Spanning 186.4 miles across the Illinois landscape, this trip from Waukegan to Green Rock takes approximately 3 hours and 36 minutes of driving time. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul, it is best suited as a single-day commitment. You should budget about $28 for fuel to complete the transit between these two Midwestern points. Since the entire journey stays within Illinois, you will experience a consistent regional atmosphere throughout the trip. It is a manageable distance for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay, provided you account for the local road navigation required.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
93.2 miles from Waukegan, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 36m. Total distance: 186.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a hands-on driving experience as this route consists entirely of local roads, meaning there is zero highway share to rely on for cruising. You will navigate via Glen Rock Avenue, Belvidere Street, and Belvidere Road, which requires your full attention due to the high volume of turns. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this path keeps you engaged with the local infrastructure and the character of the surrounding towns. Because the road is turn-heavy, you will find that the pace remains steady rather than fast, offering a unique look at the region that you would otherwise miss from a major expressway.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 95.3 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
884 ft587 ft
Total Climb
424 ft
Total Descent
487 ft
Highest Point
884 ft
~93.2 mi in
Elevation Range
298 ft
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.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 186.4 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 40 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
8
40 mi into trip|~52m in|I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
8
40.6 mi into trip|~54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31A
Toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
8
41.8 mi into trip|~55m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
8
66.9 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
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 Green Rock, IL, road signs point toward O'hare, Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
O'hare
18.9 mi in|~25m|via I 294
Indiana
39 mi in|~50m|via I 294
22Nd Street (Cermak Road)
41.8 mi in|~55m|via I 88; IL 110
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
95.3 mi
1h 45m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
38.9 mi
41m
Tri-State Tollway
35.5 mi
44m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
5.4 mi
5m
IL 110
3.5 mi
4m
Belvidere Road
2.2 mi
3m
Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
3m
Cleveland Road
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 95.3 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Green Rock, 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
20 mi·25 min·Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'HareUse the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit onto I 294
1.0 mi·1 min·Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, IndianaUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
0.2 mi·30 sec·Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, IndianaUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 294
0.4 mi·47 sec·Tri-State Tollway
Exit 15AToward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·49 sec
Exit 31AToward I 88 West Toll: AuroraUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
0.8 mi·59 sec·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
25 mi·30 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 138Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalbUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 88; IL 110
1.1 mi·1 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
16
Continue on I 88; IL 110
38 mi·40 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Exit 41
17
Continue on I 88; IL 92; IL 110
5.4 mi·5 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
18
Take the exit onto IL 110
3.5 mi·4 min·IL 110
Toward I 80: Peoria
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward Colona
20
Keep slight right at fork
148 ft·5 sec
Toward Colona
21
Turn straight onto Cleveland Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Cleveland Road
22
At end of road, turn left onto IL 84
0.7 mi·1 min·1st Street
23
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
51 ft·4 sec·7th Avenue
24
Turn right onto Green Park Avenue
88 ft·3 sec·Green Park Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Green Park Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 186.4-mile trek, prioritize a departure during daylight hours to ensure better visibility for navigation. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and break up the constant steering required on local roads. Since you are not utilizing high-speed highways, your fuel consumption may be more variable, so keep that $28 estimate in mind as a baseline for your budget. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation app active at all times, as the reliance on local streets like Belvidere Road makes it easy to miss a turn if you aren't paying close attention to the route markers.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 93.2 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.3 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 41 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.2 miles or 1h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Green Rock, 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 186.4 miles and 3h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Waukegan, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 95.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 93.2 mi from Waukegan, IL
· 1h 54m into the drive
The midpoint is around 93.2 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 95.3 miles.
Arriving in Green Rock, IL
The final approach into Green Rock, 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 Green Rock, IL.
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 38.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.14 one way
$58.28 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.00
$63.99
premium
$4.89
$35.87
$71.74
diesel
$5.61
$41.15
$82.31
Estimated Tolls: $7.85
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(95.3 mi)$5.72
Tri-state Tollway
(35.5 mi)$2.13
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
$29
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.9
0
$19.57
$8.95
Efficient EV
46.6
0
$16.31
$7.46
EV Truck/SUV
74.6
0
$26.10
$11.93
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 13, 2026
Origin
Waukegan, IL
Late night
in Waukegan on Saturday
Local time
12:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Cloudy
WSW 15 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Green Rock, IL
Late night
in Green Rock on Saturday
Local time
12:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 36m 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 Green Rock, IL covers 186.4 miles and takes about 3h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, Tri-State Tollway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 93.2 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 $29.14 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 186.4 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.
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 40 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Waukegan, IL and Green Rock, IL, road signs point toward O'hare, Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 587 ft to 884 ft elevation with about 424 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
