The drive from Sidney, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 192.2 miles and takes about 3h 55m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, Edens Expressway, I 74 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 117.8 miles on I 57.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.05 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
96.1 miles from Sidney, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
117.8 mi
2h 11m
Edens Expressway
13.5 mi
17m
I 74
10.3 mi
11m
South Skokie Highway
8.2 mi
10m
Kennedy Expressway
8.2 mi
11m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi
11m
County Road 12
5.8 mi
10m
Skokie Highway
3.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 117.8 mi, about 2h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sidney, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on South David Street
336 ft·16 sec·South David Street
2
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Main Street
3
Turn left onto CR 2125E
2.6 mi·4 min·County Road 12
4
Keep slight left at fork onto County Road 12
3.2 mi·5 min·County Road 12
5
Continue on Water Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Water Street
6
Keep slight right at fork onto South Elm Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·South Elm Street
7
Turn right onto West Sherman Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·West Sherman Street
8
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 74 West: Champaign
10
Merge onto I 74
10 mi·11 min·I 74
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 182Toward Neil Street
12
Keep slight right at fork onto North Neil Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·North Neil Street
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right onto East Marketview Drive
0.3 mi·37 sec·East Marketview Drive
14
At end of road, turn left onto North Market Street
3.0 mi·4 min·North Market Street
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I-57 North: Kankakee
16
Merge onto I 57
118 mi·2 hr 11 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi·4 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
7.9 mi·11 min·Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi·11 min·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 94
14 mi·17 min·Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
3.8 mi·4 min·Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi·3 min·Skokie Valley Road
23
Continue on US 41
8.2 mi·10 min·South Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward IL 120 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn straight onto IL 120
0.3 mi·33 sec·Belvidere Road
26
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi·3 min·Belvidere Street
27
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
28
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Jackson Street
29
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
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 96.1 miles from Sidney, IL, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117.8 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 42 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.1 miles or 1h 55m 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 9m
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 Sidney, 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 Sidney, IL
This is one driving day of about 192.2 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Sidney, 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 57 for about 117.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.2 and 189 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.2 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the ramp toward I 74 West: Champaign
Navigation decision point
Toward I 74 West: Champaign
7
19.1 mi into trip|~27m in|North Neil Street
Keep slight right at fork onto North Neil Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
144 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Roa...
6
173.6 mi into trip|~3h 30m in|US 41 / Skokie Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41 / Skokie Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
189 mi into trip|~3h 48m in
Take the exit toward IL 120 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward IL 120 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.05 one way
$60.10 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.99
$65.98
premium
$4.89
$36.99
$73.97
diesel
$5.61
$42.44
$84.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.7
0
$20.18
$9.23
Efficient EV
48.1
0
$16.82
$7.69
EV Truck/SUV
76.9
0
$26.91
$12.30
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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 as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Sidney, IL
Afternoon
in Sidney on Saturday
Local time
12:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Afternoon
in Waukegan on Saturday
Local time
12:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 mph48% chanceLive 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
15 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 55m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 139.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a 3h 55m highway drive covering 192.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and Edens Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 117.8 miles on I 57.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 117.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Edens Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.2 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 192.2 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 8.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 19.1 miles (North Neil Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 144 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 55m. Total distance: 192.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Sidney, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 192.2 miles and takes about 3h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Edens Expressway, I 74. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 96.1 miles from Sidney, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.05 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 20 significant decision points across 192.2 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 8.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 19.1 miles (North Neil Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 144 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Sidney, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
