Origin
Palestine, IL
Morning in Palestine on Saturday
Local time
9:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palestine, 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 5m
Distance
291.9 mi
470 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 53m
★
6 AM
6h 6m
8 AM
6h 31m
10 AM
6h 15m
12 PM
6h 12m
3 PM
6h 16m
5 PM
6h 30m
8 PM
5h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palestine, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Palestine, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 291.9 miles and takes about 6h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Franklin Street, West Washington Street, East 1050th Ave for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.64 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
145.9 miles from Palestine, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 2m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 5m. Total distance: 291.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 5m 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 5m drive with frequent turns across 291.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Franklin 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 5m, 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 Palestine, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Franklin Street | — | — |
| West Washington Street | — | — |
| East 1050th Ave | — | — |
| East Main Street | — | — |
| East 1050th Avenue | — | — |
| W Main St | — | — |
| Lincoln Avenue | — | — |
| Route 16 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Franklin Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palestine, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on North Main Street
72 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left onto West Franklin Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
West Franklin Street
3
Keep slight right to continue on West Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Washington Street
4
Continue on East 1050th Ave
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
East 1050th Ave
5
Continue on East Main Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East Main Street
6
Continue on East 1050th Avenue
6.9 mi
·
10 min
·
East 1050th Avenue
7
Continue on W Main St
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
W Main St
8
Continue on East Main Street
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Main Street
9
Continue on East 1050th Avenue
12 mi
·
18 min
·
East 1050th Avenue
10
Turn right
34 mi
·
50 min
11
Turn left onto Lincoln Avenue
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Lincoln Avenue
12
Continue on Illinois Route 16
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Illinois Route 16
13
Continue on Charleston Avenue East
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Charleston Avenue East
14
Take the ramp slight right toward I-57 North: Champaign
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I-57 North: Champaign
15
Merge slight left
169 mi
·
3 hr 5 min
16
Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
17
Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
18
Continue on Kennedy Expressway
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
19
Continue on Edens Expressway
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
20
Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
21
Continue on Skokie Valley Road
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
22
Continue on South Skokie Highway
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
South Skokie Highway
23
Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
IL 120 East
24
Turn straight onto Belvidere Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Belvidere Road
25
Continue on Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
26
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
27
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
28
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 145.9 miles from Palestine, IL, or about 3h 2m 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 64 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.9 miles or 3h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 59m
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 Palestine, 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 Palestine, IL
This is one driving day of about 291.9 miles and 6h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Palestine, 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 145.9 mi from Palestine, IL · 3h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
146 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 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 145.9 miles from Palestine, 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
$45.64 one way
$91.27 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
102 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $50.11 | $100.21 |
| premium | $4.89 | $56.17 | $112.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $64.45 | $128.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.6 | 1 | $30.65 | $14.01 |
| Efficient EV | 73 | 0 | $25.54 | $11.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 116.8 | 1 | $40.87 | $18.68 |
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Morning in Waukegan on Saturday
Local time
9:02 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
8 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 5m 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 Palestine, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 291.9 miles and takes about 6h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Franklin Street, West Washington Street, East 1050th Ave. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 145.9 miles from Palestine, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.64 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 5m, 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 Palestine, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Palestine, 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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