Trip from South Beloit, IL to Waukegan, IL

Drive Time

1h 46m

Distance

80.8 mi

130 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

1h 39m ★

6 AM

1h 47m

8 AM

2h 2m

10 AM

1h 52m

12 PM

1h 51m

3 PM

1h 53m

5 PM

2h 2m

8 PM

1h 42m

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 South Beloit, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 80.8 miles and takes about 1h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 43, US 12, West IL Route 173 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.7 miles on I 43. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.27 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

40.4 miles from South Beloit, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 1h 46m highway drive covering 80.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 43 and US 12. The longest continuous stretch is about 24.7 miles on I 43.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 43 is the longest continuous segment at about 24.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and US 12. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 32.2 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 80.8 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 32.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 51 miles (IL 173 / Kenosha Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

32.2 mi into trip | ~40m in

Take the exit toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 27A Toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva

32.6 mi into trip | ~41m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

51 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in | IL 173 / Kenosha Street

Turn left onto IL 173 / Kenosha Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

77.5 mi into trip | ~1h 39m 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

77.7 mi into trip | ~1h 39m 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
I 43	24.7 mi	26m
US 12	18 mi	20m
West IL Route 173	13.9 mi	21m
North Skokie Highway	7.4 mi	8m
Kenosha Road	3.7 mi	5m
Gateway Boulevard	2.8 mi	4m
Grand Avenue	2.8 mi	5m
Gardner Street	1.9 mi	3m

Longest stretch: I 43 — 24.7 mi, about 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on IL 75

1.9 mi · 3 min · Gardner Street

Turn left onto Willow Brook Road

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Willow Brook Road

Turn right onto County Highway P

0.4 mi · 36 sec · State Line Road

Continue on CTH P

0.8 mi · 1 min · County Highway P

Turn left onto Gateway Boulevard

2.8 mi · 4 min · Gateway Boulevard

Turn right onto WI 81

0.2 mi · 25 sec · State Highway 81

Continue on WI 81

0.6 mi · 1 min · Millington Road

Enter roundabout onto CTH X

203 ft · 3 sec · East Hart Road

Continue on CTH X

397 ft · 6 sec · East Hart Road

Continue

0.5 mi · 59 sec

Merge onto I 43

25 mi · 26 min · I 43

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec

Exit 27A Toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 55 sec

Use the none lane.

Merge onto US 12

18 mi · 20 min · US 12

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto IL 173

1.5 mi · 2 min · Kenosha Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on IL 173

3.7 mi · 5 min · Kenosha Road

Continue on IL 173

14 mi · 21 min · West IL Route 173

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto US 41

7.4 mi · 8 min · North Skokie Highway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Toward IL 132: Grand Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

308 ft · 10 sec

Toward IL 132 East Use the left lane.

Turn straight onto IL 132

2.8 mi · 5 min · Grand Avenue

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto North Jackson Street

0.3 mi · 37 sec · North Jackson Street

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 40.4 miles from South Beloit, IL, or about 50m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.7 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 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 40.4 miles or 50m 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 28m

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 South Beloit, 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 South Beloit, IL

This is one driving day of about 80.8 miles and 1h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from South Beloit, 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 I 43 for about 24.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 40.4 mi from South Beloit, IL · 50m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Palatine, IL

40 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elgin, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 40.4 miles from South Beloit, 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

$12.27 one way

$24.55 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$13.53	$27.06
premium	$4.80	$15.25	$30.51
diesel	$5.64	$17.95	$35.90

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: 28.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	24.2	$8.48	$3.88
Efficient EV	20.2	$7.07	$3.23
EV Truck/SUV	32.3	$11.31	$5.17

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 3 days ago

Origin

South Beloit, IL

Evening in South Beloit on Sunday

Local time

5:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Evening in Waukegan on Sunday

Local time

5:36 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

1 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 46m 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 South Beloit, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 80.8 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 43, US 12, West IL Route 173. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 40.4 miles from South Beloit, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.27 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.