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Trip from Knoxville, 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

4h 18m

Distance

225.2 mi

362 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 5m ★
6 AM
4h 19m
8 AM
4h 45m
10 AM
4h 28m
12 PM
4h 25m
3 PM
4h 29m
5 PM
4h 44m
8 PM
4h 11m

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

city in Knox County, State of Illinois, United States

Knoxville, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Knoxville, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 225.2 miles and takes about 4h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on IL 110, I 74, Tri-State Tollway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 135 miles on IL 110. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.21 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

112.6 miles from Knoxville, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 4m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
IL 110 135 mi 2h 28m
I 74 36.7 mi 39m
Tri-State Tollway 35.2 mi 43m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway 6.3 mi 6m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway 4.7 mi 5m
Belvidere Road 1.9 mi 2m
Belvidere Street 1.6 mi 3m
Henderson Road 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: IL 110 — 135 mi, about 2h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Market Street

129 ft · 7 sec · North Market Street
2

Turn right onto US 150

0.2 mi · 21 sec · West Main Street
3

Turn right onto North Division Street

369 ft · 10 sec · North Division Street
4

Continue on CH 9

0.8 mi · 1 min · Henderson Road
5

Continue on CH 9

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Knox Highway 9
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 74 West: Galesburg
7

Merge onto I 74

37 mi · 39 min · I 74
8

Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110

6.3 mi · 6 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
9

Take the exit onto IL 110

135 mi · 2 hr 28 min · IL 110
Exit 4B Toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

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.
11

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.
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
13

Merge onto I 294

35 mi · 43 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Exit 11A Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Turn straight onto IL 120

1.9 mi · 2 min · Belvidere Road
16

Continue on IL 120

1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street
17

Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
18

Turn left onto South Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Jackson Street
19

Arrive at destination

North Jackson Street

Trip Plan

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 112.6 miles from Knoxville, IL, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135 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 50 miles or 55m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 112.6 miles or 2h 4m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 25m

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 Knoxville, 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 Knoxville, IL

This is one driving day of about 225.2 miles and 4h 18m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Knoxville, 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 IL 110 for about 135 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city on tripoints of DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Aurora, IL

113 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.

Popular next leg

Aurora, IL to Waukegan, IL

66.5 mi · 1h 28m

Pacing Suggestions

Dayton, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

DeKalb, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 112.6 miles from Knoxville, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before IL 110 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 135 miles.

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 220.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
1.4 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp toward I 74 West: Galesburg

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Toward I 74 West: Galesburg
8
44.6 mi into trip | ~49m in | IL 110

Take the exit onto IL 110 toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls

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 4B Toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Fa...
6
179.6 mi into trip | ~3h 18m 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
184.3 mi into trip | ~3h 24m 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...
7
220.4 mi into trip | ~4h 9m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$35.21 one way

$70.41 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 79 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $38.66 $77.31
premium $4.89 $43.34 $86.68
diesel $5.61 $49.72 $99.44

Estimated Tolls: $2.39

Tri-state Tollway (35.2 mi) $2.11
Reagan Memorial Tollway (4.7 mi) $0.28

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

$35

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 78.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 67.6 0 $23.65 $10.81
Efficient EV 56.3 0 $19.71 $9.01
EV Truck/SUV 90.1 1 $31.53 $14.41

Gas CO2

79 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 13, 2026

Origin

Knoxville, IL

Afternoon in Knoxville on Saturday

Local time

12:29 PM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 13 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Afternoon in Waukegan on Saturday

Local time

12:29 PM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Mostly Cloudy

WSW 15 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

51°F

Aurora, IL

113 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

4h 18m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pullman National Historical Park

Pullman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...

21 mi from route ~53 min detour Free near mile 186.4
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

225.2 mi in 4h 18m, mostly highway — 135 mi of that is on IL 110.

79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 135 mi on IL 110.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 110 and I 74. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 225.2 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 1.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 44.6 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 179.6 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

897 ft 604 ft

Total Climb

366 ft

Total Descent

491 ft

Highest Point

897 ft

~128.7 mi in

Elevation Range

293 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Knoxville, IL and Waukegan, IL, road signs point toward Rock Falls, Rockford and Milwaukee.

Rock Falls

44.6 mi in | ~49m | via IL 110

Rockford

184.3 mi in | ~3h 24m

Milwaukee

184.9 mi in | ~3h 25m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 18m. Total distance: 225.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 135 miles on IL 110. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.39 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Waukegan, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 44.6 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 179.6 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Waukegan, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Knoxville, IL or browse trips ending in Waukegan, IL.

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