Origin
Waukegan, IL
Afternoon in Waukegan on Friday
Local time
2:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waukegan, IL to Oak Park, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
38.7 mi
62 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Park, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Waukegan, IL to Oak Park, IL covers 38.7 miles and takes about 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Edens Expressway, North Skokie Highway, Skokie Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13.1 miles on Edens Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.05 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 38.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Waukegan, IL to Oak Park, IL covers 38.7 miles and takes about 59m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
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 13.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near IL 137 / Buckley Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 38.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 31 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.5 miles (West Montrose Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese 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.
7
31 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward Wilson Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 43A
Toward Wilson Avenue
6
31.5 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
West Montrose Avenue
Turn right onto West Montrose Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
32.6 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
North Central Avenue
Turn left onto North Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
35.6 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
North Austin Avenue
Turn left onto North Austin Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Edens Expressway | 13.1 mi | 16m |
| 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 |
| North Central Avenue | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| North Ridgeland Avenue | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| Buckley Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Edens Expressway
— 13.1 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Oak 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
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
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 43A
Toward Wilson Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto West Wilson Avenue
90 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Wilson Avenue
12
Turn left onto IL 50
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Cicero Avenue
13
Turn right onto West Montrose Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Montrose Avenue
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto North Central Avenue
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
North Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto West Fullerton Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Fullerton Avenue
16
Turn left onto North Austin Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Austin Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto IL 64
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West North Avenue
18
Turn left onto North Ridgeland Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Ridgeland Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Division Street
261 ft
·
15 sec
·
Division Street
20
Turn left onto North Ridgeland Avenue
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Ridgeland Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
South Ridgeland Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.3 mi from Waukegan, IL · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.3 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Oak Park, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Oak Park, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.05 one way
$12.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.64 | $13.29 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.45 | $14.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.54 | $17.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.06 | $1.86 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.42 | $2.48 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Oak Park, IL
Afternoon in Oak Park on Friday
Local time
2:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
6 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
59m 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 Oak Park, IL covers 38.7 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Edens Expressway, North Skokie Highway, Skokie Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.3 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 $6.05 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 38.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 31 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.5 miles (West Montrose Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Waukegan, IL to Oak Park, 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.
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