Origin
Prophetstown, IL
Afternoon in Prophetstown on Friday
Local time
1:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Prophetstown, 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
3h 9m
Distance
160.3 mi
258 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 58m
★
6 AM
3h 9m
8 AM
3h 33m
10 AM
3h 18m
12 PM
3h 15m
3 PM
3h 19m
5 PM
3h 32m
8 PM
3h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Prophetstown, IL
Sergei Starostin
Trip Overview
This 160.3-mile drive from Prophetstown, IL, to Waukegan, IL, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 9 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and the Tri-State Tollway, with no significant highway share, suggesting a more localized feel. With an estimated fuel cost of $25, this Midwest journey is quite budget-friendly. The route is characterized by its frequent turns, indicating a need for attentive driving. Considering its length and duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule and ample time to reach your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.2 miles from Prophetstown, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 9m. Total distance: 160.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While there's a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 95.7 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, the overall profile suggests a dynamic driving experience with frequent directional changes. The absence of a significant highway share further emphasizes the local character of this trip. You'll likely experience a variety of road types as you make your way from Prophetstown to Waukegan, requiring you to stay engaged behind the wheel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 95.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IL 78 / West 2nd Street.
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 11 significant decision points across 160.3 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 0.1 miles (IL 78 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 114.7 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 119.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 78 / West 2nd Street
Turn left onto IL 78 / West 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
6
114.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
119.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m in
Take the exit toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 139
Toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rock...
6
120 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International A...
7
155.5 mi into trip
|
~3h in
Take the exit toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 11A
Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Prophetstown, IL and Waukegan, IL, road signs point toward Rockford and Milwaukee.
Rockford
119.4 mi in
|
~2h 15m
Milwaukee
120 mi in
|
~2h 16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 95.7 mi | 1h 46m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 35.2 mi | 43m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 17.8 mi | 19m |
| Crosby Road | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Bishop Road | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Belvidere Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Belvidere Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| South Jackson Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 95.7 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prophetstown, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on IL 78
292 ft
·
11 sec
·
Washington Street
2
Turn left onto IL 78
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
West 2nd Street
3
Continue on IL 78
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Johnson Drive
4
Continue on IL 78
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Bishop Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto IL 78
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Crosby Road
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
7
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
18 mi
·
19 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
8
Continue on I 88; IL 110
91 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 139
Toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
12
Merge onto I 294
35 mi
·
43 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 11A
Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto IL 120
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Belvidere Road
15
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
16
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
18
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 9-minute duration, departing in the morning will allow you to reach Waukegan with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of around $25, this trip is straightforward to plan. Pay close attention to the 'turn-heavy' nature of this route; using a reliable GPS is advised to navigate the frequent directional changes smoothly. Since this is a relatively short and direct trip, you have the flexibility to leave when it's most convenient for you.
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 80.2 miles from Prophetstown, IL, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.7 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 35 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.2 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 30m
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 Prophetstown, 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 Prophetstown, IL
This is one driving day of about 160.3 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Prophetstown, 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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 95.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 80.2 mi from Prophetstown, IL · 1h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80.2 miles from Prophetstown, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 95.7 miles.
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
$25.06 one way
$50.12 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $27.52 | $55.03 |
| premium | $4.89 | $30.85 | $61.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.39 | $70.78 |
Estimated Tolls: $7.85
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(95.7 mi)
$5.74
Tri-state Tollway
(35.2 mi)
$2.11
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.1 | 0 | $16.83 | $7.69 |
| Efficient EV | 40.1 | 0 | $14.03 | $6.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.1 | 0 | $22.44 | $10.26 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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
Afternoon in Waukegan on Friday
Local time
1:54 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
11 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
3h 9m 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 Prophetstown, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 160.3 miles and takes about 3h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, Tri-State Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80.2 miles from Prophetstown, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.06 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 160.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 78 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 114.7 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 119.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Prophetstown, IL and Waukegan, IL, road signs point toward Rockford and Milwaukee.
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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