Trip from Waukegan, IL to Pontiac, IL

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

2h 37m

Distance

128.6 mi

207 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min

4 AM

2h 27m ★

6 AM

2h 38m

8 AM

2h 59m

10 AM

2h 45m

12 PM

2h 43m

3 PM

2h 46m

5 PM

2h 58m

8 PM

2h 31m

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

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Pontiac, IL

Ernest Westphal

Trip Overview

The drive from Waukegan, IL to Pontiac, IL covers 128.6 miles and takes about 2h 37m 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 1500 East Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 75.8 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.11 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

64.3 miles from Waukegan, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 37m. Total distance: 128.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Waukegan, IL to Pontiac, IL covers 128.6 miles and takes about 2h 37m, 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.

Adlai Stevenson Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 75.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 128.6 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 46.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

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

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 straight / slight right lanes.

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

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

124.8 mi into trip | ~2h 30m in

Keep slight left at fork toward IL 23: Pontiac, Streator

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward IL 23: Pontiac, Streator

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Waukegan, IL and Pontiac, IL, road signs point toward O'hare and St. Louis.

O'hare

18.9 mi in | ~25m | via I 294

St. Louis

47.6 mi in | ~1h 1m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Adlai Stevenson Expressway	75.8 mi	1h 26m
Tri-State Tollway	42.6 mi	51m
North 1500 East Road	2.4 mi	3m
Belvidere Road	2.2 mi	3m
Belvidere Street	1.6 mi	3m
West Howard Street	0.8 mi	2m
North Jackson Street	0.5 mi	1m
Glen Rock Avenue	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Adlai Stevenson Expressway — 75.8 mi, about 1h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Continue on IL 120

2.2 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago

Merge onto I 94

14 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 294

4.8 mi · 5 min · Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 294

1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 23 Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 56 sec

Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 55

76 mi · 1 hr 26 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 29 sec

Toward IL 23: Pontiac, Streator

Keep slight left at fork

111 ft · 2 sec

Toward IL 23: Pontiac, Streator

Turn left onto IL 23

2.4 mi · 3 min · North 1500 East Road

Turn right onto IL 23

0.4 mi · 48 sec · Old Route 66

Turn left onto IL 116

0.8 mi · 2 min · West Howard Street

Turn right onto North Main Street

313 ft · 8 sec · North Main Street

Turn right onto West Madison Street

302 ft · 15 sec · West Madison Street

Turn right onto North Mill Street

204 ft · 4 sec · North Mill Street

Arrive at destination

North Mill Street

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 64.3 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 1h 21m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.8 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 28 miles or 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 64.3 miles or 1h 21m 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 8m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pontiac, 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 128.6 miles and 2h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 75.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 64.3 mi from Waukegan, IL · 1h 21m into the drive

village in Downers Grove, Lisle, and York Townships, DuPage County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Downers Grove, IL

64 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

Des Plaines, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Naperville, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 64.3 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Adlai Stevenson Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.8 miles.

Arriving in Pontiac, IL

The final approach into Pontiac, 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 Pontiac, 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...

16 mi from route ~41 min detour Free near mile 48.8

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.11 one way

$40.21 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$22.07	$44.15
premium	$4.89	$24.75	$49.50
diesel	$5.61	$28.39	$56.79

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

$20

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 45 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	38.6	$13.50	$6.17
Efficient EV	32.2	$11.25	$5.14
EV Truck/SUV	51.4	$18.00	$8.23

Gas CO2

45 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

Late night in Waukegan on Friday

Local time

1:00 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pontiac, IL

Late night in Pontiac on Friday

Local time

1:00 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°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

2h 37m 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 Pontiac, IL covers 128.6 miles and takes about 2h 37m 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 1500 East Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 64.3 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 $20.11 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.

Between Waukegan, IL and Pontiac, IL, road signs point toward O'hare and St. Louis.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.

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Trip from Waukegan, IL to Pontiac, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Pontiac, IL

National Parks Near This Route

Pullman National Historical Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Waukegan, IL

Pontiac, IL

Same local time

12 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 37m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More

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