Trip from Waukegan, IL to Arthur, IL

Drive Time

4h 17m

Distance

212.7 mi

342 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 40 min

4 AM

4h 4m ★

6 AM

4h 17m

8 AM

4h 44m

10 AM

4h 26m

12 PM

4h 24m

3 PM

4h 28m

5 PM

4h 42m

8 PM

4h 9m

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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Arthur, IL

Stéphane Tendon

Trip Overview

Traveling from Waukegan to Arthur covers 212.7 miles of Illinois landscape, typically taking about 4 hours and 17 minutes of driving time. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than an interstate sprint, it is best suited for a one-day trip. You should budget approximately $32 for fuel to complete the journey. Navigating through the heart of the Midwest, you will rely on local roads like Glen Rock Avenue, Belvidere Street, and South Lewis Avenue rather than major highways. This route is ideal if you prefer a slower pace and want to avoid the congestion often found on primary transit corridors.

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

106.4 miles from Waukegan, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a hands-on driving experience that prioritizes local navigation over highway cruising. With a highway share of 0%, this route is entirely composed of local roads, requiring your full attention as you maneuver through turns. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on Glen Rock Avenue, meaning you will be making frequent adjustments rather than settling into a long, monotonous interstate rhythm. This path offers a consistent, technical feel from start to finish. If you enjoy driving that keeps you actively engaged with the road layout, this trek through the Illinois countryside will suit your style perfectly.

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.

Glen Rock Avenue 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 17m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waukegan, IL to Arthur, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Glen Rock Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
Belvidere Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
South Lewis Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
Buckley Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
North Skokie Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Skokie Valley Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
Skokie Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Edens Expressway	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Glen Rock Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Arthur, 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 · 34 sec · Belvidere Street

Turn left onto South Lewis Avenue

2.9 mi · 5 min · South Lewis Avenue

Turn right onto Buckley Road

1.1 mi · 1 min · Buckley Road

Turn left onto North Skokie Highway

5.6 mi · 6 min · North Skokie Highway

Continue on Skokie Valley Road

3.4 mi · 3 min · Skokie Valley Road

Continue on Skokie Highway

3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

Continue on Edens Expressway

14 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

Continue on Kennedy Expressway

8.1 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway

Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

2.4 mi · 2 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

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

Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

138 mi · 2 hr 33 min · I 57 South: Memphis

Take the exit slight right toward US 45: Tolono, Pesotum, Tuscola

0.3 mi · 28 sec · US 45: Tolono, Pesotum, Tuscola

Turn straight

8.0 mi · 11 min

Turn right

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Turn straight onto County Road 950 North

8.9 mi · 12 min · County Road 950 North

Continue on United States Route 36

0.6 mi · 57 sec · United States Route 36

Turn left onto North County Road 000 East

4.6 mi · 6 min · North County Road 000 East

Continue on North Vine Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Vine Street

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since the trip takes just over four hours, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever you feel most alert. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refresh, as the turn-heavy nature of these local roads can be more tiring than a straight highway drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Waukegan to ensure you stay within your $32 budget, as local routes may have less frequent access to major service stations. Because there is no highway driving, allow extra time for potential traffic signals and lower speed limits in the towns you pass through. Focus on navigating the turns on Glen Rock Avenue carefully to maintain a smooth, steady pace.

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 106.4 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 2h 8m 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 80 miles or 1h 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 106.4 miles or 2h 8m 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 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arthur, 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 212.7 miles and 4h 17m.

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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 106.4 mi from Waukegan, IL · 2h 8m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Addison, IL

106 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

Addison, IL

Fuel and coffee

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

Addison, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 106.4 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Arthur, IL

The final approach into Arthur, 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 Arthur, 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

$32.31 one way

$64.61 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 74 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$35.61	$71.23
premium	$4.80	$40.15	$80.31
diesel	$5.64	$47.25	$94.51

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: 74.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	63.8	0	$22.33	$10.21
Efficient EV	53.2	0	$18.61	$8.51
EV Truck/SUV	85.1	1	$29.78	$13.61

Gas CO2

74 kg

EV CO2

25 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Waukegan, IL

Evening in Waukegan on Sunday

Local time

5:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arthur, IL

Evening in Arthur on Sunday

Local time

5:34 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 17m 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 Arthur, IL covers 212.7 miles and takes about 4h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Glen Rock Avenue, Belvidere Street, South Lewis Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 106.4 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 $32.31 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.

This is a straightforward 4h 17m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waukegan, IL to Arthur, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Waukegan, IL to Arthur, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.