Trip from Waukegan, IL to Central, IL

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

1h 56m

Distance

88.1 mi

142 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min

4 AM

1h 48m ★

6 AM

1h 57m

8 AM

2h 14m

10 AM

2h 3m

12 PM

2h 1m

3 PM

2h 4m

5 PM

2h 13m

8 PM

1h 52m

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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Central, IL

Jérémy Glineur

Trip Overview

The drive from Waukegan, IL to Central, IL covers 88.1 miles and takes about 1h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Tri-State Tollway, Adlai Stevenson Expressway, West Jefferson Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.6 miles on Tri-State Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.77 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

44 miles from Waukegan, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 1h 56m drive with frequent turns across 88.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Tri-State Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 42.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.9 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 88.1 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 18.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

18.9 mi into trip | ~25m in | I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare

46.4 mi into trip | ~59m in | I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

47.6 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in

Take the exit toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis

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

Exit 23 Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis

48.3 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

72.4 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in

Take the exit toward US 52: Shorewood, Joliet

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 253 Toward US 52: Shorewood, Joliet

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Waukegan, IL and Central, IL, road signs point toward O'hare, St. Louis and Joliet.

O'hare

18.9 mi in | ~25m | via I 294

St. Louis

47.6 mi in | ~1h 1m

Joliet

72.4 mi in | ~1h 33m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Tri-State Tollway	42.6 mi	51m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway	23.7 mi	29m
West Jefferson Street	9.2 mi	13m
Whitewillow Road	3.6 mi	4m
Brisbin Road	2.5 mi	3m
Belvidere Road	2.2 mi	3m
Belvidere Street	1.6 mi	3m
North Jackson Street	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Tri-State Tollway — 42.6 mi, about 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Central, 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

1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

Continue on IL 120

2.2 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago

Merge onto I 94

14 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 294

23 mi · 28 min · Tri-State Tollway

Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 294

4.8 mi · 5 min · Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 294

1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 23 Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 56 sec

Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 55

24 mi · 29 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec

Exit 253 Toward US 52: Shorewood, Joliet Use the slight right lane.

Turn right onto US 52

0.3 mi · 37 sec · West Jefferson Street

Continue on US 52

0.1 mi · 16 sec · East Jefferson Street

Continue on US 52

8.9 mi · 13 min · West Jefferson Street

Turn left onto Brisbin Road

2.5 mi · 3 min · Brisbin Road

Turn right onto Whitewillow Road

3.6 mi · 4 min · Whitewillow Road

Turn right

103 ft · 7 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 44 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 57m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.6 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 45m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 44 miles or 57m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 37m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Central, 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 88.1 miles and 1h 56m.

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.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on Tri-State Tollway for about 42.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 44 mi from Waukegan, IL · 57m into the drive

city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Berwyn, IL

44 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

Joliet, IL

Fuel and coffee

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

Berwyn, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 44 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Central, IL

The final approach into Central, 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 Central, 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

$13.77 one way

$27.55 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$15.12	$30.25
premium	$4.89	$16.95	$33.91
diesel	$5.61	$19.45	$38.90

Estimated Tolls: $2.55

Tri-state Tollway (42.6 mi) $2.55

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	26.4	$9.25	$4.23
Efficient EV	22	$7.71	$3.52
EV Truck/SUV	35.2	$12.33	$5.64

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (68% 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 18 hours ago

Origin

Waukegan, IL

Late night in Waukegan on Wednesday

Local time

1:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 to 15 mph 66% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:43PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:43PM CDT until April 19 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Destination

Central, IL

Late night in Central on Wednesday

Local time

1:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

47°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

30 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 56m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Central, IL covers 88.1 miles and takes about 1h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, Adlai Stevenson Expressway, West Jefferson Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 44 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 $13.77 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Between Waukegan, IL and Central, IL, road signs point toward O'hare, St. Louis and Joliet.

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Return Trip

Central, IL to Waukegan, IL

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88.1 mi 1h 57m

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Trip from Waukegan, IL to Central, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Central, IL

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Waukegan, IL

Central, IL

Same local time

30 degrees cooler at arrival

1h 56m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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