Origin
Sugar Grove, IL
Night in Sugar Grove on Sunday
Local time
10:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sugar Grove, IL to Waukegan, IL
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
71.1 mi
114 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sugar Grove, IL
Skyler Ewing
Trip Overview
Connecting Sugar Grove to Waukegan, this 71.1-mile journey across the Illinois Midwest typically takes about 1 hour and 17 minutes. Because the route is relatively short, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. You will navigate via a combination of Cross Street, Route 30, and IL 56 East. This drive is best viewed as a straightforward local transit rather than a destination-focused road trip, making it an efficient way to cross the region.
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
35.5 miles from Sugar Grove, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 38m into the drive .
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Since the route features a 0% highway share, you will not be dealing with the monotony of long, straight interstate stretches. Navigating through local roads means you will frequently transition between streets, with no long uninterrupted segments like the 0-mile stretch on Cross Street. This is a technical, hands-on drive that requires your full attention as you navigate through the local Illinois landscape. You won't find high-speed cruising here, so adjust your expectations for a slower, more deliberate pace.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Cross Street 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Sugar Grove, IL to Waukegan, IL is easy. At 1h 17m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sugar Grove, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cross Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Route 30 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IL 56 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 294 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 294 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tri-State Tollway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IL 120 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Cross Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sugar Grove, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on the route
75 ft
·
11 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left
69 ft
·
7 sec
3
Turn right onto Cross Street
269 ft
·
14 sec
·
Cross Street
4
Turn left onto United States Route 30
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
United States Route 30
5
Take the exit slight right toward IL 56 East: Chicago
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
IL 56 East: Chicago
6
Merge slight left
25 mi
·
30 min
7
Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
10
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
35 mi
·
43 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
11
Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
12
Turn straight onto Belvidere Road
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Belvidere Road
13
Continue on Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
14
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
15
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
16
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 71.1-mile route, plan to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on local roads. Since there are zero scheduled stops, you have the flexibility to pull over whenever you need a break, though you should keep an eye on your fuel gauge to ensure you don't dip below that $11 estimated cost. Because you will be navigating local turns rather than highway exits, use a reliable GPS to track your specific sequence of roads like IL 56 East and Route 30. Staying alert for changing speed limits on these local thoroughfares is key to a smooth journey. Take advantage of the short duration to remain flexible with your departure time, as the lack of highway miles makes this an easy trip to manage on your own schedule.
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 35.5 miles from Sugar Grove, IL, or about 38m 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 71.1 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.5 miles or 38m 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 5m
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 Sugar Grove, 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 Sugar Grove, IL
This is one driving day of about 71.1 miles and 1h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sugar Grove, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.5 mi from Sugar Grove, IL · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 71.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.5 miles from Sugar Grove, 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
$10.80 one way
$21.60 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $11.91 | $23.81 |
| premium | $4.80 | $13.42 | $26.84 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $15.80 | $31.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.47 | $3.41 |
| Efficient EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.22 | $2.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.95 | $4.55 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Night in Waukegan on Sunday
Local time
10:19 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
31 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 17m 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 Sugar Grove, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 71.1 miles and takes about 1h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Cross Street, Route 30, IL 56 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.5 miles from Sugar Grove, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.80 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.
The drive from Sugar Grove, IL to Waukegan, IL is easy. At 1h 17m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sugar Grove, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sugar Grove, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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