Origin
Chemung, IL
Evening in Chemung on Tuesday
Local time
7:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chemung, IL to Waukegan, IL
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
50.4 mi
81 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chemung, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Trip Overview
The drive from Chemung, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 50.4 miles and takes about 1h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Diggins Street, West IL Route 173, North Skokie Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.8 miles on East Diggins Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.88 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
25.2 miles from Chemung, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Chemung, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 50.4 miles and takes about 1h 13m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Diggins Street is the longest continuous segment at about 18.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near US 14; IL 173 / South Division Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 13m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (US 14; IL 173 / South Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (IL 173 / East Diggins Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
2.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 14; IL 173 / South Division Street
Turn left onto US 14; IL 173 / South Division Street
Navigation decision point
4
3.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
IL 173 / East Diggins Street
Turn right onto IL 173 / East Diggins Street
Navigation decision point
6
47.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward IL 132: Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward IL 132: Grand Avenue
8
47.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 132 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward IL 132 East
4
50.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
North Jackson Street
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Diggins Street | 18.8 mi | 26m |
| West IL Route 173 | 13.9 mi | 21m |
| North Skokie Highway | 7.4 mi | 8m |
| Kenosha Road | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Grand Avenue | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| IL 173 | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| South Division Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Jackson Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East Diggins Street
— 18.8 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chemung, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on IL 173
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
IL 173
2
Turn left onto US 14; IL 173
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
South Division Street
3
Turn right onto IL 173
19 mi
·
26 min
·
East Diggins Street
4
Continue on IL 173
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Kenosha Road
5
Continue on IL 173
14 mi
·
21 min
·
West IL Route 173
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto US 41
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Skokie Highway
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward IL 132: Grand Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
308 ft
·
10 sec
Toward IL 132 East
Use the left lane.
9
Turn straight onto IL 132
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Jackson Street
11
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
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 25.2 miles from Chemung, IL, or about 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.8 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 50.4 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.2 miles or 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 1m
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 Chemung, 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 Chemung, IL
This is one driving day of about 50.4 miles and 1h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chemung, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on East Diggins Street for about 18.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.2 mi from Chemung, IL · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 50.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.2 miles from Chemung, 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
$7.88 one way
$15.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.65 | $17.30 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.70 | $19.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.13 | $22.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.41 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.06 | $3.23 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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
Evening in Waukegan on Tuesday
Local time
7:37 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
5 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
1h 13m 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 Chemung, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 50.4 miles and takes about 1h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Diggins Street, West IL Route 173, North Skokie Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.2 miles from Chemung, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.88 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 13m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (US 14; IL 173 / South Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (IL 173 / East Diggins Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Chemung, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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