Origin
Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Morning in Oakbrook Terrace on Thursday
Local time
11:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oakbrook Terrace, IL to Waukegan, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h
Distance
44.3 mi
71 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
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.
Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Oakbrook Terrace, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 44.3 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 Karban Road, MacArthur Drive, West 22nd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.93 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 44.3 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 (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h drive with frequent turns across 44.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Karban Road 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Oakbrook Terrace, 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 Oakbrook Terrace, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Karban Road | — | — |
| MacArthur Drive | — | — |
| West 22nd Street | — | — |
| Kingery Highway | — | — |
| I 88 | — | — |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | — | — |
| I 294 North | — | — |
| I 294 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Karban Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakbrook Terrace, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on Halsey Road
404 ft
·
19 sec
·
Halsey Road
2
Turn right onto Karban Road
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Karban Road
3
Turn left onto MacArthur Drive
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
MacArthur Drive
4
Turn left onto West 22nd Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
West 22nd Street
5
Turn right onto Kingery Highway
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Kingery Highway
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 88 Toll East: Chicago
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 88 Toll East: Chicago
7
Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
10
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
35 mi
·
43 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
11
Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
12
Turn straight onto Belvidere Road
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Belvidere Road
13
Continue on Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
14
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
15
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
16
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.1 mi from Oakbrook Terrace, IL · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.1 miles from Oakbrook Terrace, 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
$6.93 one way
$13.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.60 | $15.21 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.53 | $17.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.78 | $19.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.13 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.88 | $1.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.84 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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 Thursday
Local time
11:13 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
7 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 Oakbrook Terrace, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 44.3 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Karban Road, MacArthur Drive, West 22nd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.1 miles from Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.93 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 Oakbrook Terrace, 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 Oakbrook Terrace, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Oakbrook Terrace, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Waukegan, IL
More from Oakbrook Terrace, IL
More trips to Waukegan, IL
Explore more options from Oakbrook Terrace, IL or browse trips ending in Waukegan, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Oakbrook Terrace, IL or Waukegan, IL on MapSof.net.