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Trip from Streamwood, IL to Waukegan, IL

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 3m

Distance

37.8 mi

61 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 58m ★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m

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

Downtown Streamwood, IL, IL

Streamwood, IL

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Streamwood, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 37.8 miles and takes about 1h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Hough Road, Belvidere Road, New Sutton Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 6.4 miles on North Hough Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.91 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

18.9 miles from Streamwood, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 31m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 1h 3m drive with frequent turns across 37.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Hough Road is the longest continuous segment at about 6.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near V47 / South Bartlett Road.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 37.8 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (V47 / South Bartlett Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.9 miles (IL 59 / New Sutton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles (IL 176): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | V47 / South Bartlett Road

At end of road, turn right onto V47 / South Bartlett Road

Navigation decision point

5
3.9 mi into trip | ~7m in | IL 59 / New Sutton Road

Turn right onto IL 59 / New Sutton Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
21.5 mi into trip | ~36m in | IL 176

Turn right onto IL 176

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
23.5 mi into trip | ~39m in | Schank Avenue

Turn left onto Schank Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
36.9 mi into trip | ~1h in | Glen Rock Avenue

Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Hough Road 6.4 mi 10m
Belvidere Road 6.3 mi 9m
New Sutton Road 4.5 mi 6m
Ivanhoe Road 3.7 mi 6m
West Liberty Street 3.4 mi 6m
South Bartlett Road 3.2 mi 6m
IL 176 2 mi 2m
Belvidere Street 1.6 mi 3m
Longest stretch: North Hough Road — 6.4 mi, about 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Cypress Drive

0.1 mi · 37 sec · Cypress Drive
2

At end of road, turn right onto V47

3.2 mi · 6 min · South Bartlett Road
3

Turn left onto IL 72

0.5 mi · 54 sec · West Higgins Road
4

Turn right onto IL 59

2.9 mi · 4 min · New Sutton Road
Use the right lane.
5

Continue on IL 59; IL 68

1.4 mi · 1 min · Dundee Road
6

Continue on IL 59

1.7 mi · 2 min · New Sutton Road
7

Continue on South Hough Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Hough Street
8

Continue on IL 59

6.4 mi · 10 min · North Hough Road
Use the right lane.
9

Continue on Barrington Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Barrington Road
10

Turn right onto IL 176

3.4 mi · 6 min · West Liberty Street
11

Turn right onto IL 176

1.9 mi · 2 min · IL 176
Use the left lane.
12

Continue on IL 176

152 ft · 3 sec · IL 176
13

Turn left onto Schank Avenue

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Schank Avenue
Use the left lane.
14

Continue on IL 83

3.7 mi · 6 min · Ivanhoe Road
15

Continue on South Atkinson Road

0.5 mi · 59 sec · South Atkinson Road
16

Turn right onto IL 120

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Belvidere Road
17

Continue on IL 120

6.3 mi · 9 min · Belvidere Road
Use the left lane.
18

Continue on IL 120

1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street
19

Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
20

Turn left onto South Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Jackson Street
21

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 18.9 miles from Streamwood, IL, or about 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.4 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 37.8 miles or 1h 3m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 18.9 miles or 31m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 52m

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 Streamwood, 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 Streamwood, IL

This is one driving day of about 37.8 miles and 1h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Streamwood, 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 North Hough Road for about 6.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 18.9 mi from Streamwood, IL · 31m into the drive

village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Palatine, IL

19 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 37.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Palatine, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.9 miles from Streamwood, 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

$5.91 one way

$11.82 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $6.49 $12.98
premium $4.89 $7.27 $14.55
diesel $5.61 $8.35 $16.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.3 0 $3.97 $1.81
Efficient EV 9.5 0 $3.31 $1.51
EV Truck/SUV 15.1 0 $5.29 $2.42

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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 1 day ago

Origin

Streamwood, IL

Morning in Streamwood on Wednesday

Local time

7:21 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Morning in Waukegan on Wednesday

Local time

7:21 AM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 15 mph 84% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:43PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:43PM CDT until April 19 at 1:00AM 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

1h 3m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Streamwood, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 37.8 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Hough Road, Belvidere Road, New Sutton Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.9 miles from Streamwood, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.91 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 37.8 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (V47 / South Bartlett Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.9 miles (IL 59 / New Sutton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles (IL 176): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Streamwood, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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