Origin
Fulton, IL
Afternoon in Fulton on Wednesday
Local time
12:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fulton, IL to Waukegan, IL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 24m
Distance
167 mi
269 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 12m
★
6 AM
3h 24m
8 AM
3h 48m
10 AM
3h 33m
12 PM
3h 30m
3 PM
3h 34m
5 PM
3h 47m
8 PM
3h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fulton, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 167-mile drive from Fulton, IL to Waukegan, IL will take you about 3 hours and 24 minutes, making it a manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily be on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and the Tri-State Tollway, with some travel on local roads like Lincoln Road. With a projected fuel cost of around $26, it’s an economical option for exploring Illinois. The route is characterized by frequent turns, so keep your navigation handy. Given its manageable length, this trip is ideal for a single day, allowing you to arrive at your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
83.5 miles from Fulton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" for this 167-mile journey, rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. While you'll cover a longest stretch of 95.7 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, the overall profile suggests a route that will involve navigating through various local roads and more frequent directional changes. This means you'll experience a dynamic driving experience with less monotony compared to a pure highway route. The highway share is 0%, indicating a significant portion of your travel will be on non-toll roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 95.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 167 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 22.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 121.4 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 126.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
22.4 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 88 East: Dixon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 88 East: Dixon
6
121.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
126.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 139
Toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rock...
6
126.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International A...
7
162.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 14m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fulton, IL and Waukegan, IL, road signs point toward Rockford and Milwaukee.
Rockford
126.1 mi in
|
~2h 29m
Milwaukee
126.7 mi in
|
~2h 31m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 95.7 mi | 1h 46m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 35.2 mi | 43m |
| Lincoln Road | 16.8 mi | 23m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 7.2 mi | 7m |
| 14th Avenue | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Belvidere Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Belvidere Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| East Lincoln Way | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 95.7 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fulton, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on 9th Street
20 ft
·
6 sec
·
9th Street
2
Turn left onto 10th Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Avenue
3
Turn right onto IL 84
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Waller Road
4
Turn left onto IL 136
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
14th Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 30
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Lincoln Road
6
Continue on US 30; IL 78
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Lincoln Way
7
Continue on US 30; IL 78
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Lincolnway
8
Continue on US 30
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Lincoln Way
9
Continue on US 30
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Lincoln Road
10
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
this road
11
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
this road
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 88 East: Dixon
13
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
7.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 88; IL 110
91 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 139
Toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
18
Merge onto I 294
35 mi
·
43 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 11A
Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn straight onto IL 120
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Belvidere Road
21
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
22
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
24
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
For this 167-mile drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and navigate the frequent turns with less traffic. With a duration of 3 hours and 24 minutes and only one recommended stop, you have a lot of flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto longer stretches like the 95.7 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. A practical tip for this route: familiarize yourself with the sequence of turns on Lincoln Road before you depart, as the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests it requires active navigation.
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 83.5 miles from Fulton, IL, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.7 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.5 miles or 1h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 43m
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 Fulton, 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 Fulton, IL
This is one driving day of about 167 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fulton, 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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 95.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83.5 mi from Fulton, IL · 1h 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 83.5 miles from Fulton, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 95.7 miles.
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
$26.11 one way
$52.22 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.67 | $57.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.14 | $64.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.87 | $73.74 |
Estimated Tolls: $7.85
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(95.7 mi)
$5.74
Tri-state Tollway
(35.2 mi)
$2.11
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
$26
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.1 | 0 | $17.54 | $8.02 |
| Efficient EV | 41.8 | 0 | $14.61 | $6.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.8 | 0 | $23.38 | $10.69 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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
Afternoon in Waukegan on Wednesday
Local time
12:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Aurora, IL
84 mi in
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 24m 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 Fulton, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 167 miles and takes about 3h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, Tri-State Tollway, Lincoln Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83.5 miles from Fulton, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.11 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 12 significant decision points across 167 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 22.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 121.4 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 126.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Fulton, IL and Waukegan, IL, road signs point toward Rockford and Milwaukee.
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