Origin
Piasa, IL
Afternoon in Piasa on Sunday
Local time
2:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Piasa, IL to Waukegan, IL
Drive Time
4h 51m
Distance
299.7 mi
482 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 38m
★
6 AM
4h 51m
8 AM
5h 18m
10 AM
5h 1m
12 PM
4h 58m
3 PM
5h 2m
5 PM
5h 17m
8 PM
4h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Piasa, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Trip Overview
The drive from Piasa, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 299.7 miles and takes about 4h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 8000N, West Railroad Street, County Road 1200 N for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.52 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
149.9 miles from Piasa, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 51m drive with frequent turns across 299.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
8000N 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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 51m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Piasa, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 8000N | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Railroad Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road 1200 N | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 55 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 294 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 294 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tri-State Tollway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IL 120 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
8000N
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Piasa, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on Piasa Road
125 ft
·
7 sec
·
Piasa Road
2
Turn right onto 8000N
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
8000N
3
Continue on West Railroad Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
West Railroad Street
4
Continue on 8000N
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
8000N
5
Turn left
17 mi
·
25 min
6
Continue on County Road 1200 N
377 ft
·
24 sec
·
County Road 1200 N
7
Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North: Springfield
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 55 North: Springfield
8
Merge slight left
74 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
9
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 55 North: Chicago
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
121 mi
·
2 hr 14 min
·
I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
12
Keep slight left to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 294 North: Wisconsin
13
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
14
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
37 mi
·
45 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
15
Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
16
Turn straight onto Belvidere Road
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Belvidere Road
17
Continue on Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
18
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
19
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
20
Arrive at your destination
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 149.9 miles from Piasa, IL, or about 2h 25m 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 80 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.9 miles or 2h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 58m
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 Piasa, 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 Piasa, IL
This is one driving day of about 299.7 miles and 4h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Piasa, 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 149.9 mi from Piasa, IL · 2h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
150 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 149.9 miles from Piasa, 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
$45.52 one way
$91.04 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
105 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $50.18 | $100.36 |
| premium | $4.80 | $56.58 | $113.15 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $66.58 | $133.17 |
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: 104.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89.9 | 1 | $31.47 | $14.39 |
| Efficient EV | 74.9 | 0 | $26.22 | $11.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 119.9 | 1 | $41.96 | $19.18 |
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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
Afternoon in Waukegan on Sunday
Local time
2:56 PM
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
12 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
4h 51m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Piasa, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 299.7 miles and takes about 4h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 8000N, West Railroad Street, County Road 1200 N. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 149.9 miles from Piasa, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.52 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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.
This is a straightforward 4h 51m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Piasa, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Piasa, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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