The drive from Coal City, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 92.6 miles and takes about 1h 58m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Tri-State Tollway, I 55, West Division Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41.8 miles on Tri-State Tollway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.48 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.
Midpoint
46.3 miles from Coal City, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 92.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Coal City, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 92.6 miles and takes about 1h 58m, 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 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tri-State Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 41.8 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 3.2 miles in near I 55.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
3.2 mi into trip|~5m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
44.1 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the exit toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 277A
Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
5
45.6 mi into trip|~57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
6
50.8 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
87.8 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 11A
Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tri-State Tollway
41.8 mi
50m
I 55
40.9 mi
48m
West Division Street
2 mi
3m
Belvidere Road
1.9 mi
2m
Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
3m
West Coal City Road
0.9 mi
1m
South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
1m
Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 41.8 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Coal City, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on IL 113
2.0 mi·3 min·West Division Street
2
Continue on IL 113
0.9 mi·1 min·West Coal City Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 55 North: Joliet
4
Merge onto I 55
41 mi·48 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
1.6 mi·3 min
Exit 277AToward I 294 Tollway North: WisconsinUse the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
7
Merge onto I 294
4.8 mi·5 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
37 mi·45 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 11AToward IL 120 East: Belvidere RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto IL 120
1.9 mi·2 min·Belvidere Road
11
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi·3 min·Belvidere Street
12
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Jackson Street
14
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 46.3 miles from Coal City, IL, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.8 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.3 miles or 59m 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 35m
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 Coal City, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Coal City, IL
This is one driving day of about 92.6 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Coal City, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Tri-State Tollway for about 41.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 46.3 mi from Coal City, IL
· 59m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 44.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.48 one way
$28.95 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.90
$31.79
premium
$4.89
$17.82
$35.64
diesel
$5.61
$20.44
$40.89
Estimated Tolls: $2.51
Tri-state Tollway
(41.8 mi)$2.51
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.8
0
$9.72
$4.44
Efficient EV
23.2
0
$8.10
$3.70
EV Truck/SUV
37
0
$12.96
$5.93
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 17, 2026
Origin
Coal City, IL
Morning
in Coal City on Saturday
Local time
6:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Morning
in Waukegan on Saturday
Local time
6:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Widespread Fog
SE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
7 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 58m 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 Coal City, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 92.6 miles and takes about 1h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, I 55, West Division Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.3 miles from Coal City, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.48 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Coal City, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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.
