Origin
Waukegan, IL
Afternoon in Waukegan on Sunday
Local time
2:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waukegan, IL to Pana, IL
Drive Time
5h
Distance
247.8 mi
399 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 47m
★
6 AM
5h 0m
8 AM
5h 27m
10 AM
5h 10m
12 PM
5h 7m
3 PM
5h 11m
5 PM
5h 26m
8 PM
4h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pana, IL
Pho Tomass
Trip Overview
The drive from Waukegan, IL to Pana, IL covers 247.8 miles and takes about 5h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Tri-State Tollway, North Walnut Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 119.4 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.64 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
123.9 miles from Waukegan, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 27m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 5h highway drive covering 247.8 miles, with most of the trip on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Tri-State Tollway. The longest continuous stretch is about 119.4 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 119.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.9 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 247.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 18.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
18.9 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
6
41.6 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
46.4 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
47.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 23
Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
7
48.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Towns Along This Route
Between Waukegan, IL and Pana, IL, road signs point toward O'hare, St. Louis, Decatur and Bloomington.
O'hare
18.9 mi in
|
~25m
|
via I 294
St. Louis
47.6 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Decatur
168.1 mi in
|
~3h 16m
|
via I 74; US 51
Bloomington
170.2 mi in
|
~3h 19m
|
via US 51
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 119.4 mi | 2h 13m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 42.6 mi | 51m |
| North Walnut Street | 23.2 mi | 29m |
| South Business Route 51 | 19.6 mi | 23m |
| North 1450 East Road | 14.7 mi | 17m |
| US 51 Business | 9.9 mi | 15m |
| North 2600 East Rd | 7.9 mi | 9m |
| Belvidere Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
— 119.4 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Pana, 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
Use the none lane.
4
Continue on IL 120
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Road
Use the none lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
6
Merge onto I 94
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
23 mi
·
28 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the none lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 23
Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 55
119 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the none lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 74; US 51
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 74; US 51
Toward I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur
14
Take the exit onto US 51
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 51
Exit 135
Toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Decatur, Bloomington
15
Continue on US 51
15 mi
·
17 min
·
North 1450 East Road
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 51
23 mi
·
29 min
·
North Walnut Street
Use the none lane.
17
Turn straight onto US 51 Business
9.9 mi
·
15 min
·
US 51 Business
18
Take the ramp onto US 51 Business
20 mi
·
23 min
·
South Business Route 51
Use the none lane.
19
Continue on US 51
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
North 2600 East Rd
Use the none lane.
20
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North 2600 East Road
21
Continue on US 51; IL 16
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Jackson Street
22
Turn left onto US 51; IL 16
467 ft
·
8 sec
·
Cedar Street
23
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1st Street
24
Turn left onto US 51; IL 16
463 ft
·
13 sec
·
South Poplar Street
25
Turn left onto East 2nd Street
84 ft
·
3 sec
·
East 2nd Street
26
Arrive at destination
East 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 123.9 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.4 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.9 miles or 2h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pana, 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 247.8 miles and 5h.
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.
The longest stretch is on Adlai Stevenson Expressway for about 119.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 123.9 mi from Waukegan, IL · 2h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
124 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 123.9 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Adlai Stevenson Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 119.4 miles.
Arriving in Pana, IL
The final approach into Pana, 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 Pana, IL.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.64 one way
$75.28 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
87 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $41.49 | $82.98 |
| premium | $4.80 | $46.78 | $93.56 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $55.05 | $110.11 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.55
Tri-state Tollway
(42.6 mi)
$2.55
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.3 | 0 | $26.02 | $11.89 |
| Efficient EV | 62 | 0 | $21.68 | $9.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 99.1 | 1 | $34.69 | $15.86 |
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Pana, IL
Afternoon in Pana on Sunday
Local time
2:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°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
12 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
5h on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Pana, IL covers 247.8 miles and takes about 5h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Tri-State Tollway, North Walnut Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 123.9 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 $37.64 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 247.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 18.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Waukegan, IL and Pana, IL, road signs point toward O'hare, St. Louis, Decatur and Bloomington.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Pana, IL
More trips to Pana, IL
Explore more options from Waukegan, IL or browse trips ending in Pana, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Waukegan, IL or Pana, IL on MapSof.net.