Origin
Forest Park, IL
Evening in Forest Park on Wednesday
Local time
5:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Forest Park, IL to Waukegan, IL
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
59m
Distance
40.8 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forest Park, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Forest Park, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 40.8 miles and takes about 59m 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, Des Plaines River Road, South 1st Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28 miles on Tri-State Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.38 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
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
20.4 miles from Forest Park, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 59m drive with frequent turns across 40.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 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 28 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Madison Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 59m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Madison Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (IL 19 / Irving Park Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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
|
Madison Street
Depart onto Madison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
6.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
IL 19 / Irving Park Road
Turn left onto IL 19 / Irving Park Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
7.9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Merge onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
35.9 mi into trip
|
~50m 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
5
39.8 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
Glen Rock Avenue
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 28 mi | 33m |
| Des Plaines River Road | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| South 1st Avenue | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| Belvidere Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Belvidere Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Irving Park Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Madison Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| South Jackson Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 28 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forest Park, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on Madison Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn right onto IL 171
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
South 1st Avenue
3
Turn left onto Des Plaines River Road
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Des Plaines River Road
4
Turn left onto IL 19
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Irving Park Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
6
Merge onto I 294
28 mi
·
33 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 11A
Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto IL 120
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Belvidere Road
9
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
10
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
12
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 20.4 miles from Forest Park, IL, or about 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28 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 40.8 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 20.4 miles or 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waukegan, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Forest Park, IL.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Forest Park, IL
This is one driving day of about 40.8 miles and 59m.
At 40.8 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Tri-State Tollway for about 28 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.4 mi from Forest Park, IL · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.4 miles from Forest Park, 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
$6.38 one way
$12.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.00 | $14.01 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.85 | $15.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.01 | $18.02 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.68
Tri-state Tollway
(28 mi)
$1.68
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
$6
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.57 | $1.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Evening in Waukegan on Wednesday
Local time
5:56 PM
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
5 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
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 Forest Park, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 40.8 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, Des Plaines River Road, South 1st Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.4 miles from Forest Park, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.38 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 is a straightforward 59m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Madison Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (IL 19 / Irving Park Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Forest Park, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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