Origin
Oak Park, IL
Late night in Oak Park on Friday
Local time
5:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oak Park, IL to Waukegan, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
39.5 mi
64 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
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 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Park, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Oak Park, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 39.5 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 Edens Expressway, South Skokie Highway, North Central Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13 miles on Edens Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.18 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 39.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Oak Park, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 39.5 miles and takes about 1h, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Edens Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 13 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.2 miles in near IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 39.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 7.2 miles (IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.5 miles (West Wilson Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
7.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue
Turn left onto IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
7.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
West Wilson Avenue
Turn right onto West Wilson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
7.6 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the ramp toward I 94 West
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 94 West
6
7.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 94 / Edens Expressway
Merge onto I 94 / Edens Expressway toward I 94 West: Milwaukee
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West: Milwaukee
6
20.8 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
US 41 / Skokie Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41 / Skokie Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Edens Expressway | 13 mi | 16m |
| South Skokie Highway | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| North Central Avenue | 4.5 mi | 10m |
| Skokie Highway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Skokie Valley Road | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| Belvidere Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| West Montrose Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Chicago Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Edens Expressway
— 13 mi, about 16m
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 IL 50
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Cicero Avenue
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto West Wilson Avenue
449 ft
·
23 sec
·
West Wilson Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 94 West
8
Merge onto I 94
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
11
Continue on US 41
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
South Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward IL 120 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto IL 120
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Belvidere Road
14
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
15
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.7 mi from Oak Park, IL · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.7 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.18 one way
$12.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.78 | $13.56 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.60 | $15.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.72 | $17.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.15 | $1.90 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.46 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.53 | $2.53 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Late night in Waukegan on Friday
Local time
5:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 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 39.5 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Edens Expressway, South Skokie Highway, North Central Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.7 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 $6.18 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 39.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 7.2 miles (IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.5 miles (West Wilson Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
The route from Oak Park, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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