Origin
Waukegan, IL
Night in Waukegan on Wednesday
Local time
9:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waukegan, IL to Forest Park, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
41.5 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forest Park, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Waukegan, IL to Forest Park, IL covers 41.5 miles and takes about 1h 1m 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 $6.49 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
20.7 miles from Waukegan, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 1m drive with frequent turns across 41.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 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 Forest Park, IL is easy. At 1h 1m 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 Forest Park, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Glen Rock Avenue | — | — |
| Belvidere Street | — | — |
| Belvidere Road | — | — |
| I 94 East | — | — |
| Tri-State Tollway | — | — |
| IL 19 | — | — |
| I 294 South | — | — |
| IL 19 East | — | — |
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 Forest Park, 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
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Road
5
Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 94 East Toll: Chicago
6
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
7
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
8
Take the exit slight right toward IL 19: Irving Park Road, O'Hare Oasis
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
IL 19: Irving Park Road, O'Hare Oasis
9
Keep slight left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 294 South Toll, IL 19 East: Indiana, Irving Park Road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 294 South Toll, IL 19 East: Indiana, Irving Park Road
11
Keep slight right to continue on IL 19 East: Irving Park Road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
IL 19 East: Irving Park Road
12
Turn straight onto Irving Park Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Irving Park Road
13
Turn right onto Des Plaines River Road
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Des Plaines River Road
14
Turn straight onto North 1st Avenue
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
North 1st Avenue
15
Turn left onto Madison Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Street
16
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 20.7 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 30m 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 41.5 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 20.7 miles or 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forest Park, 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 41.5 miles and 1h 1m.
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 20.7 mi from Waukegan, IL · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.7 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Forest Park, IL
The final approach into Forest Park, 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
$6.49 one way
$12.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.12 | $14.25 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.99 | $15.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.16 | $18.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.36 | $1.99 |
| Efficient EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.81 | $2.66 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Forest Park, IL
Night in Forest Park on Wednesday
Local time
9:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
1h 1m 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 Forest Park, IL covers 41.5 miles and takes about 1h 1m 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 20.7 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 $6.49 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 Forest Park, IL is easy. At 1h 1m 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 Forest Park, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waukegan, IL to Forest Park, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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