Origin
Marengo, IL
Evening in Marengo on Tuesday
Local time
7:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marengo, IL to Waukegan, IL
Data updated 5 hours ago
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
47 mi
76 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marengo, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 47-mile drive from Marengo to Waukegan, Illinois, is a straightforward 1 hour and 15-minute trip, making it an ideal day trip. You'll navigate primarily via West Belvidere Road and IL 176. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $7, this route offers a budget-friendly way to travel within the Midwest. The drive's 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests it's less about high-speed travel and more about engaging with local roads. Since there are no recommended stops and the duration is short, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits you best.
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
23.5 miles from Marengo, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 47-mile journey, with only 28% of the route on highways. Your longest continuous stretch will be about 10.5 miles along West Belvidere Road. This means you'll be making frequent turns and navigating through local traffic patterns rather than settling into a long, monotonous highway cruise. The character of the drive will likely shift as you transition between different local roads, requiring your attention to be on navigation and road conditions.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Belvidere Road is the longest continuous segment at about 10.5 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 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near IL 176 / Telegraph Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.4 miles (IL 176 / Telegraph Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.5 miles (IL 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles (IL 176): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 176 / Telegraph Street
Turn right onto IL 176 / Telegraph Street
Navigation decision point
5
9.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
IL 47
Turn right onto IL 47
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
3
10.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
IL 176
Turn left onto IL 176
Navigation decision point
7
23.8 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
V45 / South River Road
At end of road, turn left onto V45 / South River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
46.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
Glen Rock Avenue
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Belvidere Road | 10.5 mi | 16m |
| Telegraph Street | 9 mi | 12m |
| IL 176 | 7.1 mi | 12m |
| Belvidere Road | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| IL 31 | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| Belvidere Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Charles J Miller Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West Elm Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
West Belvidere Road
— 10.5 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marengo, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on IL 23
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
South State Street
2
Turn right onto IL 176
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Telegraph Street
3
Turn right onto IL 47
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
IL 47
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto IL 176
7.1 mi
·
12 min
·
IL 176
5
Turn left onto IL 31
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
IL 31
6
Turn right onto A32
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Bull Valley Road
7
Continue on A32
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Charles J Miller Road
8
At end of road, turn left onto V45
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South River Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on V45
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn slight right
208 ft
·
5 sec
Use the right lane.
11
Turn straight onto IL 120
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Elm Street
12
Continue on IL 120
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Rand Road
13
Continue on IL 120
10 mi
·
16 min
·
West Belvidere Road
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on IL 120
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Belvidere Road
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
16
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
18
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 15-minute duration and 47-mile distance, this trip is very flexible. You can easily complete it in one go without needing to plan for overnight stays. Consider departing in the morning to maximize your time at your destination. While the route is not long enough to necessitate formal rest stops, be aware of the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile; keep an eye on your GPS for upcoming turns, especially the longest stretch on West Belvidere Road, to ensure a smooth journey. The estimated fuel cost of $7 makes this a very economical trip.
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 23.5 miles from Marengo, IL, or about 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.5 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 47 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 23.5 miles or 37m 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 3m
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 Marengo, 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 Marengo, IL
This is one driving day of about 47 miles and 1h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Marengo, 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 West Belvidere Road for about 10.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.5 mi from Marengo, IL · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.5 miles from Marengo, 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
$7.35 one way
$14.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.07 | $16.14 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.04 | $18.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.38 | $20.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.11 | $1.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.58 | $3.01 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
7:52 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
1h 15m 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 Marengo, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 47 miles and takes about 1h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Belvidere Road, Telegraph Street, IL 176. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.5 miles from Marengo, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.35 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 47 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.4 miles (IL 176 / Telegraph Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.5 miles (IL 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles (IL 176): Navigation decision point.
The route from Marengo, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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