Drive Time
3h 2m
Distance
119.9 mi
193 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
Photo: Stéphane Tendon
The drive from Loran, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 119.9 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 South Loran Road, West Loran Road, IL 73 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.21 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
59.9 miles from Loran, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 2m drive with frequent turns across 119.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Loran, 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 Loran, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Loran Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Loran Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IL 73 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Pearl City Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Empire Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Galena Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 20 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Loran, IL and Waukegan, IL.
Start on Center Street
Turn left onto South Loran Road
Keep slight right
Continue straight
Turn straight onto West Loran Road
Turn left onto IL 73
Continue on South Main Street
Turn right onto West Pearl City Road
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Pearl City Road
Exit the roundabout onto West Pearl City Road
Continue on West Empire Street
Turn right onto South Galena Avenue
Turn left onto US 20 Business
Take the ramp straight
Merge slight left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Continue on West State Road
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right toward US 20 East: Belvedere
Keep slight right to continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Continue on West Grant Highway
Turn left onto South State Street
Turn right onto Telegraph Street
Turn right
Turn left
Turn left
Turn right onto Bull Valley Road
Continue on Charles J Miller Road
At the end of the road, turn left onto South River Road
Continue on Chapel Hill Road
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto West Elm Street
Continue on Rand Road
Continue on West Belvidere Road
Continue on Belvidere Road
Continue on Belvidere Street
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 2h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.9 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.
Open the route before leaving Loran, 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 Loran, IL
This is one driving day of about 119.9 miles and 3h 2m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.9 mi from Loran, 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.
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.
Regular Gas
$18.21 one way
$36.42 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $20.08 | $40.15 |
| premium | $4.80 | $22.63 | $45.27 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $26.64 | $53.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36 | 0 | $12.59 | $5.76 |
| Efficient EV | 30 | 0 | $10.49 | $4.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48 | 0 | $16.79 | $7.67 |
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Loran on Saturday
Local time
6:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Waukegan on Saturday
Local time
6:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
44°F
Elgin, IL
60 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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