Origin
Oak Park, IL
Morning in Oak Park on Monday
Local time
10:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oak Park, IL to Waukegan, IL
Drive Time
1h
Distance
47.7 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Park, IL
Radosław Krupa
Trip Overview
The drive from Oak Park, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 47.7 miles and takes about 1h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Chicago Avenue, North Central Avenue, West Montrose Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.25 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
23.8 miles from Oak Park, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h drive with frequent turns across 47.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Chicago Avenue 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Oak Park, IL to Waukegan, IL is easy. At 1h with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Oak Park, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Central Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Montrose Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Cicero Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Wilson Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 94 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Edens Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Skokie Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Chicago Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oak Park, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on South Ridgeland Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Ridgeland Avenue
2
Turn right onto Chicago Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Chicago Avenue
3
Turn left onto North Central Avenue
4.5 mi
·
10 min
·
North Central Avenue
4
Turn right onto West Montrose Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Montrose Avenue
5
Turn left onto North Cicero Avenue
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Cicero Avenue
6
Turn right onto West Wilson Avenue
449 ft
·
23 sec
·
West Wilson Avenue
7
Take the ramp left toward I 94 West
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 94 West
8
Merge slight left onto Edens Expressway
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Edens Expressway
9
Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
10
Continue on Skokie Valley Road
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
11
Continue on South Skokie Highway
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
South Skokie Highway
12
Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
IL 120 East
13
Turn straight onto Belvidere Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Belvidere Road
14
Continue on Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
15
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
16
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
17
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 23.8 miles from Oak Park, IL, or about 30m 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 47.7 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 23.8 miles or 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 51m
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 Oak Park, 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 Oak Park, IL
This is one driving day of about 47.7 miles and 1h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Oak Park, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.8 mi from Oak Park, IL · 30m 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 47.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.8 miles from Oak Park, 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
$7.25 one way
$14.49 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $7.99 | $15.97 |
| premium | $4.80 | $9.00 | $18.01 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.60 | $21.19 |
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: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Morning in Waukegan on Monday
Local time
10:50 AM
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
10 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 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 Oak Park, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 47.7 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chicago Avenue, North Central Avenue, West Montrose Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.8 miles from Oak Park, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.25 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.
The drive from Oak Park, IL to Waukegan, IL is easy. At 1h with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Oak Park, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Oak Park, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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