Origin
Cincinnati, IL
Afternoon in Cincinnati on Saturday
Local time
1:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cincinnati, IL to Waukegan, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 33m
Distance
317.4 mi
511 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 22m
★
6 AM
6h 34m
8 AM
6h 58m
10 AM
6h 42m
12 PM
6h 40m
3 PM
6h 44m
5 PM
6h 57m
8 PM
6h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cincinnati, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cincinnati, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 317.4 miles and takes about 6h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, County Road 925 E, United States Route 45 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 196 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.62 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
158.7 miles from Cincinnati, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 25m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 196 mi | 3h 35m |
| County Road 925 E | 16.2 mi | 24m |
| United States Route 45 | 14.9 mi | 22m |
| County Road 1400E | 14.3 mi | 20m |
| Edens Expressway | 13.5 mi | 17m |
| County Road 1600E | 8.4 mi | 12m |
| South Skokie Highway | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.2 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 196 mi, about 3h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cincinnati, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on County Road 1000N
1.0 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road 1000N
2
Turn left onto 900E
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
900E
3
Turn left onto IL 15
7.0 mi
·
10 min
·
County Road 800 North
4
Turn slight left
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
5
Turn straight onto US 45
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road 1600E
6
Continue on US 45
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
7
Continue on US 45
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
County Road 1600E
8
Continue on US 45
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 1800N
9
Continue on US 45
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Central Street
10
Continue on US 45
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Central Street
11
Continue on US 45
14 mi
·
20 min
·
County Road 1400E
12
Turn right onto US 45
16 mi
·
24 min
·
County Road 925 E
13
Continue on US 45
15 mi
·
22 min
·
United States Route 45
14
Turn right onto US 40; US 45; IL 33
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Fayette Avenue
15
Turn left onto US 45
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South 3rd Street
16
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-57 North, I-70 East: Champaign, Terre Haute
17
Merge onto I 57; I 70
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
I 57; I 70
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
195 mi
·
3 hr 34 min
·
I 57
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
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.
21
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 94
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
25
Continue on US 41
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
South Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward IL 120 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn straight onto IL 120
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Belvidere Road
28
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
29
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
30
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
31
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 158.7 miles from Cincinnati, IL, or about 3h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 196 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 70 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.7 miles or 3h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 17m
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 Cincinnati, 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 Cincinnati, IL
This is one driving day of about 317.4 miles and 6h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Cincinnati, 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 196 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
159 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 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 158.7 miles from Cincinnati, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 196 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 69.4 and 314.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
69.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
Take the ramp toward I-57 North, I-70 East: Champaign, Terre Haute
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-57 North, I-70 East: Champaign, Terre...
7
70.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
|
I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
8
269.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 27m 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
298.8 mi into trip
|
~6h 8m 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
314.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 26m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.62 one way
$99.24 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
111 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $54.48 | $108.97 |
| premium | $4.89 | $61.08 | $122.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $70.08 | $140.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 95.2 | 1 | $33.33 | $15.24 |
| Efficient EV | 79.4 | 0 | $27.77 | $12.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 127 | 1 | $44.44 | $20.31 |
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% 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 Saturday
Local time
1:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 15 mph
79% 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
18 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
6h 33m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 262.7
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
317.4 mi in 6h 33m, mostly highway — 196 mi of that is on I 57.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 196 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and County Road 925 E. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 69.4 miles in.
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 317.4 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 69.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.7 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 269.2 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Cincinnati, IL to Waukegan, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Terre Haute along the way.
Terre Haute
69.4 mi in
|
~1h 47m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 33m. Total distance: 317.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 33m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 196 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Waukegan, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 69.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.7 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 269.2 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Waukegan, IL before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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