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Trip from Waukegan, IL to Oakbrook Terrace, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h

Distance

44.3 mi

71 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 56m ★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in DuPage County, Illinois, United States

Oakbrook Terrace, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Waukegan, IL to Oakbrook Terrace, IL covers 44.3 miles and takes about 1h 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 $6.93 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 44.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h drive with frequent turns across 44.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Waukegan, IL to Oakbrook Terrace, IL is easy. At 1h 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 Oakbrook Terrace, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Glen Rock Avenue
Belvidere Street
Belvidere Road
I 94 East
Tri-State Tollway
I 88 West
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
22nd Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Glen Rock Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Oakbrook Terrace, 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

1.1 mi · 1 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
14

Take the exit slight right toward 22nd Street, Cermak Road

0.3 mi · 37 sec · 22nd Street, Cermak Road
15

Turn left onto West 22nd Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · West 22nd Street
16

Turn right onto MacArthur Drive

0.1 mi · 33 sec · MacArthur Drive
17

Turn right onto Karban Road

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Karban Road
18

Turn left onto Halsey Road

404 ft · 18 sec · Halsey Road
19

Arrive at your destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 22.1 mi from Waukegan, IL · 30m into the drive

city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Des Plaines, IL

22 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

Gurnee, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Des Plaines, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 22.1 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Oakbrook Terrace, IL

The final approach into Oakbrook Terrace, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.93 one way

$13.85 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $7.60 $15.21
premium $4.89 $8.53 $17.05
diesel $5.61 $9.78 $19.56

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.3 0 $4.65 $2.13
Efficient EV 11.1 0 $3.88 $1.77
EV Truck/SUV 17.7 0 $6.20 $2.84

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Waukegan, IL

Afternoon in Waukegan on Thursday

Local time

1:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Oakbrook Terrace, IL

Afternoon in Oakbrook Terrace on Thursday

Local time

1:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

69°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

7 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

1h 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 Oakbrook Terrace, IL covers 44.3 miles and takes about 1h 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 22.1 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 $6.93 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.
The drive from Waukegan, IL to Oakbrook Terrace, IL is easy. At 1h 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 Oakbrook Terrace, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waukegan, IL to Oakbrook Terrace, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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