US 41

3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on US 41

3.4 mi · 3 min · Skokie Valley Road
18

Continue on US 41

8.2 mi · 10 min · South Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
19

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward IL 120 East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Turn straight onto IL 120

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Belvidere Road
21

Continue on IL 120

1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street
22

Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
23

Turn left onto South Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Jackson Street
24

Arrive at destination

North Jackson Street

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 105.7 miles from Cerro Gordo, IL, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.5 miles.

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 47 miles or 59m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 105.7 miles or 2h 4m 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 24m

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 Cerro Gordo, 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 Cerro Gordo, IL

This is one driving day of about 211.4 miles and 4h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Cerro Gordo, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 123.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 105.7 mi from Cerro Gordo, IL · 2h 4m into the drive

Downtown Orland Park, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Orland Park, IL

106 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

Rantoul, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Joliet, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 105.7 miles from Cerro Gordo, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 123.5 miles.

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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pullman National Historical Park

Pullman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...

3 mi from route ~6 min detour Free near mile 160.3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$33.05 one way

$66.10 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 74 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $36.29 $72.58
premium $4.89 $40.68 $81.36
diesel $5.61 $46.67 $93.35

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 74 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 63.4 0 $22.20 $10.15
Efficient EV 52.9 0 $18.50 $8.46
EV Truck/SUV 84.6 1 $29.60 $13.53

Gas CO2

74 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.

Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026

Origin

Cerro Gordo, IL

Evening in Cerro Gordo on Thursday

Local time

8:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Evening in Waukegan on Thursday

Local time

8:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 15 mph 48% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:43PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:43PM CDT until April 19 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

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

14 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 15m 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 Cerro Gordo, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 211.4 miles and takes about 4h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, I 72, Edens Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 105.7 miles from Cerro Gordo, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.05 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 demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 211.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East South Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IL 32 / Carter Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 163.1 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Cerro Gordo, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.

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