Origin
Waukegan, IL
Night in Waukegan on Tuesday
Local time
10:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waukegan, IL to Harlem, IL
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
1h 45m
Distance
71.4 mi
115 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 37m
★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 1m
10 AM
1h 51m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
2h 0m
8 PM
1h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Harlem, IL
_ Whittington
Trip Overview
The drive from Waukegan, IL to Harlem, IL covers 71.4 miles and takes about 1h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Kenosha Street, Rosecrans Road, West Brink Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.8 miles on Kenosha Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.16 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
35.7 miles from Waukegan, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 45m drive with frequent turns across 71.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kenosha Street is the longest continuous segment at about 18.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Grand Avenue.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 45m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Grand Avenue
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward US 41 North: Milwaukee
Navigation decision point
Toward US 41 North: Milwaukee
6
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 41 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 41 North
5
10.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
IL 173 / Rosecrans Road
Turn left onto IL 173 / Rosecrans Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
47.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
US 14; IL 173 / North Division Street
Turn left onto US 14; IL 173 / North Division Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kenosha Street | 18.8 mi | 26m |
| Rosecrans Road | 13.9 mi | 21m |
| West Brink Street | 12.4 mi | 17m |
| Skokie Highway | 7.4 mi | 8m |
| State Route 173 | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Kenosha Road | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| West Lane Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Grand Avenue | 2.8 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Kenosha Street
— 18.8 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Harlem, IL.
1
Start on North Jackson Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
North Jackson Street
2
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Grand Avenue
3
Take the ramp
499 ft
·
13 sec
Toward US 41 North: Milwaukee
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 41 North
5
Merge onto US 41
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Skokie Highway
6
Turn left onto IL 173
14 mi
·
21 min
·
Rosecrans Road
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on IL 173
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Kenosha Road
8
Continue on IL 173
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Kenosha Street
9
Turn left onto US 14; IL 173
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Division Street
10
Turn right onto IL 173
12 mi
·
17 min
·
West Brink Street
11
Continue on IL 173
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 173
12
Continue on IL 173
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
West Lane Road
13
Turn left onto North Perryville Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
North Perryville Road
14
Turn right onto Harlem Road
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Harlem Road
15
Arrive at destination
Harlem Road
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 35.7 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.8 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 71.4 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.7 miles or 52m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harlem, 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 71.4 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Waukegan, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Kenosha Street for about 18.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.7 mi from Waukegan, IL · 52m 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 71.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.7 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Harlem, IL
The final approach into Harlem, 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 Harlem, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.16 one way
$22.33 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.26 | $24.51 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.74 | $27.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.76 | $31.53 |
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 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 | 21.4 | 0 | $7.50 | $3.43 |
| Efficient EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.25 | $2.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.6 | 0 | $10.00 | $4.57 |
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
Harlem, IL
Night in Harlem on Tuesday
Local time
10:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°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
4 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 45m 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 Harlem, IL covers 71.4 miles and takes about 1h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kenosha Street, Rosecrans Road, West Brink Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.7 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 $11.16 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 is a straightforward 1h 45m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Waukegan, IL to Harlem, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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