Origin
East Dundee, IL
Morning in East Dundee on Saturday
Local time
10:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Dundee, 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
59m
Distance
36.2 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Dundee, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from East Dundee to Waukegan, you are in for a quick 36.5-mile journey across the Illinois landscape. Clocking in at approximately one hour and one minute, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you will not need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting about $6 for fuel is a safe bet for this drive. Because both ends of the trip are located within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the travel. This connection is straightforward and practical, ideal for travelers who prefer local roads over high-speed interstate travel.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 36.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience rather than a monotonous highway grind. With zero percent of the travel occurring on major highways, you will spend the entire 36.5 miles navigating local streets. You will primarily traverse East Main Street, Penny Avenue, and Dundee Road, which require your full attention due to the frequent turns. Because there is no long-distance highway cruising, the pace remains steady and rhythmic. This route prioritizes surface roads, making the feel of the wheel-time more active and less about settling into a long-haul cruise control setting.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Hough Road is the longest continuous segment at about 6.4 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 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IL 72 / East Main Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 36.2 miles you will encounter 8 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 (IL 72 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IL 68 / Penny Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles (IL 176): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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
|
IL 72 / East Main Street
Turn left onto IL 72 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 68 / Penny Avenue
Turn left onto IL 68 / Penny Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
19.9 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
IL 176
Turn right onto IL 176
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
21.8 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
Schank Avenue
Turn left onto Schank Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
35.2 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
Glen Rock Avenue
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| IL 176 | 2 mi | 2m |
| New Sutton Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Belvidere Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
North Hough Road
— 6.4 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Dundee, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on this road
45 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto IL 72
261 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Main Street
3
Turn left onto IL 68
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Penny Avenue
4
Continue on IL 59; IL 68
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dundee Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on IL 59
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
New Sutton Road
6
Continue on South Hough Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Hough Street
7
Continue on IL 59
6.4 mi
·
10 min
·
North Hough Road
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on Barrington Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Barrington Road
9
Turn right onto IL 176
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
West Liberty Street
10
Turn right onto IL 176
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 176
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on IL 176
152 ft
·
3 sec
·
IL 176
12
Turn left onto Schank Avenue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Schank Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on IL 83
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ivanhoe Road
14
Continue on South Atkinson Road
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
South Atkinson Road
15
Turn right onto IL 120
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Belvidere Road
16
Continue on IL 120
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Belvidere Road
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
18
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.1 mi from East Dundee, IL · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.1 miles from East Dundee, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Waukegan, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Waukegan, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.66 one way
$11.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.21 | $12.43 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.97 | $13.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.99 | $15.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.80 | $1.74 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.17 | $1.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Morning in Waukegan on Saturday
Local time
10:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
14 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
59m 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 Dundee, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 36.2 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Hough Road, Belvidere Road, Penny Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.1 miles from East Dundee, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.66 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 36.2 miles you will encounter 8 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 (IL 72 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IL 68 / Penny Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles (IL 176): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from East Dundee, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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