Origin
Waukegan, IL
Afternoon in Waukegan on Sunday
Local time
4:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waukegan, IL to Atwood, IL
Drive Time
4h 9m
Distance
207.3 mi
334 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 56m
★
6 AM
4h 9m
8 AM
4h 35m
10 AM
4h 18m
12 PM
4h 16m
3 PM
4h 20m
5 PM
4h 34m
8 PM
4h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atwood, IL
Mike Tyurin
Trip Overview
Spanning 207.3 miles through the heart of Illinois, this journey from Waukegan to Atwood takes approximately 4 hours and 9 minutes of driving time. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, it demands more focus than a standard interstate cruise. You should budget about $31 for fuel to complete the trip, which is easily manageable as a single-day excursion. Given the manageable duration, there is no need to split this into an overnight stay unless you prefer a leisurely pace. Both your starting point in Waukegan and your destination in Atwood sit firmly within the Midwest, offering a consistent regional feel as you traverse the state.
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
103.6 miles from Waukegan, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 4m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a hands-on driving experience, as this route avoids highways entirely with a 0% highway share. You will navigate a series of local roads, including Glen Rock Avenue, Belvidere Street, and South Lewis Avenue, which keep you engaged with constant turning rather than long, straight stretches. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on Glen Rock Avenue, you should prepare for a journey defined by frequent maneuvers rather than monotonous cruising. This profile creates a technical, turn-heavy atmosphere that feels distinct from the typical high-speed interstate commute. Staying alert is essential, as the nature of these local roads requires consistent attention to navigation throughout the entire 207.3-mile trip.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 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 9m 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 Atwood, 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 Atwood, IL.
1
Start on North Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Jackson Street
2
Turn right onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
3
Turn right onto Belvidere Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Belvidere Street
4
Turn left onto South Lewis Avenue
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
South Lewis Avenue
5
Turn right onto Buckley Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Buckley Road
6
Turn left onto North Skokie Highway
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
North Skokie Highway
7
Continue on Skokie Valley Road
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
8
Continue on Skokie Highway
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
9
Continue on Edens Expressway
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
10
Continue on Kennedy Expressway
8.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
11
Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
12
Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
13
Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis
138 mi
·
2 hr 33 min
·
I 57 South: Memphis
14
Take the exit slight right toward US 45: Tolono, Pesotum, Tuscola
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
US 45: Tolono, Pesotum, Tuscola
15
Turn straight
8.0 mi
·
11 min
16
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
17
Turn straight onto County Road 950 North
8.8 mi
·
12 min
·
County Road 950 North
18
Turn right onto Main Street
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
Main Street
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Planning your departure for early in the day is your best bet to handle the high volume of turns comfortably before fatigue sets in. Since this is a turn-heavy local route, build in at least one scheduled stop to stretch your legs and reset your focus. Keep a close eye on your navigation, as the lack of highway segments means you will be relying on local signage and road transitions for the duration of the 4-hour and 9-minute trek. Budgeting $31 for fuel is a solid baseline, but consider keeping a little extra in your travel fund for mid-route flexibility. A smart tip for this specific drive is to download your map for offline use, as local road navigation can be trickier than staying on a single interstate corridor.
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 103.6 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 2h 4m 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 103.6 miles or 2h 4m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atwood, 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 207.3 miles and 4h 9m.
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 103.6 mi from Waukegan, IL · 2h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 103.6 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Atwood, IL
The final approach into Atwood, 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 Atwood, 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
$31.49 one way
$62.97 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $34.71 | $69.42 |
| premium | $4.80 | $39.13 | $78.27 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $46.05 | $92.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.2 | 0 | $21.77 | $9.95 |
| Efficient EV | 51.8 | 0 | $18.14 | $8.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.9 | 1 | $29.02 | $13.27 |
Gas CO2
73 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.
Destination
Atwood, IL
Afternoon in Atwood on Sunday
Local time
4:21 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 9m 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 Atwood, IL covers 207.3 miles and takes about 4h 9m 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 103.6 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 $31.49 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 9m 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 Atwood, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waukegan, IL to Atwood, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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