Origin
Loves Park, IL
Afternoon in Loves Park on Monday
Local time
2:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Loves Park, IL to Waukegan, IL
Drive Time
1h 45m
Distance
74 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 38m
★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 1m
10 AM
1h 51m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 52m
5 PM
2h 0m
8 PM
1h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Loves Park, IL
Vera Arsic
Trip Overview
The drive from Loves Park, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 74 miles and takes about 1h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North 2nd Street, West Lane Road, State Route 173 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.24 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
37 miles from Loves Park, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 45m drive with frequent turns across 74 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North 2nd 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 Loves Park, IL to Waukegan, IL is easy. At 1h 45m 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 Loves Park, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North 2nd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Lane Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Route 173 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Grove Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Division Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Diggins Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Kenosha Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Route 173 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North 2nd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Loves Park, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on North 2nd Street
220 ft
·
9 sec
·
North 2nd Street
2
Continue on North 2nd Street
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
North 2nd Street
3
Turn right onto West Lane Road
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
West Lane Road
4
Continue on State Route 173
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 173
5
Continue on West Grove Street
12 mi
·
17 min
·
West Grove Street
6
Turn left onto South Division Street
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
South Division Street
7
Turn right onto East Diggins Street
19 mi
·
26 min
·
East Diggins Street
8
Continue on Kenosha Road
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Kenosha Road
9
Continue on West IL Route 173
14 mi
·
21 min
·
West IL Route 173
10
Turn right onto North Skokie Highway
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Skokie Highway
11
Take the exit slight right toward IL 132: Grand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
IL 132: Grand Avenue
12
Keep slight left to continue on IL 132 East
308 ft
·
11 sec
·
IL 132 East
13
Turn straight onto Grand Avenue
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Grand Avenue
14
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
North Jackson Street
15
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 37 miles from Loves Park, IL, or about 52m 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 74 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37 miles or 52m 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 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 Loves Park, 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 Loves Park, IL
This is one driving day of about 74 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Loves Park, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37 mi from Loves Park, IL · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 74 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37 miles from Loves Park, 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
$11.24 one way
$22.48 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $12.39 | $24.78 |
| premium | $4.80 | $13.97 | $27.94 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $16.44 | $32.88 |
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: 25.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.77 | $3.55 |
| Efficient EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.48 | $2.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.36 | $4.74 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Afternoon in Waukegan on Monday
Local time
2:48 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
8 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
1h 45m 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 Loves Park, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 74 miles and takes about 1h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North 2nd Street, West Lane Road, State Route 173. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37 miles from Loves Park, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.24 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 Loves Park, IL to Waukegan, IL is easy. At 1h 45m 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 Loves Park, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Loves Park, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Waukegan, IL
More trips to Waukegan, IL
Explore more options from Loves Park, IL or browse trips ending in Waukegan, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Loves Park, IL or Waukegan, IL on MapSof.net.