Origin
Hometown, IL
Afternoon in Hometown on Thursday
Local time
4:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hometown, IL to Waukegan, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
48.8 mi
79 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hometown, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 48.8-mile drive from Hometown, IL to Waukegan, IL is a straightforward, single-day trip taking about 1 hour and 16 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Edens Expressway and South Skokie Highway, this route is perfect for a quick excursion within the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $8, it's an economical choice for a day trip. The journey is characterized by frequent turns and local road segments, making it a more engaged driving experience than a simple interstate cruise. No overnight stays are recommended for this relatively short distance.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 48.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m 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 for the majority of this 48.8-mile journey. While 29% of the route involves highway driving, including a 13.5-mile stretch on the Edens Expressway, the overall character leans towards navigating city streets and local thoroughfares. This means you'll be adjusting speed and direction more frequently than on a pure highway route. The drive will likely feel like a series of connected local segments rather than one continuous high-speed run.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Edens Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.5 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 0.5 miles in near West Columbus Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.5 miles (West Columbus Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (West Belden Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 16 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West Columbus Avenue
Turn left onto West Columbus Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
13.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
West Belden Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
16 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 West, I 94 West
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 West, I 94 West
6
30.2 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
US 41 / Skokie Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41 / Skokie Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
45.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward IL 120 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward IL 120 East
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Edens Expressway | 13.5 mi | 17m |
| South Pulaski Road | 12.9 mi | 25m |
| South Skokie Highway | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| Skokie Highway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Skokie Valley Road | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| North Pulaski Road | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Belvidere Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| South Jackson Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Edens Expressway
— 13.5 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hometown, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on West 87th Street
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
West 87th Street
2
Turn left onto Keeler Avenue
33 ft
·
3 sec
·
Keeler Avenue
3
Turn right onto West 87th Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
West 87th Street
4
Turn left onto West Columbus Avenue
393 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Columbus Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto South Pulaski Road
13 mi
·
25 min
·
South Pulaski Road
Use the left lane.
6
At end of road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue
170 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Belden Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Turn left onto North Pulaski Road
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North Pulaski Road
8
Turn left onto IL 19
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
West Irving Park Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn slight right onto Kennedy Irving Park Road
389 ft
·
16 sec
·
Kennedy Irving Park Road
10
Turn right onto North Keeler Avenue
394 ft
·
19 sec
·
North Keeler Avenue
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 90 West, I 94 West
12
Merge onto I 90; I 94
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 94
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
16
Continue on US 41
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
South Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward IL 120 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto IL 120
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Belvidere Road
19
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
20
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
22
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.4 mi from Hometown, IL · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.4 miles from Hometown, 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
$7.63 one way
$15.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.38 | $16.75 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.39 | $18.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.77 | $21.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.83 | $3.12 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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 Thursday
Local time
4:10 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
9 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
1h 16m 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 Hometown, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 48.8 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Edens Expressway, South Pulaski Road, South Skokie Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.4 miles from Hometown, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.63 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 48.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.5 miles (West Columbus Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (West Belden Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 16 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Hometown, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Waukegan, IL
More from Hometown, IL
More trips to Waukegan, IL
Explore more options from Hometown, IL or browse trips ending in Waukegan, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Hometown, IL or Waukegan, IL on MapSof.net.