Trip from Waukegan, IL to Sumner, IL

Drive Time

6h 10m

Distance

297.7 mi

479 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

5h 58m ★

6 AM

6h 11m

8 AM

6h 36m

10 AM

6h 20m

12 PM

6h 17m

3 PM

6h 21m

5 PM

6h 35m

8 PM

6h 3m

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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Trip Overview

The drive from Waukegan, IL to Sumner, IL covers 297.7 miles and takes about 6h 10m 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, North 1250th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 168.9 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.22 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

148.8 miles from Waukegan, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 56m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 6h 10m highway drive covering 297.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and Edens Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 168.9 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 39 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 168.9 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 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near South Lewis Avenue.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 297.7 miles you will encounter 17 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 1.2 miles (South Lewis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (IL 137 / Buckley Road): 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 17 key points

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

1.2 mi into trip | ~3m in | South Lewis Avenue

Turn left onto South Lewis Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

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.

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 none lane. 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

219.9 mi into trip | ~4h 15m in

Take the exit toward IL 16 East: Charleston

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 190A Toward IL 16 East: Charleston

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 57	168.9 mi	3h 6m
Edens Expressway	13.7 mi	17m
North 1250th Street	13.3 mi	19m
South Van Buren Street	11 mi	15m
US 50	10 mi	13m
Route 130	10 mi	14m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)	8.8 mi	11m
Kennedy Expressway	8.1 mi	11m

Longest stretch: I 57 — 168.9 mi, about 3h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Use the none lane.

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

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 41

3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 94; US 41

14 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 90; I 94

8.1 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 90; I 94

2.4 mi · 2 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

Use the none lane.

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 none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57

169 mi · 3 hr 6 min · I 57

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

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 47 sec

Exit 190A Toward IL 16 East: Charleston

Turn straight onto IL 16

0.7 mi · 1 min · Charleston Avenue East

Continue on IL 16

6.0 mi · 8 min · Illinois Route 16

Continue on IL 16

1.8 mi · 2 min · West Lincoln Avenue

Turn right onto IL 130

1.6 mi · 2 min · 18th Street

Continue on IL 130

0.8 mi · 1 min · Illinois Route 130

Continue on IL 130

10.0 mi · 14 min · Route 130

Continue on IL 130

2.0 mi · 2 min · County Road 1825 East

Continue on IL 130

0.8 mi · 1 min · County Road 1775 E

Continue on IL 130

0.4 mi · 32 sec · North Haughton Highway

Continue on IL 130

1.3 mi · 1 min · 1700E

Continue on IL 130

4.0 mi · 5 min · North Haughton Highway

Continue on IL 130

2.1 mi · 3 min · County Road 1700E

Continue on IL 130

13 mi · 19 min · North 1250th Street

Turn left onto IL 130

11 mi · 15 min · South Van Buren Street

Continue on IL 130

6.7 mi · 9 min · County Road 1100 East

Continue on IL 130

1.3 mi · 2 min · North West Street

Turn left onto West Butler Street

1.3 mi · 3 min · West Butler Street

Turn right onto North Lincoln Avenue

481 ft · 16 sec · North Lincoln Avenue

Turn left onto East Main Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · East Main Street

Turn left onto US 50; IL 250

10.0 mi · 13 min · US 50; IL 250

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto IL 250

95 ft · 7 sec · IL 250

Continue on IL 250

1.1 mi · 1 min · IL 250

Turn right onto North Christy Avenue

473 ft · 15 sec · North Christy Avenue

Turn right onto West North Avenue

49 ft · 2 sec · West North Avenue

Arrive at destination

West North Avenue

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 148.8 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 2h 56m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 168.9 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 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 148.8 miles or 2h 56m 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 51m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sumner, 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 297.7 miles and 6h 10m.

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 I 57 for about 168.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 148.8 mi from Waukegan, IL · 2h 56m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Addison, IL

149 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

Addison, IL

Fuel and coffee

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

Addison, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 148.8 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 I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 168.9 miles.

Arriving in Sumner, IL

The final approach into Sumner, 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 Sumner, 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

$45.22 one way

$90.44 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 104 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$49.85	$99.69
premium	$4.80	$56.20	$112.40
diesel	$5.64	$66.14	$132.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$45

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$70–$95

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 104.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	89.3	1	$31.26	$14.29
Efficient EV	74.4	0	$26.05	$11.91
EV Truck/SUV	119.1	1	$41.68	$19.05

Gas CO2

104 kg

EV CO2

35 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

2:54 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sumner, IL

Afternoon in Sumner on Sunday

Local time

2:54 PM

CDT

Current temp

79°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

36 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

6h 10m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 Sumner, IL covers 297.7 miles and takes about 6h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 57, Edens Expressway, North 1250th 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 148.8 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 $45.22 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

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.

The route from Waukegan, IL to Sumner, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Sumner, IL to Waukegan, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

297.8 mi 6h 11m

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