Origin
Patton, IL
Afternoon in Patton on Saturday
Local time
12:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Patton, 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
5h 15m
Distance
226.6 mi
365 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 2m
★
6 AM
5h 15m
8 AM
5h 42m
10 AM
5h 25m
12 PM
5h 22m
3 PM
5h 26m
5 PM
5h 41m
8 PM
5h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Patton, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Trip Overview
The drive from Patton, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 226.6 miles and takes about 5h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 41, SR 63, Edens Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 80.6 miles on US 41. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.43 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
113.3 miles from Patton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 38m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 41 | 80.6 mi | 1h 45m |
| SR 63 | 58.9 mi | 1h 14m |
| Edens Expressway | 13.5 mi | 17m |
| Bishop Ford Freeway | 10.7 mi | 14m |
| South Skokie Highway | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| US 150 | 4.5 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
US 41
— 80.6 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Patton, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on East 2250th Road
1.4 mi
·
5 min
·
East 2250th Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto 74th Place
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
74th Place
3
Turn right onto Old Paris Road
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Old Paris Road
4
At end of road, turn right onto Lower Sandford Road
258 ft
·
5 sec
·
Lower Sandford Road
5
Continue on Old Paris Road
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Old Paris Road
6
Continue on West Paris Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Paris Avenue
7
Turn left onto US 150
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
N 3rd Street
8
Continue on US 150
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
US 150
9
Turn right onto Pennington Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennington Road
10
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
11
Turn left onto SR 63
59 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
SR 63
12
Continue on US 41
81 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
·
US 41
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto US 30
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Lincoln Highway
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on US 30
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Joliet Street
15
Continue on US 30
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Lincoln Highway
16
Continue on IL 83
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Glenwood Dyer Road
17
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward IL 394 North
18
Merge onto IL 394
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Calumet Expressway
19
Continue on I 94
7.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Bishop Ford Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Bishop Ford Freeway
Toward I 94 West: Chicago Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 94
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
27
Continue on US 41
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
South Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward IL 120 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Turn straight onto IL 120
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Belvidere Road
30
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
31
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
32
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
33
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 113.3 miles from Patton, IL, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.6 miles.
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 50 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.3 miles or 2h 38m 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 20m
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 Patton, 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 Patton, IL
This is one driving day of about 226.6 miles and 5h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Patton, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 41 for about 80.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 113.3 miles from Patton, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 41 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 223.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
74th Place
At end of road, turn left onto 74th Place
Navigation decision point
7
172.2 mi into trip
|
~4h in
|
I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway toward I 94 West: Chicago Loop
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West: Chicago Loop
8
178.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 9m in
|
I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Roa...
6
208 mi into trip
|
~4h 49m 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.
6
223.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 8m in
Take the exit toward IL 120 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward IL 120 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.43 one way
$70.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $38.90 | $77.79 |
| premium | $4.89 | $43.61 | $87.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.03 | $100.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68 | 0 | $23.79 | $10.88 |
| Efficient EV | 56.7 | 0 | $19.83 | $9.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.6 | 1 | $31.72 | $14.50 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Afternoon in Waukegan on Saturday
Local time
12:59 PM
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
5h 15m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 171.9
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
226.6 mi in 5h 15m, mostly highway — 80.6 mi of that is on US 41.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.6 mi on US 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 41 and SR 63. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near 74th Place.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 226.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (74th Place): Navigation decision point; at 172.2 miles (I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 178.4 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 15m. Total distance: 226.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.6 miles on US 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Waukegan, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (74th Place): Navigation decision point; at 172.2 miles (I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 178.4 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Waukegan, IL before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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