Origin
Lake Bluff, IL
Evening in Lake Bluff on Tuesday
Local time
7:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Bluff, IL to Waukegan, IL
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
13m
Distance
7.6 mi
12 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
3 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 13m
★
6 AM
0h 14m
8 AM
0h 16m
10 AM
0h 15m
12 PM
0h 15m
3 PM
0h 15m
5 PM
0h 16m
8 PM
0h 13m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Bluff, IL
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake Bluff, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 7.6 miles and takes about 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Sheridan Road, Bobby E. Thompson Expressway, East Center Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 4.4 miles on Sheridan Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.19 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
3.8 miles from Lake Bluff, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 13m drive with frequent turns across 7.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sheridan Road is the longest continuous segment at about 4.4 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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near East Scranton Avenue.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 7.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.6 miles (East Scranton Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (Sheridan Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (Buckley Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East Scranton Avenue
Turn left onto East Scranton Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Sheridan Road
Turn right onto Sheridan Road
Navigation decision point
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Buckley Road
Turn right onto Buckley Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
6.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
South Genesee Street
Turn left onto South Genesee Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
6.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
Belvidere Street
At end of road, turn left onto Belvidere Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sheridan Road | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Bobby E. Thompson Expressway | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| East Center Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Washington Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Martin Luther King Jr Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Jackson Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Genesee Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Buckley Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Sheridan Road
— 4.4 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Bluff, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on East Center Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Center Avenue
2
Turn right onto East Center Avenue
329 ft
·
22 sec
·
East Center Avenue
3
Turn left onto East Scranton Avenue
287 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Scranton Avenue
4
Turn right onto Sheridan Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Sheridan Road
5
Turn right onto Buckley Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Buckley Road
Use the right lane.
6
Turn right onto IL 137
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
Bobby E. Thompson Expressway
7
Continue on IL 137
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Sheridan Road
8
Turn left onto South Genesee Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
South Genesee Street
Use the left lane.
9
At end of road, turn left onto Belvidere Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Belvidere Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto South Martin Luther King Jr Avenue
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
South Martin Luther King Jr Avenue
11
Turn left onto Washington Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
12
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
North Jackson Street
13
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
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 3.8 miles from Lake Bluff, IL, or about 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.4 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 7.6 miles or 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 3.8 miles or 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 10m
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 Lake Bluff, 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 Lake Bluff, IL
This is one driving day of about 7.6 miles and 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lake Bluff, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Sheridan Road for about 4.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 3.8 mi from Lake Bluff, IL · 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
4 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 7.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 3.8 miles from Lake Bluff, 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
$1.19 one way
$2.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.30 | $2.61 |
| premium | $4.89 | $1.46 | $2.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.68 | $3.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
3 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
American Place Casino - Tesla Supercharger
Waukegan, IL
Tesla
20 DCFC
Casey's #3923 - Beach Park
Beach Park, IL
FCN
4 DCFC
K53 Kunes Lakes Chevrolet
Lake Bluff, IL
EV Connect
2 DCFC
EV Connect: 1
Tesla: 1
FCN: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.3 | 0 | $0.80 | $0.36 |
| Efficient EV | 1.9 | 0 | $0.66 | $0.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3 | 0 | $1.06 | $0.49 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
Evening in Waukegan on Tuesday
Local time
7:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°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
6 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
13m 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 Lake Bluff, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 7.6 miles and takes about 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sheridan Road, Bobby E. Thompson Expressway, East Center Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 3.8 miles from Lake Bluff, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.19 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 7.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.6 miles (East Scranton Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (Sheridan Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (Buckley Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lake Bluff, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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