Origin
Waukegan, IL
Late night in Waukegan on Wednesday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waukegan, IL to Mendota, IL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 37m
Distance
131.2 mi
211 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 27m
★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 43m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mendota, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Waukegan, IL to Mendota, IL covers 131.2 miles and takes about 2h 37m 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 $20.51 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.6 miles from Waukegan, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 37m drive with frequent turns across 131.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 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 Mendota, IL is easy. At 2h 37m 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 Mendota, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Glen Rock Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Belvidere Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Belvidere Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 94 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tri-State Tollway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 88 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 39 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Glen Rock Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Mendota, 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
20 mi
·
25 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
9
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
10
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
11
Keep slight right to continue on I 88 West Toll: Aurora
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 88 West Toll: Aurora
12
Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
13
Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
25 mi
·
30 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
14
Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
35 mi
·
37 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington, Normal
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington, Normal
16
Merge slight left
25 mi
·
26 min
17
Take the exit slight right toward US 34: Mendota, Earlville
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
US 34: Mendota, Earlville
18
Turn right onto North 43rd Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North 43rd Road
19
Continue on East 12th Street
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
East 12th Street
20
Continue on 6th Avenue
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
6th Avenue
21
Turn right onto 6th Street
404 ft
·
12 sec
·
6th Street
22
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
125 ft
·
5 sec
·
7th Avenue
23
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.6 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 1h 18m 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 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.6 miles or 1h 18m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mendota, 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 131.2 miles and 2h 37m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65.6 mi from Waukegan, IL · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.6 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Mendota, IL
The final approach into Mendota, 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 Mendota, 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
$20.51 one way
$41.02 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.52 | $45.04 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.25 | $50.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.97 | $57.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.4 | 0 | $13.78 | $6.30 |
| Efficient EV | 32.8 | 0 | $11.48 | $5.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.37 | $8.40 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Mendota, IL
Late night in Mendota on Wednesday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
11 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
2h 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 Mendota, IL covers 131.2 miles and takes about 2h 37m 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 65.6 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 $20.51 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Waukegan, IL to Mendota, IL is easy. At 2h 37m 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 Mendota, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waukegan, IL to Mendota, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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