Trip from Waukegan, IL to Arcola, IL

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

4h 2m

Distance

207 mi

333 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

3h 50m ★

6 AM

4h 3m

8 AM

4h 29m

10 AM

4h 12m

12 PM

4h 9m

3 PM

4h 13m

5 PM

4h 27m

8 PM

3h 55m

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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Arcola, IL

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Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from Waukegan to Arcola, expect a 207-mile journey through the heart of the Midwest. This trip takes approximately 4 hours and 2 minutes to complete, making it a manageable drive to tackle in a single day. You will primarily navigate via Glen Rock Avenue, Belvidere Street, and South Lewis Avenue as you head south through Illinois. Budgeting about $31 for fuel should cover your travel costs for this trek. Because the route is quite turn-heavy, it requires more active attention than a straightforward highway cruise. Whether you are heading down for a weekend getaway or a quick visit, this straightforward trip offers a consistent look at the Illinois landscape.

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

103.5 miles from Waukegan, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a very different experience than your typical interstate drive, as this route consists of 0% highway travel. The path is defined by its turn-heavy, local nature, requiring you to stay engaged with the road at all times. Because there are no long highway stretches—the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on Glen Rock Avenue—you should anticipate a slower, more deliberate pace. Navigating these local roads provides a hands-on driving experience that keeps you moving through the region's interior. You will find that the constant turns define the character of this 4-hour commute, so prepare for a drive that demands your full concentration.

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

There are about 17 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 154.7 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near IL 137 / Buckley Road.

Route Complexity 6/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 207 miles you will encounter 9 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 4.1 miles (IL 137 / Buckley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (US 41 / North Skokie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.2 miles (I 90; 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 9 key points

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

4.1 mi into trip | ~8m in | IL 137 / Buckley Road

Turn right onto IL 137 / Buckley Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

5.2 mi into trip | ~10m in | US 41 / North Skokie Highway

Turn left onto US 41 / North Skokie Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

42.2 mi into trip | ~56m in | I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express

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

51 mi into trip | ~1h 8m in | I 57

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 63 Toward I 57 South: Memphis

205.7 mi into trip | ~3h 59m in

Take the exit toward IL 133: Arcola, Paris

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 203 Toward IL 133: Arcola, Paris

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 57	154.7 mi	2h 51m
Edens Expressway	13.7 mi	17m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)	8.8 mi	11m
Kennedy Expressway	8.1 mi	11m
North Skokie Highway	5.6 mi	6m
Skokie Highway	3.8 mi	4m
Skokie Valley Road	3.4 mi	3m
South Lewis Avenue	2.9 mi	5m

Longest stretch: I 57 — 154.7 mi, about 2h 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on North Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Jackson Street

Turn right onto Glen Rock Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

Turn right onto Belvidere Street

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Belvidere Street

Turn left onto South Lewis Avenue

2.9 mi · 5 min · South Lewis Avenue

Turn right onto IL 137

1.1 mi · 1 min · Buckley Road

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto US 41

5.6 mi · 6 min · North Skokie Highway

Use the left lane.

Continue on US 41

3.4 mi · 3 min · Skokie Valley Road

Continue on US 41

3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 94; US 41

14 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 90; I 94

8.1 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Continue on I 90; I 94

2.4 mi · 2 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

8.8 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57

155 mi · 2 hr 51 min · I 57

Exit 63 Toward I 57 South: Memphis Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 30 sec

Exit 203 Toward IL 133: Arcola, Paris

Turn right onto IL 133

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Springfield Road

Turn right onto South Locust Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · South Locust Street

Arrive at destination

North Locust Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a 207-mile drive with no highway segments, prioritize an early morning departure to avoid traffic buildup on local roads. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh, as the constant turning can be more fatiguing than a standard highway cruise. Keep your navigation tools handy, as the reliance on local streets like Belvidere and South Lewis means you will be making frequent adjustments to your route. Because your fuel costs are estimated at $31, consider filling up before you leave Waukegan to avoid searching for stations during the more rural portions of the drive. The flexibility of this one-day itinerary allows you to depart at your own pace, but staying alert is essential given the technical nature of the roads.

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 103.5 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 2h 6m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.7 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 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 103.5 miles or 2h 6m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arcola, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Waukegan, 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 Waukegan, IL

This is one driving day of about 207 miles and 4h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Waukegan, 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 154.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 103.5 mi from Waukegan, IL · 2h 6m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Orland Park, IL

104 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

Orland Park, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Joliet, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 103.5 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 154.7 miles.

Arriving in Arcola, IL

The final approach into Arcola, 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 Arcola, 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

$32.36 one way

$64.72 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 72 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$35.53	$71.06
premium	$4.89	$39.84	$79.67
diesel	$5.61	$45.70	$91.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 72.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	62.1	0	$21.73	$9.94
Efficient EV	51.8	0	$18.11	$8.28
EV Truck/SUV	82.8	1	$28.98	$13.25

Gas CO2

72 kg

EV CO2

24 kg (67% 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 5 days ago

Origin

Waukegan, IL

Afternoon in Waukegan on Tuesday

Local time

3:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arcola, IL

Afternoon in Arcola on Tuesday

Local time

3:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°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

12 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

4h 2m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Waukegan, IL to Arcola, IL covers 207 miles and takes about 4h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 57, Edens Expressway, Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 103.5 miles from Waukegan, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.36 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.