Trip from Somerset, IL to Waukegan, IL

Drive Time

6h 21m

Distance

385.8 mi

621 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$59

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

6h 9m ★

6 AM

6h 22m

8 AM

6h 47m

10 AM

6h 31m

12 PM

6h 28m

3 PM

6h 32m

5 PM

6h 46m

8 PM

6h 14m

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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Trip Overview

The drive from Somerset, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 385.8 miles and takes about 6h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Deneal Road, South Commercial Street, North Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $58.60 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

192.9 miles from Somerset, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 10m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 6h 21m drive with frequent turns across 385.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Deneal Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

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.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 21m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Somerset, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Deneal Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
South Commercial Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
North Main Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Public Square	Unavailable	Refreshing
West Main Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Ken Gray Expressway	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 57 North	Unavailable	Refreshing
Dan Ryan Expressway	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Deneal Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Somerset Road

115 ft · 12 sec · Somerset Road

Turn sharp left onto Deneal Road

1.2 mi · 4 min · Deneal Road

Continue on Deneal Road

1.4 mi · 5 min · Deneal Road

At the end of the road, turn right

2.8 mi · 3 min

Continue straight

5.9 mi · 9 min

At the end of the road, turn right onto South Commercial Street

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Commercial Street

Turn left

0.6 mi · 51 sec

Take the exit slight right

174 ft · 5 sec

Turn slight right onto North Main Street

32 mi · 47 min · North Main Street

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Public Square

407 ft · 10 sec · Public Square

Exit the rotary onto West Main Street

0.6 mi · 55 sec · West Main Street

Take the ramp slight right

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

24 mi · 26 min · Ken Gray Expressway

Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

67 mi · 1 hr 12 min · Ken Gray Expressway

Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

195 mi · 3 hr 34 min · I 57 North: Chicago

Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

3.3 mi · 4 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

7.9 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

Continue on Kennedy Expressway

8.2 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway

Continue on Edens Expressway

14 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway

3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

Continue on Skokie Valley Road

3.4 mi · 3 min · Skokie Valley Road

Continue on South Skokie Highway

8.2 mi · 10 min · South Skokie Highway

Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East

0.3 mi · 36 sec · IL 120 East

Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Belvidere Road

Continue on Belvidere Street

1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

Turn left onto South Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Jackson Street

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 192.9 miles from Somerset, IL, or about 3h 10m into the drive.

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 85 miles or 1h 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 192.9 miles or 3h 10m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 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 Somerset, 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 Somerset, IL

This is one driving day of about 385.8 miles and 6h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Somerset, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 192.9 mi from Somerset, IL · 3h 10m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Champaign, IL

193 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.

Popular next leg

Champaign, IL to Waukegan, IL

178.1 mi · 2h 55m

Pacing Suggestions

Frankfort, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 85 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Champaign, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 192.9 miles from Somerset, 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

$58.60 one way

$117.20 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 135 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$64.60	$129.20
premium	$4.80	$72.83	$145.66
diesel	$5.64	$85.71	$171.42

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$59

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$84–$109

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 135 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	115.7	1	$40.51	$18.52
Efficient EV	96.5	1	$33.76	$15.43
EV Truck/SUV	154.3	1	$54.01	$24.69

Gas CO2

135 kg

EV CO2

45 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 3 days ago

Origin

Somerset, IL

Morning in Somerset on Monday

Local time

10:50 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Morning in Waukegan on Monday

Local time

10:50 AM

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

21 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

6h 21m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Somerset, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 385.8 miles and takes about 6h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Deneal Road, South Commercial Street, North Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 192.9 miles from Somerset, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $58.60 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 21m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Somerset, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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

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