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Trip from Hampshire, 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

1h 23m

Distance

51.1 mi

82 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 17m ★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m

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

village in Kane County, Illinois, United States

Hampshire, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 51.1-mile drive from Hampshire to Waukegan, Illinois, is a straightforward, one-day trip that will take about 1 hour and 23 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $8, it's an economical option for a quick getaway within the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes local roads, making it a more engaging experience than a typical interstate journey. You'll find this drive best suited for a single day, offering a manageable distance and duration for a round trip or as a segment of a larger adventure. Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you actively navigating.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 51.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 23m 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 drive on this route, with only a 5% highway share. The journey unfolds primarily on Higgins Road and North Hough Road, offering a consistent local road feel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.5 miles on Higgins Road, so be prepared for frequent turns and intersections. This isn't a high-speed interstate cruise; rather, it's a more engaged driving experience that requires your attention as you navigate through familiar Illinois landscapes.

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.
Higgins Road is the longest continuous segment at about 8.5 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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near IL 72 / East Oak Knoll Drive.

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 51.1 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 0.7 miles (IL 72 / East Oak Knoll Drive): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles (US 20; IL 47; IL 72): Navigation decision point; at 34.8 miles (IL 176): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in | IL 72 / East Oak Knoll Drive

Turn left onto IL 72 / East Oak Knoll Drive

Navigation decision point

4
4.6 mi into trip | ~7m in | US 20; IL 47; IL 72

Turn left onto US 20; IL 47; IL 72

Navigation decision point

5
34.8 mi into trip | ~56m in | IL 176

Turn right onto IL 176

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
36.8 mi into trip | ~59m in | Schank Avenue

Turn left onto Schank Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
50.2 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in | Glen Rock Avenue

Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Higgins Road 8.5 mi 13m
North Hough Road 6.4 mi 10m
Belvidere Road 6.3 mi 9m
Penny Avenue 5 mi 7m
East Oak Knoll Drive 4 mi 5m
Ivanhoe Road 3.7 mi 6m
West Liberty Street 3.4 mi 6m
IL 176 2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Higgins Road — 8.5 mi, about 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West Jefferson Avenue

58 ft · 4 sec · West Jefferson Avenue
2

Turn right onto South State Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · South State Street
3

Turn left onto IL 72

4.0 mi · 5 min · East Oak Knoll Drive
4

Turn left onto US 20; IL 47; IL 72

0.5 mi · 52 sec · US 20; IL 47; IL 72
5

Turn right onto IL 72

8.5 mi · 13 min · Higgins Road
6

Continue on IL 72

1.4 mi · 2 min · West Main Street
7

Turn left onto IL 68

5.0 mi · 7 min · Penny Avenue
8

Continue on IL 59; IL 68

1.4 mi · 2 min · Dundee Road
Use the left lane.
9

Continue on IL 59

1.7 mi · 2 min · New Sutton Road
10

Continue on South Hough Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Hough Street
11

Continue on IL 59

6.4 mi · 10 min · North Hough Road
Use the right lane.
12

Continue on Barrington Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Barrington Road
13

Turn right onto IL 176

3.4 mi · 6 min · West Liberty Street
14

Turn right onto IL 176

1.9 mi · 2 min · IL 176
Use the left lane.
15

Continue on IL 176

152 ft · 3 sec · IL 176
16

Turn left onto Schank Avenue

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Schank Avenue
Use the left lane.
17

Continue on IL 83

3.7 mi · 6 min · Ivanhoe Road
18

Continue on South Atkinson Road

0.5 mi · 59 sec · South Atkinson Road
19

Turn right onto IL 120

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Belvidere Road
20

Continue on IL 120

6.3 mi · 9 min · Belvidere Road
Use the left lane.
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

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 25.6 mi from Hampshire, IL · 40m into the drive

village in McHenry County, Illinois, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fox River Grove, IL

26 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

East Dundee, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fox River Grove, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Hampshire, 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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.99 one way

$15.98 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $8.77 $17.54
premium $4.89 $9.83 $19.67
diesel $5.61 $11.28 $22.56

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.3 0 $5.37 $2.45
Efficient EV 12.8 0 $4.47 $2.04
EV Truck/SUV 20.4 0 $7.15 $3.27

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 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

Hampshire, IL

Night in Hampshire on Friday

Local time

9:47 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Night in Waukegan on Friday

Local time

9:47 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

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

1h 23m 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 Hampshire, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 51.1 miles and takes about 1h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Higgins Road, North Hough Road, Belvidere Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 25.6 miles from Hampshire, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.99 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 51.1 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 0.7 miles (IL 72 / East Oak Knoll Drive): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles (US 20; IL 47; IL 72): Navigation decision point; at 34.8 miles (IL 176): Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Hampshire, 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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