Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Rockford, IL to Waukegan, IL

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 56m

Distance

78.6 mi

127 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 48m ★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 13m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 1m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Rockford, IL, IL

Rockford, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Rockford, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 78.6 miles and takes about 1h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East Diggins Street, West IL Route 173, West Grove Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.8 miles on East Diggins Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.29 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

39.3 miles from Rockford, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 56m drive with frequent turns across 78.6 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.
East Diggins Street is the longest continuous segment at about 18.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near IL 251 / North 3rd Street.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.6 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (IL 251 / North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 31 miles (US 14; IL 173 / South Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 31.5 miles (IL 173 / East Diggins Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | IL 251 / North 3rd Street

Turn left onto IL 251 / North 3rd Street

Navigation decision point

4
31 mi into trip | ~46m in | US 14; IL 173 / South Division Street

Turn left onto US 14; IL 173 / South Division Street

Navigation decision point

4
31.5 mi into trip | ~47m in | IL 173 / East Diggins Street

Turn right onto IL 173 / East Diggins Street

Navigation decision point

6
75.3 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in

Take the exit toward IL 132: Grand Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward IL 132: Grand Avenue
8
75.5 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in

Keep slight left at fork toward IL 132 East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward IL 132 East

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Diggins Street 18.8 mi 26m
West IL Route 173 13.9 mi 21m
West Grove Street 12.4 mi 17m
North Skokie Highway 7.4 mi 8m
North 2nd Street 7.3 mi 11m
State Route 173 5.6 mi 7m
West Lane Road 4.9 mi 8m
Kenosha Road 3.7 mi 5m
Longest stretch: East Diggins Street — 18.8 mi, about 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rockford, IL and Waukegan, IL.

1

Start on West State Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · West State Street
2

Turn left onto IL 251

0.3 mi · 40 sec · North 3rd Street
3

Continue on IL 251

7.3 mi · 11 min · North 2nd Street
4

Turn right onto IL 173

4.9 mi · 8 min · West Lane Road
5

Continue on IL 173

5.6 mi · 7 min · State Route 173
6

Continue on IL 173

12 mi · 17 min · West Grove Street
7

Turn left onto US 14; IL 173

0.5 mi · 49 sec · South Division Street
8

Turn right onto IL 173

19 mi · 26 min · East Diggins Street
9

Continue on IL 173

3.7 mi · 5 min · Kenosha Road
10

Continue on IL 173

14 mi · 21 min · West IL Route 173
Use the left lane.
11

Turn right onto US 41

7.4 mi · 8 min · North Skokie Highway
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward IL 132: Grand Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork

308 ft · 10 sec
Toward IL 132 East Use the left lane.
14

Turn straight onto IL 132

2.8 mi · 5 min · Grand Avenue
Use the right lane.
15

Turn right onto North Jackson Street

0.3 mi · 37 sec · North Jackson Street
16

Arrive at destination

North Jackson Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.3 miles from Rockford, IL, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.8 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 78.6 miles or 1h 56m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 39.3 miles or 58m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 39m

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 Rockford, 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 Rockford, IL

This is one driving day of about 78.6 miles and 1h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Rockford, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on East Diggins Street for about 18.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39.3 mi from Rockford, IL · 58m into the drive

village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Palatine, IL

39 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

Palatine, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 78.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elgin, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.3 miles from Rockford, 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

$12.29 one way

$24.58 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.49 $26.98
premium $4.89 $15.13 $30.25
diesel $5.61 $17.35 $34.71

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.6 0 $8.25 $3.77
Efficient EV 19.7 0 $6.88 $3.14
EV Truck/SUV 31.4 0 $11.00 $5.03

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Rockford, IL

Late night in Rockford on Wednesday

Local time

5:30 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 15 mph 49% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:50AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:39AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Late night in Waukegan on Wednesday

Local time

5:30 AM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 15 mph 48% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:50AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:39AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

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

4 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 56m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Rockford, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 78.6 miles and takes about 1h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Diggins Street, West IL Route 173, West Grove Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.3 miles from Rockford, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.29 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.6 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (IL 251 / North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 31 miles (US 14; IL 173 / South Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 31.5 miles (IL 173 / East Diggins Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Rockford, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Waukegan, IL

Cairo, IL 411.4 mi · 7h 44m Metropolis, IL 405.1 mi · 7h 37m Anna, IL 385.3 mi · 7h 15m Cambria, IL 362.3 mi · 6h 55m

More from Rockford, IL

Cambria, IL 347.1 mi · 6h 47m Norris City, IL 346.1 mi · 6h 52m Campton, IL 339.9 mi · 6h 31m Douglas, IL 298.3 mi · 5h 35m Brooklyn, IL 292.2 mi · 5h 23m Centralia, IL 277 mi · 5h 28m

More trips to Waukegan, IL

Cairo, IL 411.7 mi Metropolis, IL 403.6 mi Cambria, IL 363.1 mi Herrin, IL 356.4 mi Quincy, IL 341.6 mi Aviston, IL 326.5 mi

Explore more options from Rockford, IL or browse trips ending in Waukegan, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.

Explore maps for Rockford, IL or Waukegan, IL on MapSof.net.