This 171.7-mile drive from East Dubuque, IL to Waukegan, IL is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 56 minutes. You'll spend about 81% of your time on highways, making it a largely highway-focused experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $27, which is quite reasonable for the distance covered. This route is a solid option if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points within the Midwest region without needing an overnight stop. It's designed for steady progress, allowing you to reach your destination without excessive delays.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
85.9 miles from East Dubuque, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 171.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a driving experience that leans heavily on highways, with 81% of the route utilizing them. This means you'll encounter stretches built for consistent speed and efficiency, rather than winding local roads. The longest continuous segment you'll navigate is 65.4 miles on State Highway 11. While primarily highway-focused, the transition between State Highway 11, I 43, and US 12 will offer some variation in the driving environment. It's a route where you can settle into a rhythm and cover ground effectively.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 11 is the longest continuous segment at about 65.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 11 and I 43. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 97.9 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 171.7 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 97.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 123.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.9 miles (IL 173 / Kenosha Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
97.9 mi into trip|~2h 22m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
123.1 mi into trip|~2h 50m in
Take the exit toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27A
Toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva
6
141.9 mi into trip|~3h 12m in|IL 173 / Kenosha Street
Turn left onto IL 173 / Kenosha Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
168.4 mi into trip|~3h 49m in
Take the exit toward IL 132: Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward IL 132: Grand Avenue
8
168.6 mi into trip|~3h 49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 132 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward IL 132 East
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 11
65.4 mi
1h 30m
I 43
24.7 mi
26m
US 12
18 mi
20m
State Highway 81
15.3 mi
20m
West IL Route 173
13.9 mi
21m
North Skokie Highway
7.4 mi
8m
West Liberty Avenue
4.6 mi
6m
Kenosha Road
3.7 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 11
— 65.4 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Dubuque, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on Sinsinawa Avenue
29 ft·6 sec·Sinsinawa Avenue
2
Turn left onto IL 35
0.8 mi·1 min·Wisconsin Avenue
3
Continue on IL 35
1.4 mi·2 min·IL-35
4
Continue on WI 35
0.9 mi·1 min·State Highway 35
5
Turn right onto WI 11
8.9 mi·12 min·State Highway 11
6
Continue on WI 11
0.5 mi·48 sec·Fairplay Street
7
Turn left onto WI 11; WI 80
1.0 mi·2 min·North Percival Street
8
Continue on WI 11; WI 80
1.9 mi·2 min·State Highway 11
9
Continue on WI 11
2.0 mi·2 min·State Highway 11
10
Continue on WI 11
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
11
Continue on WI 11
19 mi·25 min·State Highway 11
12
Continue on WI 11
0.6 mi·1 min·Bridge Street
13
Continue on WI 11
34 mi·46 min·State Highway 11
14
Turn right onto WI 81
15 mi·20 min·State Highway 81
15
Continue on WI 81
4.6 mi·6 min·West Liberty Avenue
16
Turn left onto 6th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·6th Street
17
Turn right onto Maple Avenue
0.2 mi·35 sec·Maple Avenue
18
Continue on Henry Avenue
1.2 mi·3 min·Henry Avenue
19
Continue on Shopiere Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Shopiere Road
20
Turn right onto East Hart Road
2.2 mi·3 min·East Hart Road
21
Enter roundabout onto CTH X
97 ft·1 sec·East Hart Road
22
Continue on CTH X
0.1 mi·11 sec·East Hart Road
23
Enter roundabout
163 ft·2 sec
24
Continue
0.5 mi·59 sec
25
Merge onto I 43
25 mi·26 min·I 43
26
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 27AToward US 12 East: Lake GenevaUse the slight right lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·55 sec
28
Merge onto US 12
18 mi·20 min·US 12
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Turn left onto IL 173
1.5 mi·2 min·Kenosha Street
Use the left lane.
30
Continue on IL 173
3.7 mi·5 min·Kenosha Road
31
Continue on IL 173
14 mi·21 min·West IL Route 173
Use the left lane.
32
Turn right onto US 41
7.4 mi·8 min·North Skokie Highway
33
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward IL 132: Grand AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight left at fork
308 ft·10 sec
Toward IL 132 EastUse the left lane.
35
Turn straight onto IL 132
2.8 mi·5 min·Grand Avenue
Use the right lane.
36
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
0.3 mi·37 sec·North Jackson Street
37
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Given the under-4-hour duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. To make the most of the drive, consider leaving in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 65.4 miles, you can plan your breaks strategically. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $27 estimated cost suggests a need for at least one fill-up, especially considering the highway speeds you'll likely maintain. Ensure you have your preferred navigation ready for any transitions between State Highway 11, I 43, and US 12.
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 85.9 miles from East Dubuque, IL, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.4 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 38 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.9 miles or 2h 1m 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 11m
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 East Dubuque, 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 East Dubuque, IL
This is one driving day of about 171.7 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from East Dubuque, 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 State Highway 11 for about 65.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 85.9 mi from East Dubuque, IL
· 2h 1m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.84 one way
$53.69 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.47
$58.95
premium
$4.89
$33.04
$66.08
diesel
$5.61
$37.91
$75.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.5
0
$18.03
$8.24
Efficient EV
42.9
0
$15.02
$6.87
EV Truck/SUV
68.7
0
$24.04
$10.99
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
East Dubuque, IL
Morning
in East Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
6:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Morning
in Waukegan on Saturday
Local time
6:25 AM
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
13 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
3h 56m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from East Dubuque, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 171.7 miles and takes about 3h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 11, I 43, US 12. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85.9 miles from East Dubuque, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.84 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 171.7 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 97.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 123.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.9 miles (IL 173 / Kenosha Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from East Dubuque, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
