Origin
Urbana, IL
Evening in Urbana on Wednesday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Urbana, IL to Waukegan, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 36m
Distance
176.3 mi
284 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 24m
★
6 AM
3h 36m
8 AM
4h 1m
10 AM
3h 45m
12 PM
3h 42m
3 PM
3h 46m
5 PM
4h 0m
8 PM
3h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Urbana, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 176.3-mile drive from Urbana, IL, to Waukegan, IL, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 36 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-57 and the Edens Expressway, this route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 86% of the journey on high-speed roads. Your estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest journey is around $28. It's a straightforward drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently, making it a practical option for a quick trip within Illinois.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88.2 miles from Urbana, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 176.3-mile route, with 86% of your travel occurring on major expressways like I-57 and the Edens Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 117.8 miles on I-57, offering a consistent pace. While predominantly high-speed, the transition into the Chicago metropolitan area via the Edens Expressway will introduce more traffic and a change in scenery. This drive prioritizes efficiency over winding backroads.
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 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 117.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Edens Expressway. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 176.3 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Race Street): Navigation decision point; at 128.1 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Race Street
Turn right onto South Race Street
Navigation decision point
8
128.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 30m in
|
I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Roa...
6
157.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m in
|
US 41 / Skokie Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41 / Skokie Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
173.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 29m in
Take the exit toward IL 120 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward IL 120 East
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 117.8 mi | 2h 11m |
| Edens Expressway | 13.5 mi | 17m |
| South Skokie Highway | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| Skokie Highway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| North Market Street | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Skokie Valley Road | 3.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 117.8 mi, about 2h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Urbana, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on this road
46 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
121 ft
·
10 sec
3
Turn right
196 ft
·
16 sec
4
Turn right onto South Race Street
284 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Race Street
5
Turn left onto West Green Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Green Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto South Goodwin Avenue
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South Goodwin Avenue
7
Turn left onto West Bradley Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Bradley Avenue
8
Turn right onto North Market Street
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
North Market Street
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I-57 North: Kankakee
10
Merge onto I 57
118 mi
·
2 hr 11 min
·
I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 94
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
17
Continue on US 41
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
South Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward IL 120 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto IL 120
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Belvidere Road
20
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
21
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
23
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 36-minute duration, this trip is best suited for a single day. You'll want to aim for an early morning departure to potentially avoid heavier traffic, especially as you approach the Chicago area. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in planning your breaks; consider stopping midway through the longest stretch on I-57. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $28, and plan your refueling accordingly before entering more congested areas.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 88.2 miles from Urbana, IL, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117.8 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 39 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.2 miles or 1h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 53m
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 Urbana, 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 Urbana, IL
This is one driving day of about 176.3 miles and 3h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Urbana, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 117.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 88.2 mi from Urbana, IL · 1h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 88.2 miles from Urbana, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 117.8 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.56 one way
$55.12 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $30.26 | $60.53 |
| premium | $4.89 | $33.93 | $67.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.92 | $77.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.9 | 0 | $18.51 | $8.46 |
| Efficient EV | 44.1 | 0 | $15.43 | $7.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70.5 | 0 | $24.68 | $11.28 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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
Evening in Waukegan on Wednesday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
9 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
3h 36m 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 Urbana, IL to Waukegan, IL covers 176.3 miles and takes about 3h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Edens Expressway, South Skokie Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.2 miles from Urbana, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.56 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 176.3 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Race Street): Navigation decision point; at 128.1 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Urbana, IL to Waukegan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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