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Trip from New Lenox, IL to Waukegan, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 34m

Distance

70.5 mi

114 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 28m ★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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village in Will County, Illinois, United States

New Lenox, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 70.5-mile drive from New Lenox, IL to Waukegan, IL will take you about 1 hour and 34 minutes. Primarily using the Tri-State Tollway, Veterans Memorial Tollway, and Adlai Stevenson Expressway, this trip is well-suited for a single day. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, it's an economical choice for a quick getaway. The route stays within the Midwest region, offering a straightforward journey through Illinois. You won't need to plan for overnight stays, allowing for a flexible schedule.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

35.3 miles from New Lenox, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 70.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" with a significant portion on tollways. While 10% of the route involves highways, the overall profile suggests a more involved driving experience than a simple interstate cruise. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 41.8 miles on the Tri-State Tollway. This means you'll likely navigate a mix of faster-paced toll road sections and more frequent turns as you approach your destination.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tri-State Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 41.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Cedar Road.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.1 miles (North Cedar Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Cedar Road

Enter roundabout onto North Cedar Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

7
14.3 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward I 55 North: Chicago

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 12A Toward I 55 North: Chicago
7
22 mi into trip | ~30m in

Take the exit toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 277A Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
6
28.7 mi into trip | ~40m in | I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
65.7 mi into trip | ~1h 25m 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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Tri-State Tollway 41.8 mi 50m
Veterans Memorial Tollway 10.9 mi 11m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway 6.9 mi 9m
North Cedar Road 2.5 mi 6m
Belvidere Road 1.9 mi 2m
Belvidere Street 1.6 mi 3m
South Jackson Street 0.5 mi 1m
Glen Rock Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Tri-State Tollway — 41.8 mi, about 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New Lenox, IL and Waukegan, IL.

1

Start on this road

215 ft · 22 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto East Haven Avenue

175 ft · 10 sec · East Haven Avenue
3

Enter roundabout onto North Cedar Road

106 ft · 2 sec · North Cedar Road
4

Continue on North Cedar Road

2.5 mi · 6 min · North Cedar Road
5

Turn left onto US 6

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Maple Road
6

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 57 sec
Toward I 355 Toll North: West Suburbs Use the right lane.
7

Merge onto I 355

11 mi · 11 min · Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Exit 12A Toward I 55 North: Chicago Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 55

6.9 mi · 9 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

1.6 mi · 3 min
Exit 277A Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin Use the right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
12

Merge onto I 294

4.8 mi · 5 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 294

37 mi · 45 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Exit 11A Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Turn straight onto IL 120

1.9 mi · 2 min · Belvidere Road
16

Continue on IL 120

1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street
17

Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
18

Turn left onto South Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Jackson Street
19

Arrive at destination

North Jackson Street

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short 1 hour and 34-minute duration for this 70.5-mile trip, you have a lot of flexibility. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid the worst of rush hour traffic, especially as you'll be using major tollways. The $11 fuel cost is manageable, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during the 41.8-mile stretch on the Tri-State Tollway, as services might be less frequent on certain segments. Since there are no recommended stops, you can choose to make this a direct journey or pull over as needed for breaks.

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 35.3 miles from New Lenox, IL, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.8 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 16 miles or 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 35.3 miles or 48m 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 18m

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 New Lenox, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from New Lenox, IL

This is one driving day of about 70.5 miles and 1h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from New Lenox, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Tri-State Tollway for about 41.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 35.3 mi from New Lenox, IL · 48m into the drive

city in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Elmhurst, IL

35 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

Darien, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elmhurst, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 35.3 miles from New Lenox, 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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pullman National Historical Park

Pullman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...

16 mi from route ~40 min detour Free near mile 21.9
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.02 one way

$22.04 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $12.10 $24.20
premium $4.89 $13.57 $27.13
diesel $5.61 $15.57 $31.13

Estimated Tolls: $3.27

Tri-state Tollway (41.8 mi) $2.51
Veterans Memorial Tollway (10.9 mi) $0.76

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

$11

Tolls

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 24.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.2 0 $7.40 $3.38
Efficient EV 17.6 0 $6.17 $2.82
EV Truck/SUV 28.2 0 $9.87 $4.51

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

New Lenox, IL

Afternoon in New Lenox on Thursday

Local time

4:09 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Afternoon in Waukegan on Thursday

Local time

4:09 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

69°F

Elmhurst, IL

35 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

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 34m 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 New Lenox, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 70.5 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, Veterans Memorial Tollway, Adlai Stevenson Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.3 miles from New Lenox, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.02 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 70.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.1 miles (North Cedar Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from New Lenox, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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