Origin
Nauvoo, IL
Morning in Nauvoo on Monday
Local time
6:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nauvoo, IL to Waukegan, IL
Drive Time
5h 52m
Distance
297.1 mi
478 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 39m
★
6 AM
5h 52m
8 AM
6h 18m
10 AM
6h 1m
12 PM
5h 59m
3 PM
6h 3m
5 PM
6h 17m
8 PM
5h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Nauvoo, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 297.1 miles and takes about 5h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on IL 110, Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, Tri-State Tollway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 135 miles on IL 110. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.13 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
148.6 miles from Nauvoo, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 58m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 5h 52m highway drive covering 297.1 miles, with most of the trip on IL 110 and Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 135 miles on IL 110.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IL 110 is the longest continuous segment at about 135 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 110 and Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.9 miles in near US 61 Business.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 297.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 13.9 miles (US 61 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 78.3 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.5 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
13.9 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
US 61 Business
Take the ramp onto US 61 Business
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
78.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
|
IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
8
116.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 23m in
|
IL 110
Take the exit onto IL 110 toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4B
Toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Fa...
8
256.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 58m in
Take the exit toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 139
Toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rock...
7
292.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 42m in
Take the exit toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 11A
Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
Towns Along This Route
Between Nauvoo, IL and Waukegan, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island, Rock Falls, Rockford and Milwaukee.
Rock Island
78.3 mi in
|
~1h 42m
|
via IL 110
Rock Falls
116.5 mi in
|
~2h 23m
|
via IL 110
Rockford
256.3 mi in
|
~4h 58m
Milwaukee
256.8 mi in
|
~4h 59m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IL 110 | 135 mi | 2h 28m |
| Chicago-Kansas City Expressway | 60.1 mi | 1h 7m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 35.2 mi | 43m |
| US 34 | 28.6 mi | 35m |
| US 61 Business | 13.7 mi | 16m |
| North Horton Street | 8.2 mi | 12m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| 354th Avenue | 3.3 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
IL 110
— 135 mi, about 2h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nauvoo, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on North Wells Street
68 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Wells Street
2
Turn left onto IL 96
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Mulholland Street
3
Continue on IL 96
8.2 mi
·
12 min
·
North Horton Street
4
Turn left onto IL 9
1.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Fort Madison Bridge
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
2nd Street
6
Continue on US 61 Business
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
354th Avenue
7
Take the ramp onto US 61 Business
14 mi
·
16 min
·
US 61 Business
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 34 East, IA 163 East
9
Merge onto US 34; IA 163
28 mi
·
34 min
·
US 34; IA 163
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto US 34
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
US 34
11
Merge onto US 34; US 67; IL 110
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110
32 mi
·
34 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
13
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
14
Take the exit onto IL 110
135 mi
·
2 hr 28 min
·
IL 110
Exit 4B
Toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 139
Toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
18
Merge onto I 294
35 mi
·
43 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 11A
Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn straight onto IL 120
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Belvidere Road
21
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
22
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
24
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
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 148.6 miles from Nauvoo, IL, or about 2h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135 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 80 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.6 miles or 2h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 43m
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 Nauvoo, 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 Nauvoo, IL
This is one driving day of about 297.1 miles and 5h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Nauvoo, 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.
The longest stretch is on IL 110 for about 135 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 148.6 mi from Nauvoo, IL · 2h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
149 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 148.6 miles from Nauvoo, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before IL 110 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 135 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.13 one way
$90.25 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
104 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $49.75 | $99.49 |
| premium | $4.80 | $56.09 | $112.17 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $66.01 | $132.01 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.39
Tri-state Tollway
(35.2 mi)
$2.11
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(4.7 mi)
$0.28
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89.1 | 1 | $31.20 | $14.26 |
| Efficient EV | 74.3 | 0 | $26.00 | $11.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118.8 | 1 | $41.59 | $19.01 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% 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
Morning in Waukegan on Monday
Local time
6:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Cloudy
WSW 15 mph
4% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Along the Route
55°F
Peoria, IL
149 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
12 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 52m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Nauvoo, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 297.1 miles and takes about 5h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IL 110, Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, Tri-State Tollway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 148.6 miles from Nauvoo, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.13 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 297.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.9 miles (US 61 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 78.3 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.5 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Nauvoo, IL and Waukegan, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island, Rock Falls, Rockford and Milwaukee.
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