Drive Time
6h 11m
Distance
297.8 mi
479 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
Photo: Stéphane Tendon
The drive from Sumner, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 297.8 miles and takes about 6h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Christy Avenue, 1100N, East Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.21 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
148.9 miles from Sumner, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 5m into the drive .
Expect a 6h 11m drive with frequent turns across 297.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 11m, 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 Sumner, IL to Waukegan, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Christy Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 1100N | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Lincoln Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Butler Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North West Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road 1100 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Van Buren Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Sumner, IL and Waukegan, IL.
Start on West North Avenue
Turn left onto North Christy Avenue
Turn left
Turn right
Turn left onto 1100N
Turn right onto East Main Street
Turn right onto North Lincoln Avenue
Turn left onto East Butler Street
Turn right onto North West Street
Continue on County Road 1100 East
Continue on South Van Buren Street
Turn right
Turn left onto Lincoln Avenue
Continue on Illinois Route 16
Continue on Charleston Avenue East
Take the ramp slight right toward I-57 North: Champaign
Merge slight left
Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Continue on Kennedy Expressway
Continue on Edens Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway
Continue on Skokie Valley Road
Continue on South Skokie Highway
Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East
Turn straight onto Belvidere Road
Continue on Belvidere Street
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.9 miles or 3h 5m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waukegan, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Sumner, 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 Sumner, IL
This is one driving day of about 297.8 miles and 6h 11m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 148.9 mi from Sumner, IL · 3h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
149 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 148.9 miles from Sumner, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$44.21 one way
$88.43 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $49.86 | $99.73 |
| premium | $4.65 | $54.57 | $109.13 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $62.19 | $124.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89.3 | 1 | $31.27 | $14.29 |
| Efficient EV | 74.5 | 0 | $26.06 | $11.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 119.1 | 1 | $41.69 | $19.06 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Sumner on Saturday
Local time
2:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Waukegan on Saturday
Local time
2:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
47°F
Joliet, IL
149 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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