Origin
Waukegan, IL
Late night in Waukegan on Thursday
Local time
12:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waukegan, IL to Cortland, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 50m
Distance
71.9 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 43m
★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cortland, IL
Mike Tyurin
Trip Overview
The drive from Waukegan, IL to Cortland, IL covers 71.9 miles and takes about 1h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Glen Rock Avenue, Belvidere Street, Belvidere Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.24 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
36 miles from Waukegan, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 50m drive with frequent turns across 71.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Waukegan, IL to Cortland, IL is easy. At 1h 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waukegan, IL to Cortland, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Glen Rock Avenue | — | — |
| Belvidere Street | — | — |
| Belvidere Road | — | — |
| East Belvidere Road | — | — |
| South Atkinson Road | — | — |
| Ivanhoe Road | — | — |
| Schank Avenue | — | — |
| Barrington Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Glen Rock Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Cortland, 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 Belvidere Road
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Belvidere Road
5
Continue on East Belvidere Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Belvidere Road
6
Turn left onto South Atkinson Road
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Atkinson Road
7
Continue on Ivanhoe Road
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ivanhoe Road
8
Continue on Schank Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Schank Avenue
9
Turn right
5.4 mi
·
8 min
10
Turn left onto Barrington Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Barrington Road
11
Continue straight
7.8 mi
·
12 min
12
Turn slight right
285 ft
·
5 sec
13
Continue on New Sutton Road
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
New Sutton Road
14
Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 90 West Toll: Rockford
15
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
16
Take the exit slight right toward Randall Road
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Randall Road
17
Keep slight left to continue on Randall Road, Elgin
223 ft
·
7 sec
·
Randall Road, Elgin
18
Turn left onto Randall Road
8.8 mi
·
14 min
·
Randall Road
19
Turn right onto Bolcum Road
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Bolcum Road
20
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Burlington Road
177 ft
·
4 sec
·
Burlington Road
21
Exit the roundabout onto Burlington Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Burlington Road
22
Continue on LaFox Road
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
LaFox Road
23
Turn right onto Lincoln Highway
15 mi
·
20 min
·
Lincoln Highway
24
Turn right onto South Somonauk Road
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Somonauk Road
25
Turn right onto East Chestnut Avenue
20 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Chestnut Avenue
26
Arrive at your 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 36 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 55m 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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36 miles or 55m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cortland, 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 71.9 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Waukegan, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36 mi from Waukegan, IL · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cortland, IL
The final approach into Cortland, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.24 one way
$22.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.34 | $24.68 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.84 | $27.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.87 | $31.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.55 | $3.45 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.29 | $2.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.07 | $4.60 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Cortland, IL
Late night in Cortland on Thursday
Local time
12:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
13 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 50m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 Cortland, IL covers 71.9 miles and takes about 1h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Glen Rock Avenue, Belvidere Street, Belvidere Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36 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 $11.24 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.
The drive from Waukegan, IL to Cortland, IL is easy. At 1h 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waukegan, IL to Cortland, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waukegan, IL to Cortland, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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