Trip from Waukegan, IL to Onarga, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 40m

Distance

130.7 mi

210 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min

4 AM

2h 30m ★

6 AM

2h 40m

8 AM

3h 1m

10 AM

2h 48m

12 PM

2h 46m

3 PM

2h 49m

5 PM

3h 0m

8 PM

2h 34m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Onarga, IL

Jaime Joel Vargas Huacre

Trip Overview

The drive from Waukegan, IL to Onarga, IL covers 130.7 miles and takes about 2h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 57, Edens Expressway, Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.1 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.43 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

65.4 miles from Waukegan, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 40m. Total distance: 130.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 40m highway drive covering 130.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and Edens Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 78.1 miles on I 57.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 78.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Edens Expressway. You will hit about 10 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 130.7 miles you will encounter 10 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 5.2 miles (US 41 / North Skokie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.2 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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.

5.2 mi into trip | ~10m in | US 41 / North Skokie Highway

Turn left onto US 41 / North Skokie Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

42.2 mi into trip | ~56m in | I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express

51 mi into trip | ~1h 8m in | I 57

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 63 Toward I 57 South: Memphis

129.1 mi into trip | ~2h 37m in

Take the exit toward IL 54: Onarga, Roberts

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 280 Toward IL 54: Onarga, Roberts

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 57	78.1 mi	1h 28m
Edens Expressway	13.7 mi	17m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)	8.8 mi	11m
Kennedy Expressway	8.1 mi	11m
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

Longest stretch: I 57 — 78.1 mi, about 1h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Onarga, IL.

Start on North Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Jackson Street

Turn right onto Glen Rock Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

Turn right onto Belvidere Street

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Belvidere Street

Turn left onto South Lewis Avenue

2.9 mi · 5 min · South Lewis Avenue

Turn right onto IL 137

1.1 mi · 1 min · Buckley Road

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto US 41

5.6 mi · 6 min · North Skokie Highway

Use the left lane.

Continue on US 41

3.4 mi · 3 min · Skokie Valley Road

Continue on US 41

3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 94; US 41

14 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 90; I 94

8.1 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Continue on I 90; I 94

2.4 mi · 2 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

8.8 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57

78 mi · 1 hr 28 min · I 57

Exit 63 Toward I 57 South: Memphis Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Exit 280 Toward IL 54: Onarga, Roberts

At end of road, turn left onto IL 54

0.3 mi · 29 sec · County Road 1450 North

Continue on IL 54

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Seminary Avenue

Turn left onto US 45

69 ft · 1 sec · North Front Street

Arrive at destination

US 45

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 65.4 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 1h 25m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.1 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 29 miles or 38m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 65.4 miles or 1h 25m 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 12m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Onarga, 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 130.7 miles and 2h 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 I 57 for about 78.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 65.4 mi from Waukegan, IL · 1h 25m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Chicago, IL

65 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

Glenview, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Chicago, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 65.4 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Onarga, IL

The final approach into Onarga, 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 Onarga, 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...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 54.1

Caution: Road Construction Near the Park

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.43 one way

$40.87 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 46 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$22.44	$44.87
premium	$4.89	$25.15	$50.30
diesel	$5.61	$28.86	$57.71

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 45.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	39.2	$13.72	$6.27
Efficient EV	32.7	$11.44	$5.23
EV Truck/SUV	52.3	$18.30	$8.36

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Waukegan, IL

Night in Waukegan on Thursday

Local time

11:12 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Onarga, IL

Night in Onarga on Thursday

Local time

11:12 PM

CDT

Current temp

69°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

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

2h 40m 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 Onarga, IL covers 130.7 miles and takes about 2h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 57, Edens Expressway, Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 65.4 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 $20.43 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.