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Trip from Divernon, IL to Waukegan, IL

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

4h 43m

Distance

246.3 mi

396 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 30m ★
6 AM
4h 44m
8 AM
5h 11m
10 AM
4h 53m
12 PM
4h 50m
3 PM
4h 54m
5 PM
5h 9m
8 PM
4h 36m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Divernon, IL, IL

Divernon, IL

Zülfü Demir📸

Trip Overview

The drive from Divernon, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 246.3 miles and takes about 4h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South State Street, East Brown Street, East Divernon Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.51 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

123.1 miles from Divernon, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 43m drive with frequent turns across 246.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South State Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 43m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Divernon, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South State Street
East Brown Street
East Divernon Road
I 55 North
I 294
I 294 North
Tri-State Tollway
IL 120 East

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: South State Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West Dodds Street

0.1 mi · 32 sec · West Dodds Street
2

Turn left onto South State Street

0.1 mi · 25 sec · South State Street
3

Turn right onto East Brown Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Brown Street
4

Continue on East Divernon Road

0.1 mi · 19 sec · East Divernon Road
5

Turn left

0.3 mi · 37 sec
6

Merge slight left

46 mi · 50 min
7

Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

29 mi · 31 min · I 55 North: Chicago
8

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

121 mi · 2 hr 14 min · I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
9

Take the exit slight right toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin

1.6 mi · 3 min · I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
10

Keep slight left to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin

0.3 mi · 41 sec · I 294 North: Wisconsin
11

Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

4.8 mi · 5 min · Tri-State Tollway
12

Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

37 mi · 45 min · Tri-State Tollway
13

Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road

0.4 mi · 47 sec · IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
14

Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

1.9 mi · 2 min · Belvidere Road
15

Continue on Belvidere Street

1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street
16

Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue
17

Turn left onto South Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Jackson Street
18

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 123.1 miles from Divernon, IL, or about 2h 21m into the drive.

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 54 miles or 1h 2m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 123.1 miles or 2h 21m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 52m

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 Divernon, 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 Divernon, IL

This is one driving day of about 246.3 miles and 4h 43m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Divernon, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 123.1 mi from Divernon, IL · 2h 21m into the drive

Downtown Normal, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Normal, IL

123 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

Springfield, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Normal, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 123.1 miles from Divernon, 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

$38.51 one way

$77.01 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 86 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $42.28 $84.56
premium $4.89 $47.40 $94.80
diesel $5.61 $54.38 $108.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$39

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$64–$89

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 86.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 73.9 0 $25.86 $11.82
Efficient EV 61.6 0 $21.55 $9.85
EV Truck/SUV 98.5 1 $34.48 $15.76

Gas CO2

86 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 10, 2026

Origin

Divernon, IL

Evening in Divernon on Wednesday

Local time

5:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Evening in Waukegan on Wednesday

Local time

5:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°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

16 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

4h 43m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Divernon, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 246.3 miles and takes about 4h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South State Street, East Brown Street, East Divernon Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 123.1 miles from Divernon, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.51 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 43m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Divernon, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Divernon, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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