Origin
Murphysboro, IL
Afternoon in Murphysboro on Monday
Local time
12:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Murphysboro, IL to Waukegan, IL
Drive Time
6h 1m
Distance
377.5 mi
608 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$57
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 49m
★
6 AM
6h 2m
8 AM
6h 28m
10 AM
6h 11m
12 PM
6h 8m
3 PM
6h 12m
5 PM
6h 26m
8 PM
5h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Murphysboro, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Murphysboro, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 377.5 miles and takes about 6h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Walnut Street, North 2nd Street, Cambria Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $57.34 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
188.8 miles from Murphysboro, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 1m drive with frequent turns across 377.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Walnut 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 1m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Murphysboro, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walnut Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North 2nd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cambria Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Herrin Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Herrin Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ken Gray Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 57 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Walnut Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Murphysboro, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on North 11th Street
66 ft
·
8 sec
·
North 11th Street
2
Turn left onto Walnut Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Walnut Street
3
Turn left onto North 2nd Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North 2nd Street
4
Turn right
11 mi
·
16 min
5
Turn right onto Cambria Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Cambria Road
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Herrin Road
220 ft
·
4 sec
·
Herrin Road
7
Exit the roundabout onto Herrin Road
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Herrin Road
8
Continue on West Herrin Street
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
West Herrin Street
9
Continue on Herrin Road
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Herrin Road
10
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
11
Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway
37 mi
·
39 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
12
Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway
67 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago
195 mi
·
3 hr 34 min
·
I 57 North: Chicago
14
Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
15
Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
16
Continue on Kennedy Expressway
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
17
Continue on Edens Expressway
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
18
Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
19
Continue on Skokie Valley Road
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
20
Continue on South Skokie Highway
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
South Skokie Highway
21
Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
IL 120 East
22
Turn straight onto Belvidere Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Belvidere Road
23
Continue on Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
24
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
25
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 188.8 miles from Murphysboro, IL, or about 3h 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 83 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 188.8 miles or 3h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 4m
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 Murphysboro, 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 Murphysboro, IL
This is one driving day of about 377.5 miles and 6h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Murphysboro, 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 188.8 mi from Murphysboro, IL · 3h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
189 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 83 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 188.8 miles from Murphysboro, 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
$57.34 one way
$114.68 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
132 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $63.21 | $126.42 |
| premium | $4.80 | $71.26 | $142.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $83.87 | $167.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 113.3 | 1 | $39.64 | $18.12 |
| Efficient EV | 94.4 | 1 | $33.03 | $15.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 151 | 1 | $52.85 | $24.16 |
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
12:48 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
36 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
6h 1m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Murphysboro, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 377.5 miles and takes about 6h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Walnut Street, North 2nd Street, Cambria Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 188.8 miles from Murphysboro, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $57.34 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 1m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Murphysboro, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Murphysboro, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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