Origin
Round Lake Heights, IL
Afternoon in Round Lake Heights on Sunday
Local time
4:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Round Lake Heights, IL to Waukegan, IL
Drive Time
26m
Distance
14.4 mi
23 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Round Lake Heights, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 14.4 miles and takes about 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Grand Avenue, West Rollins Road, North Jackson Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 8.1 miles on West Grand Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.19 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
7.2 miles from Round Lake Heights, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 26m drive with frequent turns across 14.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 6 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Grand Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 8.1 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
813 ft
654 ft
Total Climb
129 ft
Total Descent
262 ft
Highest Point
813 ft
~1.8 mi in
Elevation Range
160 ft
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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Brentwood Drive.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 26m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Brentwood Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Rollins Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (IL 132 / West Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Brentwood Drive
Turn left onto Brentwood Drive
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Rollins Road
Turn left onto West Rollins Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
IL 132 / West Grand Avenue
Turn right onto IL 132 / West Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
4
14.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
North Jackson Street
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Grand Avenue | 8.1 mi | 14m |
| West Rollins Road | 5.9 mi | 11m |
| North Jackson Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Brentwood Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Tomahawk Trail | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Grand Avenue
— 8.1 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Round Lake Heights, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on Tomahawk Trail
50 ft
·
3 sec
·
Tomahawk Trail
2
Turn left onto Brentwood Drive
360 ft
·
21 sec
·
Brentwood Drive
3
Turn left onto West Rollins Road
5.9 mi
·
11 min
·
West Rollins Road
Use the none lane.
4
Turn right onto IL 132
8.1 mi
·
14 min
·
West Grand Avenue
Use the none lane.
5
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Jackson Street
6
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 7.2 miles from Round Lake Heights, IL, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.1 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 14.4 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 7.2 miles or 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 22m
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 Round Lake Heights, 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 Round Lake Heights, IL
This is one driving day of about 14.4 miles and 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Round Lake Heights, 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 West Grand Avenue for about 8.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 7.2 mi from Round Lake Heights, IL · 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 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 14.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 7.2 miles from Round Lake Heights, 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
$2.19 one way
$4.37 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $2.41 | $4.82 |
| premium | $4.80 | $2.72 | $5.44 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.20 | $6.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.51 | $0.69 |
| Efficient EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.26 | $0.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.02 | $0.92 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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 Sunday
Local time
4:20 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
6 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
26m 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 Round Lake Heights, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 14.4 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Grand Avenue, West Rollins Road, North Jackson Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.2 miles from Round Lake Heights, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.19 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 is a straightforward 26m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Brentwood Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Rollins Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (IL 132 / West Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Round Lake Heights, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 654 ft to 813 ft elevation with about 129 ft of total climbing.
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