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Trip from Norris City, IL to Waukegan, IL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 59m

Distance

338 mi

544 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$53

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
6h 49m ★
6 AM
7h 0m
8 AM
7h 23m
10 AM
7h 8m
12 PM
7h 6m
3 PM
7h 9m
5 PM
7h 21m
8 PM
6h 53m

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

Downtown Norris City, IL, IL

Norris City, IL

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Norris City, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 338 miles and takes about 6h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Division Street, County Road 200 East, South 1st Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $52.84 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

169 miles from Norris City, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 29m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 59m. Total distance: 338 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 59m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 6h 59m drive with frequent turns across 338 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Division 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.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 59m, 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 Norris City, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Division Street
County Road 200 East
South 1st Street
Loy Street
West Main Street
County Road 1600E
Washington Street
County Road 1800N

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: North Division Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Norris City, IL and Waukegan, IL.

1

Start on West Main Street

167 ft · 9 sec · West Main Street
2

Turn left onto North Division Street

0.5 mi · 45 sec · North Division Street
3

Continue on County Road 200 East

7.4 mi · 11 min · County Road 200 East
4

Continue on South 1st Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · South 1st Street
5

Continue on County Road 200 East

9.9 mi · 14 min · County Road 200 East
6

Continue on Loy Street

6.8 mi · 10 min · Loy Street
7

Continue on South 1st Street

2.5 mi · 3 min · South 1st Street
8

Turn left onto West Main Street

2.4 mi · 3 min · West Main Street
9

Turn right onto County Road 1600E

4.0 mi · 5 min · County Road 1600E
10

Continue on Washington Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · Washington Street
11

Continue on County Road 1600E

4.6 mi · 6 min · County Road 1600E
12

Continue on County Road 1800N

1.4 mi · 2 min · County Road 1800N
13

Continue on Central Street

0.4 mi · 35 sec · Central Street
14

Continue on Central Street

0.5 mi · 48 sec · Central Street
15

Continue on County Road 1400E

14 mi · 20 min · County Road 1400E
16

Turn right onto County Road 925 E

16 mi · 24 min · County Road 925 E
17

Continue on United States Route 45

15 mi · 22 min · United States Route 45
18

Turn right onto West Fayette Avenue

0.2 mi · 33 sec · West Fayette Avenue
19

Turn left onto South 3rd Street

1.7 mi · 2 min · South 3rd Street
20

Take the ramp right toward I-57 North, I-70 East: Champaign, Terre Haute

0.5 mi · 1 min · I-57 North, I-70 East: Champaign, Terre Haute
21

Merge slight left

0.8 mi · 55 sec
22

Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

195 mi · 3 hr 34 min · I 57 North: Chicago
23

Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

3.3 mi · 4 min · Dan Ryan Expressway
24

Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

7.9 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
25

Continue on Kennedy Expressway

8.2 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway
26

Continue on Edens Expressway

14 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway
27

Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway

3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway
28

Continue on Skokie Valley Road

3.4 mi · 3 min · Skokie Valley Road
29

Continue on South Skokie Highway

8.2 mi · 10 min · South Skokie Highway
30

Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East

0.3 mi · 36 sec · IL 120 East
31

Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Belvidere Road
32

Continue on Belvidere Street

1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street
33

Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue
34

Turn left onto South Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Jackson Street
35

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 169 miles from Norris City, IL, or about 3h 29m 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 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 169 miles or 3h 29m 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 45m

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 Norris City, 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 Norris City, IL

This is one driving day of about 338 miles and 6h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Norris City, 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 169 mi from Norris City, IL · 3h 29m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Champaign, IL

169 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

Plainfield, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 74 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Champaign, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 169 miles from Norris City, 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

$52.84 one way

$105.68 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 118 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $58.02 $116.04
premium $4.89 $65.05 $130.09
diesel $5.61 $74.63 $149.25

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$53

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$78–$103

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 118.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 101.4 1 $35.49 $16.22
Efficient EV 84.5 0 $29.58 $13.52
EV Truck/SUV 135.2 1 $47.32 $21.63

Gas CO2

118 kg

EV CO2

40 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Norris City, IL

Morning in Norris City on Saturday

Local time

9:10 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Morning in Waukegan on Saturday

Local time

9:10 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°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

14 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 59m 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 Norris City, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 338 miles and takes about 6h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Division Street, County Road 200 East, South 1st Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 169 miles from Norris City, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $52.84 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 59m, 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 Norris City, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Norris City, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Waukegan, IL to Norris City, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

337.4 mi 6h 58m

Explore more options from Norris City, IL or browse trips ending in Waukegan, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.