Origin
Honey Creek, IL
Evening in Honey Creek on Wednesday
Local time
6:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Honey Creek, IL to Waukegan, IL
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
2h 27m
Distance
98.2 mi
158 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 18m
★
6 AM
2h 28m
8 AM
2h 48m
10 AM
2h 35m
12 PM
2h 33m
3 PM
2h 36m
5 PM
2h 47m
8 PM
2h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Honey Creek, IL
Chris Flaten
Trip Overview
The drive from Honey Creek, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 98.2 miles and takes about 2h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20 East, U, West Grant Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.35 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
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
49.1 miles from Honey Creek, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 27m drive with frequent turns across 98.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 East is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Honey Creek, IL to Waukegan, IL is easy. At 2h 27m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Honey Creek, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 East | — | — |
| U | — | — |
| West Grant Highway | — | — |
| South State Street | — | — |
| Telegraph Street | — | — |
| Bull Valley Road | — | — |
| Charles J Miller Road | — | — |
| South River Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 20 East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Honey Creek, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on South Marsh Road
1.3 mi
·
5 min
·
South Marsh Road
2
At the end of the road, turn right
14 mi
·
19 min
3
Take the ramp left
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
4
Merge slight left
15 mi
·
16 min
5
Merge slight left
2.2 mi
·
2 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward US 20 East: Belvedere
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 20 East: Belvedere
7
Keep slight right to continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
14 mi
·
20 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
8
Continue on West Grant Highway
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
West Grant Highway
9
Turn left onto South State Street
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South State Street
10
Turn right onto Telegraph Street
9.0 mi
·
13 min
·
Telegraph Street
11
Turn right
0.8 mi
·
1 min
12
Turn left
7.1 mi
·
12 min
13
Turn left
5.1 mi
·
8 min
14
Turn right onto Bull Valley Road
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Bull Valley Road
15
Continue on Charles J Miller Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Charles J Miller Road
16
At the end of the road, turn left onto South River Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South River Road
17
Continue on Chapel Hill Road
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
Chapel Hill Road
18
Turn slight right
207 ft
·
6 sec
19
Turn straight onto West Elm Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Elm Street
20
Continue on Rand Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Rand Road
21
Continue on West Belvidere Road
10 mi
·
16 min
·
West Belvidere Road
22
Continue on Belvidere Road
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Belvidere Road
23
Continue on Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
24
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
25
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
26
Arrive at your destination
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 49.1 miles from Honey Creek, IL, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
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 22 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.1 miles or 1h 13m 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 1m
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 Honey Creek, 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 Honey Creek, IL
This is one driving day of about 98.2 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Honey Creek, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49.1 mi from Honey Creek, IL · 1h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49.1 miles from Honey Creek, 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.
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
$15.35 one way
$30.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.86 | $33.71 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.90 | $37.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.68 | $43.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.31 | $4.71 |
| Efficient EV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.59 | $3.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.3 | 0 | $13.75 | $6.28 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
6:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 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
2h 27m 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 Honey Creek, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 98.2 miles and takes about 2h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20 East, U, West Grant Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.1 miles from Honey Creek, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.35 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.
The drive from Honey Creek, IL to Waukegan, IL is easy. At 2h 27m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Honey Creek, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Honey Creek, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Waukegan, IL
More from Honey Creek, IL
More trips to Waukegan, IL
Explore more options from Honey Creek, IL or browse trips ending in Waukegan, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Honey Creek, IL or Waukegan, IL on MapSof.net.