Trip from Chicago, IL to Waukegan, IL

Drive Time

59m

Distance

42.4 mi

68 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min

4 AM

0h 55m ★

6 AM

0h 59m

8 AM

1h 9m

10 AM

1h 3m

12 PM

1h 2m

3 PM

1h 3m

5 PM

1h 8m

8 PM

0h 56m

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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Chicago, IL

Otoniel Alvarado

Trip Overview

If you are planning to head north from Chicago to Waukegan, you are looking at a quick 42.4-mile journey that typically takes about 59 minutes. This trip is perfect as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, it remains a very affordable route for a quick getaway within the Midwest. You will primarily navigate via the Kennedy Expressway, the Edens Expressway, and the South Skokie Highway. Because the distance is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around local traffic patterns rather than travel fatigue.

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

21.2 miles from Chicago, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience that transitions from dense city traffic to more open suburban stretches. Roughly 53 percent of your time behind the wheel will be spent on major highways, offering a blend of fast-paced transit and slower local segments. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 13.5-mile portion on the Edens Expressway, which serves as the backbone of your northward movement. As you exit the city core, the character of the road changes, moving from the high-intensity lanes of the Kennedy toward the more consistent flow of the Skokie Highway. It is a straightforward commute that requires your full attention as you navigate the transition between urban and suburban infrastructure.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Edens Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West Cermak Road.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 42.4 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: at 0.2 miles (West Cermak Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (South Halsted Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (South Canalport Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

0.2 mi into trip | ~1m in | West Cermak Road

At end of road, turn right onto West Cermak Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | South Halsted Street

Turn left onto South Halsted Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | South Canalport Avenue

Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

0.7 mi into trip | ~2m in | South Ruble Street

Turn left onto South Ruble Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

23.7 mi into trip | ~33m 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 none / straight / slight right lanes.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Edens Expressway	13.5 mi	17m
South Skokie Highway	8.2 mi	10m
Kennedy Expressway	8.2 mi	11m
Skokie Highway	3.8 mi	4m
Skokie Valley Road	3.4 mi	3m
Belvidere Street	1.6 mi	3m
Dan Ryan Expressway	0.9 mi	1m
South Jackson Street	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Edens Expressway — 13.5 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on the route

0.2 mi · 1 min · the route

At the end of the road, turn right onto West Cermak Road

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Cermak Road

Turn left onto South Halsted Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · South Halsted Street

Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue

0.2 mi · 23 sec · South Canalport Avenue

Turn left onto South Ruble Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · South Ruble Street

Take the ramp straight toward I 90 West, I 94 West

0.3 mi · 43 sec · I 90 West, I 94 West

Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway

0.9 mi · 1 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

Continue on Kennedy Expressway

8.2 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway

Continue on Edens Expressway

14 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway

3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

Continue on Skokie Valley Road

3.4 mi · 3 min · Skokie Valley Road

Continue on South Skokie Highway

8.2 mi · 10 min · South Skokie Highway

Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East

0.3 mi · 36 sec · IL 120 East

Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Belvidere Road

Continue on Belvidere Street

1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

Turn left onto South Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Jackson Street

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Because this route is under an hour, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever works best for your schedule. However, keep in mind that traffic volume on the Kennedy and Edens Expressways can be heavy during peak commuting hours, so check your GPS before you head out. Since there are zero formal stops required for a trip of this length, you can easily drive straight through without needing to plan for refueling or rest breaks. Use your $6 fuel budget as a baseline, but keep an eye on local gas prices if you plan on doing extra driving once you arrive in Waukegan. The best strategy is to embrace the flexibility of this short drive by timing your departure to avoid the worst of the regional congestion.

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 21.2 miles from Chicago, IL, or about 30m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.5 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 42.4 miles or 59m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 21.2 miles or 30m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 48m

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 Chicago, 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 Chicago, IL

This is one driving day of about 42.4 miles and 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chicago, 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 Edens Expressway for about 13.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 21.2 mi from Chicago, IL · 30m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Glenview, IL

21 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

Gurnee, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 42.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Glenview, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.2 miles from Chicago, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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...

11 mi from route ~27 min detour Free

Caution: Road Construction Near the Park

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.44 one way

$12.88 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$7.10	$14.20
premium	$4.80	$8.00	$16.01
diesel	$5.64	$9.42	$18.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	12.7	$4.45	$2.04
Efficient EV	10.6	$3.71	$1.70
EV Truck/SUV	17	$5.94	$2.71

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Chicago, IL

Afternoon in Chicago on Monday

Local time

1:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 15 mph 39% chance Live forecast

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Afternoon in Waukegan on Monday

Local time

1:02 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

33 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

59m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Chicago, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 42.4 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Edens Expressway, South Skokie Highway, Kennedy Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 21.2 miles from Chicago, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.44 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 route from Chicago, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Trip from Chicago, IL to Waukegan, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Waukegan, IL

National Parks Near This Route

Pullman National Historical Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Chicago, IL

Waukegan, IL

Same local time

33 degrees cooler at arrival

59m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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