Origin
Waukegan, IL
Evening in Waukegan on Sunday
Local time
6:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
6h 18m
Distance
330.3 mi
532 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aviston, IL
Yusuf Çelik
Traveling from Waukegan to Aviston covers 330.3 miles through the heart of Illinois, typically taking about 6 hours and 18 minutes to complete. Because the route is straightforward and heavily highway-focused, it is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $50 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the Midwest landscape, you will rely primarily on the Edens Expressway and I-57 to make your way south. While you could certainly stretch this into a two-day excursion, most drivers will find that a single day of travel is perfectly sufficient to reach your destination.
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
165.1 miles from Waukegan, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 14m into the drive .
Expect a drive defined by efficiency, as 87% of your time will be spent on highways. You will experience a significant, long-haul stretch of 241.7 miles while cruising along I-57, which serves as the backbone of your journey. The road transitions from the dense, high-traffic corridors near Waukegan to the more open, consistent interstate stretches that characterize the drive southward. It is a functional, highway-focused route that prioritizes speed over technical maneuvering or winding backroads. Prepare for a steady, predictable rhythm behind the wheel as you traverse the state from north to south.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and West Missouri Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near South Lewis Avenue.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 330.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (South Lewis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (IL 137 / Buckley Road): 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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto South Lewis Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto IL 137 / Buckley Road
Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
On the drive from Waukegan, IL to Aviston, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Sandoval along the way.
Sandoval
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 241.7 mi | 4h 24m |
| West Missouri Avenue | 14.1 mi | 16m |
| Edens Expressway | 13.7 mi | 17m |
| US 50 | 13.1 mi | 15m |
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Aviston, IL.
Start on North Jackson Street
Turn right onto Glen Rock Avenue
Turn right onto Belvidere Street
Turn left onto South Lewis Avenue
Turn right onto IL 137
Turn left onto US 41
Continue on US 41
Continue on US 41
Continue on I 94; US 41
Continue on I 90; I 94
Continue on I 90; I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto US 50
Continue on US 50
Continue on US 50
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; US 51
Continue on US 50; US 51
Turn right onto US 50
Turn right onto US 50; IL 127
Turn left onto US 50
Turn left onto Russland Road
Turn left onto Old US Hwy 50
Continue on Harrison Street
Turn right onto Clinton Street
Turn left onto 2nd Street
Arrive at destination
To make the most of your 6-hour and 18-minute trek, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since you are spending nearly the entire journey on major interstates, keep a close eye on local traffic reports near Waukegan before you depart to avoid initial congestion. Because the longest segment spans over 240 miles on I-57, make sure your vehicle is prepped for a sustained period of high-speed travel. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to beat potential bottlenecks and ensure you arrive in Aviston with plenty of daylight left. Flexibility is a major advantage here, as the simple road network allows you to adjust your pace easily based on how you feel throughout the day.
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 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.1 miles or 3h 14m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aviston, IL than in the middle of the route.
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 330.3 miles and 6h 18m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 165.1 mi from Waukegan, IL · 3h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
165 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 165.1 miles from Waukegan, 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 241.7 miles.
The final approach into Aviston, 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 Aviston, 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.
Regular Gas
$50.17 one way
$100.34 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $55.31 | $110.61 |
| premium | $4.80 | $62.35 | $124.71 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $73.38 | $146.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 99.1 | 1 | $34.68 | $15.85 |
| Efficient EV | 82.6 | 0 | $28.90 | $13.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 132.1 | 1 | $46.24 | $21.14 |
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Waukegan on Sunday
Local time
6:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Aviston on Sunday
Local time
6:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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