Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Waukegan, IL to Coal City, IL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 58m

Distance

92.5 mi

149 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 50m ★
6 AM
1h 58m
8 AM
2h 15m
10 AM
2h 4m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 5m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 53m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Coal City, IL, IL

Coal City, IL

Braeson Holland

Trip Overview

The drive from Waukegan, IL to Coal City, IL covers 92.5 miles and takes about 1h 58m 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, Belvidere Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.6 miles on Tri-State Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.46 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.

Midpoint

46.3 miles from Waukegan, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Tri-State Tollway 42.6 mi 51m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway 40.8 mi 49m
Belvidere Road 2.2 mi 3m
East Division Street 2 mi 3m
Belvidere Street 1.6 mi 3m
West Coal City Road 0.7 mi 1m
North Jackson Street 0.5 mi 1m
Glen Rock Avenue 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 Coal City, 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

1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street
4

Continue on IL 120

2.2 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
6

Merge onto I 94

14 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

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.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 294

4.8 mi · 5 min · Tri-State Tollway
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 294

1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 23 Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto I 55

41 mi · 49 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward IL 113: Coal City, Kankakee
14

Turn right onto IL 113

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Coal City Road
15

Continue on IL 113

2.0 mi · 3 min · East Division Street
16

Arrive at destination

IL 113

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 46.3 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 59m 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 20 miles or 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 46.3 miles or 59m 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 36m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coal City, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Waukegan, IL

This is one driving day of about 92.5 miles and 1h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Waukegan, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.

village in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lombard, IL

46 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

Buffalo Grove, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Downers Grove, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 46.3 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Cafe Mirage

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Schiller Park, Illinois

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 33

Hours: 9 am–11 pm

+18476782614

Visit website

Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe & Banquets

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Darien, Illinois

0.9 mi

My Happy Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Diamond, Illinois

0.9 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Drip and Culture - Socially Minded Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Waukegan, Illinois

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

Visit website

Critical Grind Board Game Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Shorewood, Illinois

1.1 mi

Emmy's Cafe & Gaming

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Coal City, Illinois

0.1 mi

Cafe Mirage

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 33

Schiller Park, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–11 pm

+18476782614

Visit website

Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe & Banquets

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30 mile 52.9

Darien, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13314314000

Visit website

My Happy Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 92.5

Diamond, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+18155185576

Visit website

3 Rivers Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 79.3

Channahon, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+18158285110

Visit website

Happy Place Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 72.7

Shorewood, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+18156661447

Visit website

DW Diner Express & Liquor Store

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30 mile 79.3

Channahon, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+18153354448

Visit website

Whistle Stop Cafe Diamond IL

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 92.5

Diamond, Illinois

Hours: 5 am–9 pm

+18156342360

Visit website

Taste of Jerusalem

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 66.1

Plainfield, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–7:30 pm

+18157826500

Visit website

Drip and Culture - Socially Minded Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Waukegan, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

Visit website

Critical Grind Board Game Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 72.7

Shorewood, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–11 pm

+18156304235

Visit website

Emmy's Cafe & Gaming

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 92.5

Coal City, Illinois

Hours: 8 am–12 pm

+18155185375

Kafe De Kasa

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 72.7

Shorewood, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+17792421902

Visit website

Ten Drops Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 66.1

Plainfield, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–5 pm

+16306962137

Visit website

Kafé De Kasa

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 66.1

Crest Hill, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+18156303694

Visit website

Hansa Coffee Roasters

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 6.6

Libertyville, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+18472268815

Visit website

Haraz Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 6.6

Gurnee, Illinois

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

Visit website

The Wine Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30 mile 85.9

Wilmington, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+18154769009

Visit website

Prairie Trail Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 46.3

Willowbrook, Illinois

Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm

Visit website

Dock Rotz Tavern

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 79.3

Minooka, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+18154672200

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.1 and 48.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
5.1 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 94 / Tri-State Tollway

Merge onto I 94 / Tri-State Tollway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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
6
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.
6
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
7
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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.46 one way

$28.92 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $15.88 $31.76
premium $4.89 $17.80 $35.60
diesel $5.61 $20.42 $40.85

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

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.8 0 $9.71 $4.44
Efficient EV 23.1 0 $8.09 $3.70
EV Truck/SUV 37 0 $12.95 $5.92

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 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 as of Apr 14, 2026

Origin

Waukegan, IL

Afternoon in Waukegan on Saturday

Local time

12:27 PM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 15 mph 48% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:50AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:39AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Destination

Coal City, IL

Afternoon in Coal City on Saturday

Local time

12:27 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°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

10 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 58m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pullman National Historical Park

Pullman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...

16 mi from route ~41 min detour Free near mile 47.9
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

92.5 mi in 1h 58m — 44% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Tri-State Tollway.

44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.6 mi on Tri-State Tollway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.1 miles in near I 94 / Tri-State Tollway.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 5.1 miles (I 94 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; 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.

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 Coal City, IL, road signs point toward O'hare and St. Louis.

O'hare

18.9 mi in | ~25m | via I 294

St. Louis

47.6 mi in | ~1h 1m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 92.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 42.6 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.55 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Coal City, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 5.1 miles (I 94 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; 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.

Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Coal City, IL before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Coal City, IL

Champaign, IL 102.5 mi · 2h 12m Bloomington, IL 77 mi · 1h 31m Elgin, IL 70.3 mi · 1h 33m Arlington Heights, IL 67.8 mi · 1h 28m

More from Waukegan, IL

Anna, IL 385.3 mi · 7h 15m Carrollton, IL 298.9 mi · 5h 40m Sumner, IL 297.7 mi · 6h 10m Edinburg, IL 244.1 mi · 4h 46m Canton, IL 225.4 mi · 4h 27m Athens, IL 225.2 mi · 4h 23m
Weekend drives from Waukegan, IL Scenic drives in IL

Explore more options from Waukegan, IL or browse trips ending in Coal City, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.