Origin
Kirkland, IL
Night in Kirkland on Wednesday
Local time
10:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kirkland, IL to Waukegan, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 46m
Distance
67.3 mi
108 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kirkland, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Kirkland, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 67.3 miles and takes about 1h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Main Street, Park Avenue, Higgins Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.52 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
33.6 miles from Kirkland, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 46m drive with frequent turns across 67.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Main Street 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 Kirkland, IL to Waukegan, IL is easy. At 1h 46m 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 Kirkland, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Main Street | — | — |
| Park Avenue | — | — |
| Higgins Road | — | — |
| Penny Avenue | — | — |
| Dundee Road | — | — |
| New Sutton Road | — | — |
| South Hough Street | — | — |
| North Hough Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on South 6th Street
52 ft
·
4 sec
·
South 6th Street
2
Turn right onto West Main Street
6.9 mi
·
10 min
·
West Main Street
3
Turn straight onto Park Avenue
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue
4
Continue on West Main Street
13 mi
·
18 min
·
West Main Street
5
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
6
Turn right onto Higgins Road
8.5 mi
·
13 min
·
Higgins Road
7
Continue on West Main Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
8
Turn left onto Penny Avenue
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Penny Avenue
9
Continue on Dundee Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dundee Road
10
Continue on New Sutton Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
New Sutton Road
11
Continue on South Hough Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Hough Street
12
Continue on North Hough Road
6.4 mi
·
10 min
·
North Hough Road
13
Continue on Barrington Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Barrington Road
14
Turn right onto West Liberty Street
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
West Liberty Street
15
Turn right
1.9 mi
·
2 min
16
Continue straight
151 ft
·
4 sec
17
Turn left onto Schank Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Schank Avenue
18
Continue on Ivanhoe Road
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ivanhoe Road
19
Continue on South Atkinson Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Atkinson Road
20
Turn right onto East Belvidere Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Belvidere Road
21
Continue on Belvidere Road
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Belvidere Road
22
Continue on Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
23
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
24
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
25
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 33.6 miles from Kirkland, IL, or about 53m 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 15 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.6 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 30m
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 Kirkland, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kirkland, IL
This is one driving day of about 67.3 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Kirkland, 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 33.6 mi from Kirkland, IL · 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.6 miles from Kirkland, 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
$10.52 one way
$21.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.55 | $23.10 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.95 | $25.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.86 | $29.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.07 | $3.23 |
| Efficient EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.89 | $2.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.9 | 0 | $9.42 | $4.31 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Night in Waukegan on Wednesday
Local time
10:40 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
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 46m 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 Kirkland, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 67.3 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Main Street, Park Avenue, Higgins Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.6 miles from Kirkland, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.52 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 Kirkland, IL to Waukegan, IL is easy. At 1h 46m 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 Kirkland, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Kirkland, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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