Origin
Cortland, IL
Night in Cortland on Wednesday
Local time
9:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cortland, IL to Waukegan, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 49m
Distance
67.3 mi
108 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cortland, IL
Mike Tyurin
Trip Overview
The drive from Cortland, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 67.3 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Plank Road, Higgins Road, North Hough Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12 miles on Plank Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.52 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
33.6 miles from Cortland, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 49m drive with frequent turns across 67.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Plank Road is the longest continuous segment at about 12 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Somonauk Road.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.3 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (South Somonauk Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (IL 64 / West State Street): Navigation decision point; at 50.9 miles (IL 176): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Somonauk Road
Turn right onto South Somonauk Road
Navigation decision point
5
4.8 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
IL 64 / West State Street
At end of road, turn right onto IL 64 / West State Street
Navigation decision point
5
50.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
IL 176
Turn right onto IL 176
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
52.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
Schank Avenue
Turn left onto Schank Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
66.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
Glen Rock Avenue
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Plank Road | 12 mi | 18m |
| Higgins Road | 8.5 mi | 13m |
| North Hough Road | 6.4 mi | 10m |
| Belvidere Road | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Penny Avenue | 5 mi | 7m |
| Ivanhoe Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| West Liberty Street | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| South Somonauk Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Plank Road
— 12 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cortland, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on East Chestnut Avenue
20 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Chestnut Avenue
2
Turn right onto South Somonauk Road
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
South Somonauk Road
3
Continue on Somonauk Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Somonauk Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto IL 64
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
West State Street
5
Turn left onto IL 23
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
6
Turn right onto CH 15
12 mi
·
18 min
·
Plank Road
7
Turn left onto IL 47
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
IL 47
8
Turn right onto IL 72
8.5 mi
·
13 min
·
Higgins Road
9
Continue on IL 72
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
10
Turn left onto IL 68
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Penny Avenue
11
Continue on IL 59; IL 68
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dundee Road
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on IL 59
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
New Sutton Road
13
Continue on South Hough Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Hough Street
14
Continue on IL 59
6.4 mi
·
10 min
·
North Hough Road
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on Barrington Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Barrington Road
16
Turn right onto IL 176
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
West Liberty Street
17
Turn right onto IL 176
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 176
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on IL 176
152 ft
·
3 sec
·
IL 176
19
Turn left onto Schank Avenue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Schank Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on IL 83
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ivanhoe Road
21
Continue on South Atkinson Road
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
South Atkinson Road
22
Turn right onto IL 120
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Belvidere Road
23
Continue on IL 120
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Belvidere Road
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
25
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
26
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
27
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 33.6 miles from Cortland, IL, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12 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 15 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.6 miles or 53m 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 32m
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 Cortland, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cortland, IL
This is one driving day of about 67.3 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Cortland, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Plank Road for about 12 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.6 mi from Cortland, IL · 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.6 miles from Cortland, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.52 one way
$21.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.55 | $23.10 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.95 | $25.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.86 | $29.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.07 | $3.23 |
| Efficient EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.89 | $2.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.9 | 0 | $9.42 | $4.31 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Night in Waukegan on Wednesday
Local time
9:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 mph
84% chance
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
6 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 49m 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 Cortland, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 67.3 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Plank Road, Higgins Road, North Hough Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.6 miles from Cortland, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.52 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 67.3 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (South Somonauk Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (IL 64 / West State Street): Navigation decision point; at 50.9 miles (IL 176): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Cortland, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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