Origin
Lanark, IL
Evening in Lanark on Wednesday
Local time
6:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lanark, IL to Waukegan, IL
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
3h 2m
Distance
119.5 mi
192 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 51m
★
6 AM
3h 2m
8 AM
3h 25m
10 AM
3h 10m
12 PM
3h 8m
3 PM
3h 12m
5 PM
3h 24m
8 PM
2h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lanark, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lanark, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 119.5 miles and takes about 3h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Locust Street, North Broad Street, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.68 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
59.8 miles from Lanark, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 2m drive with frequent turns across 119.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Locust 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 Lanark, IL to Waukegan, IL is easy. At 3h 2m 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 Lanark, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Locust Street | — | — |
| North Broad Street | — | — |
| Main Street | — | — |
| West Blackhawk Drive | — | — |
| South Main Street | — | — |
| U | — | — |
| US 20 East | — | — |
| West Grant Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Locust Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lanark, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on the route
69 ft
·
10 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto West Locust Street
174 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Locust Street
3
Turn left onto North Broad Street
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
North Broad Street
4
Turn right
10 mi
·
14 min
5
Turn right
4.0 mi
·
6 min
6
Turn left onto Main Street
16 mi
·
23 min
·
Main Street
7
At the end of the road, turn left onto West Blackhawk Drive
12 mi
·
17 min
·
West Blackhawk Drive
8
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
9
Take the ramp right
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
10
Merge slight left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit slight right toward US 20 East: Belvedere
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 20 East: Belvedere
12
Keep slight right to continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
14 mi
·
20 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
13
Continue on West Grant Highway
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
West Grant Highway
14
Turn left onto South State Street
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South State Street
15
Turn right onto Telegraph Street
9.0 mi
·
13 min
·
Telegraph Street
16
Turn right
0.8 mi
·
1 min
17
Turn left
7.1 mi
·
12 min
18
Turn left
5.1 mi
·
8 min
19
Turn right onto Bull Valley Road
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Bull Valley Road
20
Continue on Charles J Miller Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Charles J Miller Road
21
At the end of the road, turn left onto South River Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South River Road
22
Continue on Chapel Hill Road
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
Chapel Hill Road
23
Turn slight right
207 ft
·
6 sec
24
Turn straight onto West Elm Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Elm Street
25
Continue on Rand Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Rand Road
26
Continue on West Belvidere Road
10 mi
·
16 min
·
West Belvidere Road
27
Continue on Belvidere Road
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Belvidere Road
28
Continue on Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
29
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
30
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
31
Arrive at your destination
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 59.8 miles from Lanark, IL, or about 1h 31m 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 26 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.8 miles or 1h 31m 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 29m
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 Lanark, 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 Lanark, IL
This is one driving day of about 119.5 miles and 3h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Lanark, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.8 mi from Lanark, IL · 1h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 59.8 miles from Lanark, 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
$18.68 one way
$37.36 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.51 | $41.03 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.00 | $45.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.38 | $52.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.9 | 0 | $12.55 | $5.74 |
| Efficient EV | 29.9 | 0 | $10.46 | $4.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.8 | 0 | $16.73 | $7.65 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 Wednesday
Local time
6:14 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
5 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
3h 2m 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 Lanark, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 119.5 miles and takes about 3h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Locust Street, North Broad Street, Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.8 miles from Lanark, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.68 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Lanark, IL to Waukegan, IL is easy. At 3h 2m 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 Lanark, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lanark, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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