Trip from Waukegan, IL to Pecatonica, IL

Drive Time

2h 13m

Distance

102.3 mi

165 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min

4 AM

2h 4m ★

6 AM

2h 14m

8 AM

2h 32m

10 AM

2h 20m

12 PM

2h 18m

3 PM

2h 21m

5 PM

2h 31m

8 PM

2h 8m

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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Pecatonica, IL

Stéphane Tendon

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Waukegan to Pecatonica, you are looking at a 102.3-mile journey across Northern Illinois. Expect to spend approximately 2 hours and 13 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. You should budget roughly $16 for fuel to cover the distance. The route utilizes a combination of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway, and IL 59. Because this transit stays entirely within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you head west. It is a straightforward drive that does not require an overnight stay, allowing you to easily complete the round trip in one day.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

51.1 miles from Waukegan, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a mix of driving styles on this trip, which is largely characterized as a turn-heavy local drive. Only 15% of your travel time will be spent on highways, meaning you will spend the majority of the 102.3 miles navigating local roads. Your longest stretch of consistent highway driving occurs on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, covering 41.6 miles before you transition to other segments. As you move away from the tollway and onto the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway and IL 59, the pace shifts from high-speed transit to more technical driving. Be prepared for frequent turns and a changing road environment that requires your full attention throughout the journey.

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.

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 41.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near Belvidere Street.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 102.3 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 1 miles (Belvidere Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles (South Atkinson Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (IL 176): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

1 mi into trip | ~2m in | Belvidere Street

Turn right onto Belvidere Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

9.9 mi into trip | ~16m in | South Atkinson Road

Turn left onto South Atkinson Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

14.4 mi into trip | ~24m in | IL 176

Turn right onto IL 176

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / none lanes.

19.7 mi into trip | ~33m in | Barrington Road

Turn left onto Barrington Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

34.8 mi into trip | ~57m in | I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Merge onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway	41.6 mi	44m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway	20.7 mi	23m
IL 59	7.8 mi	12m
New Sutton Road	6.3 mi	9m
Belvidere Road	6.3 mi	9m
IL 176	5.4 mi	8m
Ivanhoe Road	3.7 mi	6m
I 39	2.6 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Jane Addams Memorial Tollway — 41.6 mi, about 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Pecatonica, 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

1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

Use the none lane.

Continue on IL 120

6.3 mi · 9 min · Belvidere Road

Use the none lane.

Continue on IL 120

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Belvidere Road

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto South Atkinson Road

0.5 mi · 58 sec · South Atkinson Road

Use the left lane.

Continue on IL 83

3.7 mi · 6 min · Ivanhoe Road

Use the none lane.

Continue on Schank Avenue

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Schank Avenue

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto IL 176

5.4 mi · 8 min · IL 176

Use the left / none lanes.

Turn left onto Barrington Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Barrington Road

Use the left lane.

Continue on IL 59

7.8 mi · 12 min · IL 59

Use the none lane.

Turn slight right

284 ft · 4 sec

Use the slight right lane.

Continue on IL 59

6.3 mi · 9 min · New Sutton Road

Use the left / none lanes.

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 56 sec

Toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford

Merge onto I 90

42 mi · 44 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington

Merge onto I 39; US 51

0.5 mi · 30 sec · I 39; US 51

Continue on I 39; US 20; US 51

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 39; US 20; US 51

Keep slight left at fork onto US 20

21 mi · 23 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Turn right onto North Pecatonica Road

1.1 mi · 1 min · North Pecatonica Road

Continue on Main Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Main Street

Turn right onto East 3rd Street

39 ft · 1 sec · East 3rd Street

Arrive at destination

East 3rd Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily pace the 2-hour and 13-minute drive to suit your own comfort. Keep in mind that with only 15% of the route on highways, you should anticipate a slower, more deliberate pace once you exit the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Ensure your fuel tank is ready for the 102.3-mile stretch, as the $16 estimated cost is based on steady driving conditions. A key tip for this specific route is to stay alert for transitions between the major highway segments and the local roads, as navigation will require more active input than a standard interstate cruise.

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.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 51.1 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 1h 14m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.6 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 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 51.1 miles or 1h 14m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 51m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pecatonica, 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 102.3 miles and 2h 13m.

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.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 41.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 51.1 mi from Waukegan, IL · 1h 14m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Palatine, IL

51 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elgin, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 51.1 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Pecatonica, IL

The final approach into Pecatonica, 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 Pecatonica, 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

$15.54 one way

$31.08 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$17.13	$34.26
premium	$4.80	$19.31	$38.62
diesel	$5.64	$22.73	$45.46

Estimated Tolls: $2.91

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (41.6 mi) $2.91

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

$16

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	30.7	$10.74	$4.91
Efficient EV	25.6	$8.95	$4.09
EV Truck/SUV	40.9	$14.32	$6.55

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Waukegan, IL

Afternoon in Waukegan on Sunday

Local time

2:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pecatonica, IL

Afternoon in Pecatonica on Sunday

Local time

2:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°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

30 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 13m 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 Pecatonica, IL covers 102.3 miles and takes about 2h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, U.S. Grant Memorial Highway, IL 59. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 51.1 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 $15.54 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.