Trip from Rome, IL to Waukegan, IL

Drive Time

3h 32m

Distance

179.1 mi

288 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min

4 AM

3h 20m ★

6 AM

3h 32m

8 AM

3h 57m

10 AM

3h 41m

12 PM

3h 38m

3 PM

3h 42m

5 PM

3h 56m

8 PM

3h 25m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Rome, IL

Claudia Solano

Trip Overview

Traveling from Rome to Waukegan covers approximately 179.1 miles, making for a manageable journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 32 minutes. Because this is a straightforward trek through the Illinois Midwest, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend around $27 on fuel for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. The route relies on major arteries including I-80, I-55, and the Tri-State Tollway. Whether you are heading north for business or a change of scenery, this drive offers a practical connection between two distinct Illinois locales.

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

89.5 miles from Rome, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience that leans heavily on interstate travel, with highway driving accounting for 57% of your time behind the wheel. You will spend a significant portion of the journey navigating high-speed corridors, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 65 miles on I-80. While the transition between regional interstate systems keeps the route moving quickly, the character of the drive shifts as you move from the quieter stretches near Rome onto the busier segments of the Tri-State Tollway. Prepare for a blend of open road cruising and the denser traffic patterns common as you approach the Waukegan area.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 65 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 103.6 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 179.1 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 103.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 130.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 132.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

103.6 mi into trip | ~1h 53m in

Take the exit toward I 55 North: Chicago

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

Use the right lane. Exit 126B Toward I 55 North: Chicago

130.5 mi into trip | ~2h 27m in

Take the exit toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin

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

Use the right lane. Exit 277A Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin

132.1 mi into trip | ~2h 31m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 294 North: Wisconsin

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane. Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin

137.2 mi into trip | ~2h 37m in | I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

174.2 mi into trip | ~3h 22m 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

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 80	65 mi	1h 9m
Tri-State Tollway	41.8 mi	50m
I 55	26.6 mi	32m
County Road 1400 East	17.8 mi	20m
South 4th Street	9.1 mi	10m
I 180	8.9 mi	9m
Belvidere Road	1.9 mi	2m
Belvidere Street	1.6 mi	3m

Longest stretch: I 80 — 65 mi, about 1h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on IL 29

1.3 mi · 1 min · North State Route 29

Continue on IL 29

9.1 mi · 10 min · South 4th Street

Continue on IL 29

1.1 mi · 1 min · Railroad Street

Continue on IL 29

18 mi · 20 min · County Road 1400 East

Merge onto I 180

8.9 mi · 9 min · I 180

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 43 sec

Toward I 80 East: Joliet

Merge onto I 80

65 mi · 1 hr 9 min · I 80

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec

Exit 126B Toward I 55 North: Chicago Use the right lane.

Merge onto I 55

27 mi · 32 min · I 55

Use the none / straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

1.6 mi · 3 min

Exit 277A Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin Use the right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin Use the none lane.

Merge onto I 294

4.8 mi · 5 min · Tri-State Tollway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 294

37 mi · 45 min · Tri-State Tollway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Exit 11A Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto IL 120

1.9 mi · 2 min · Belvidere Road

Use the none lane.

Continue on IL 120

1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto South Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Jackson Street

Arrive at destination

North Jackson Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a 3.5-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns to ensure a smoother experience. Aim to complete the trip with just one well-timed stop, which is sufficient given the duration of the journey. Keep in mind that the Tri-State Tollway is a primary component of your approach, so having your payment method ready for tolls will help you avoid unnecessary delays. Because you are traversing several major interstates, monitor your fuel levels before hitting the longer 65-mile stretches to ensure you don't have to pull off in a hurry. Being prepared for these high-speed sections will make your arrival in Waukegan much more relaxed.

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 89.5 miles from Rome, IL, or about 1h 38m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 89.5 miles or 1h 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 2h 49m

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 Rome, 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 Rome, IL

This is one driving day of about 179.1 miles and 3h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Rome, 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 I 80 for about 65 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 89.5 mi from Rome, IL · 1h 38m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Joliet, IL

90 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

Aurora, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Joliet, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 89.5 miles from Rome, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65 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

$27.20 one way

$54.41 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 63 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$29.99	$59.98
premium	$4.80	$33.81	$67.62
diesel	$5.64	$39.79	$79.58

Estimated Tolls: $2.51

Tri-state Tollway (41.8 mi) $2.51

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

$27

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	53.7	$18.81	$8.60
Efficient EV	44.8	$15.67	$7.16
EV Truck/SUV	71.6	$25.07	$11.46

Gas CO2

63 kg

EV CO2

21 kg (67% 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 2 days ago

Origin

Rome, IL

Evening in Rome on Sunday

Local time

6:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Evening in Waukegan on Sunday

Local time

6:03 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

3h 32m 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 Rome, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 179.1 miles and takes about 3h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 80, Tri-State Tollway, I 55. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 89.5 miles from Rome, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.20 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.

The route from Rome, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Waukegan, IL to Rome, IL

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179 mi 3h 32m

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Trip from Rome, IL to Waukegan, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Waukegan, IL

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Rome, IL

Waukegan, IL

Same local time

12 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 32m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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