Origin
Waukegan, IL
Morning in Waukegan on Friday
Local time
9:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waukegan, IL to Sycamore, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
62.5 mi
101 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 33m
★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 56m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sycamore, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 62.5-mile drive from Waukegan, IL to Sycamore, IL is a straightforward, one-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. You'll navigate primarily local roads, with about 25% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost is around $10, making it an economical excursion. This route is best suited for a single day of travel, with no need for an overnight stop. It's a classic Midwest drive, keeping you within the familiar Illinois landscape.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
31.2 miles from Waukegan, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 62.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 62.5-mile journey. While 25% of the route involves highway driving, the majority of your time will be spent on Plank Road, IL 59, and Dundee Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12 miles on Plank Road. This means you'll be engaging with the road frequently, making for a more involved driving experience rather than a monotonous highway cruise. The character of the drive shifts as you move through different local areas.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Plank Road is the longest continuous segment at about 12 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 9.9 miles in near South Atkinson Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 9.9 miles (South Atkinson Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (IL 176): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.7 miles (Barrington Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
9.9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
South Atkinson Road
Turn left onto South Atkinson Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
14.4 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
IL 176
Turn right onto IL 176
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
19.7 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
Barrington Road
Turn left onto Barrington Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
31.3 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
IL 62; IL 68 / Dundee Road
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 62; IL 68 / Dundee Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
36.1 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
IL 72 / East Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto IL 72 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Plank Road | 12 mi | 18m |
| IL 59 | 7.8 mi | 12m |
| Dundee Road | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| Belvidere Road | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| IL 176 | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| East Higgins Road | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Ivanhoe Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Higgins Road | 3 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Plank Road
— 12 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Sycamore, 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
4
Continue on IL 120
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Belvidere Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on IL 120
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Belvidere Road
6
Turn left onto South Atkinson Road
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Atkinson Road
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on IL 83
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ivanhoe Road
8
Continue on Schank Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Schank Avenue
9
Turn right onto IL 176
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
IL 176
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto Barrington Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Barrington Road
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on IL 59
7.8 mi
·
12 min
·
IL 59
Use the right lane.
12
Turn slight right
284 ft
·
4 sec
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on IL 59
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
New Sutton Road
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on IL 59; IL 68
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Dundee Road
15
Continue on IL 62; IL 68
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Dundee Road
16
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 62; IL 68
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Dundee Road
17
At end of road, turn right onto IL 72
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East Main Street
18
Turn straight onto IL 72
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Higgins Road
19
Continue on IL 72
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
East Higgins Road
20
Turn left onto US 20; IL 47; IL 72
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 20; IL 47; IL 72
21
Turn right onto CR 22
12 mi
·
18 min
·
Plank Road
22
Turn left onto IL 23
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
23
Turn right onto IL 64
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
West State Street
24
Arrive at destination
IL 64
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 40-minute trip, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best. Since there are no designated stops and the drive is under 100 miles, you can easily complete it in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $10; it's wise to start with a full tank. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signage on Plank Road, as it's the longest uninterrupted stretch and may have varying speed limits and turns.
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 31.2 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12 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 14 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.2 miles or 51m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sycamore, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waukegan, IL
This is one driving day of about 62.5 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Waukegan, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Plank Road for about 12 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.2 mi from Waukegan, IL · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.2 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Sycamore, IL
The final approach into Sycamore, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.77 one way
$19.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.73 | $21.46 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.03 | $24.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.80 | $27.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.56 | $3.00 |
| Efficient EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25 | 0 | $8.75 | $4.00 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Sycamore, IL
Morning in Sycamore on Friday
Local time
9:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
5 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
1h 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 Sycamore, IL covers 62.5 miles and takes about 1h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Plank Road, IL 59, Dundee Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.2 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 $9.77 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.5 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.9 miles (South Atkinson Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (IL 176): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.7 miles (Barrington Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Waukegan, IL to Sycamore, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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