The drive from Waukegan, IL to Frankfort Square, IL covers 70.7 miles and takes about 1h 37m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Edens Expressway, I 57, Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13.7 miles on Edens Expressway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.05 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
35.3 miles from Waukegan, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 70.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 37m highway drive covering 70.7 miles, with most of the trip on Edens Expressway and I 57. The longest continuous stretch is about 13.7 miles on Edens Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Edens Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Edens Expressway and I 57. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near IL 137 / Buckley Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 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; at 51 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.1 mi into trip|~8m in|IL 137 / Buckley Road
Turn right onto IL 137 / Buckley Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
42.2 mi into trip|~56m in|I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
8
51 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|I 57
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 63
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
7
64.4 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Iowa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 345B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
7
67.5 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward IL 43 South: Harlem Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 148A
Toward IL 43 South: Harlem Avenue
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Edens Expressway
13.7 mi
17m
I 57
13.4 mi
18m
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
Skokie Valley Road
3.4 mi
3m
South Lewis Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Edens Expressway
— 13.7 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Frankfort Square, 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
0.3 mi·33 sec·Belvidere Street
4
Turn left onto South Lewis Avenue
2.9 mi·5 min·South Lewis Avenue
5
Turn right onto IL 137
1.1 mi·1 min·Buckley Road
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto US 41
5.6 mi·6 min·North Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi·3 min·Skokie Valley Road
8
Continue on US 41
3.8 mi·4 min·Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 94; US 41
14 mi·17 min·Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.1 mi·11 min·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Continue on I 90; I 94
2.4 mi·2 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
8.8 mi·11 min·Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 ExpressUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
13 mi·18 min·I 57
Exit 63Toward I 57 South: MemphisUse the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·45 sec
Exit 345BToward I 80 West: IowaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 80
2.6 mi·3 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 148AToward IL 43 South: Harlem AvenueUse the right lane.
17
Turn straight onto IL 43
2.1 mi·3 min·Harlem Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto West Saint Francis Road
0.6 mi·1 min·West Saint Francis Road
19
Turn left onto Frankfort Square Road
0.1 mi·28 sec·Frankfort Square Road
20
Turn right onto Jamison Drive
509 ft·22 sec·Jamison Drive
21
Arrive at destination
Jamison Drive
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 35.3 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.7 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 16 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.3 miles or 47m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Frankfort Square, 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 70.7 miles and 1h 37m.
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.
The longest stretch is on Edens Expressway for about 13.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.3 mi from Waukegan, IL
· 47m into the drive
The midpoint is around 35.3 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Frankfort Square, IL
The final approach into Frankfort Square, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.05 one way
$22.11 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.14
$24.27
premium
$4.89
$13.61
$27.21
diesel
$5.61
$15.61
$31.22
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: 24.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.2
0
$7.42
$3.39
Efficient EV
17.7
0
$6.19
$2.83
EV Truck/SUV
28.3
0
$9.90
$4.52
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Waukegan, IL
Afternoon
in Waukegan on Friday
Local time
2:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Frankfort Square, IL
Afternoon
in Frankfort Square on Friday
Local time
2:30 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
12 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 37m 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 Frankfort Square, IL covers 70.7 miles and takes about 1h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Edens Expressway, I 57, Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.3 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 $11.05 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.7 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 51 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Waukegan, IL to Frankfort Square, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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.
