This 47.9-mile drive from Waukegan, IL to La Grange, IL will take about 1 hour and 6 minutes to complete. It's a straightforward trip within the Midwest region, making it an ideal day trip with no need for an overnight stay. You'll primarily navigate via the Tri-State Tollway and East Ogden Avenue. Budget around $7 for fuel for this journey. The route offers a practical, local feel without extensive highway travel, making it an accessible option for a short excursion.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 47.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share. While there's a significant stretch of 39.3 miles on the Tri-State Tollway, the majority of your travel will involve navigating local roads and avenues. This means you'll be making frequent turns and adjustments, characteristic of urban and suburban commuting. The road's personality shifts from the open tollway to more connected local streets as you approach your destination.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tri-State Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 39.3 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 5.1 miles in near I 94 / Tri-State Tollway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 5.1 miles (I 94 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
5.1 mi into trip|~9m in|I 94 / Tri-State Tollway
Merge onto I 94 / Tri-State Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
4
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
7
44.4 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the exit toward US 34 East: Ogden Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 27A
Toward US 34 East: Ogden Avenue
4
47.3 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|West 47th Street
Turn left onto West 47th Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Waukegan, IL to La Grange, IL, road signs begin pointing toward O'hare along the way.
O'hare
18.9 mi in|~25m|via I 294
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tri-State Tollway
39.3 mi
47m
Belvidere Road
2.2 mi
3m
East Ogden Avenue
1.7 mi
3m
Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
3m
North Brainard Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
West 47th Street
0.5 mi
1m
North Jackson Street
0.5 mi
1m
Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 39.3 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and La Grange, 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
2.2 mi·3 min·Belvidere Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
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 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'HareUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
2.8 mi·3 min·Tri-State Tollway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 27AToward US 34 East: Ogden AvenueUse the right lane.
10
Turn straight onto US 34
1.7 mi·3 min·East Ogden Avenue
11
Turn right onto Dover Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Dover Avenue
12
Turn slight right onto North Brainard Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·North Brainard Avenue
13
Turn left onto West 47th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West 47th Street
14
Turn right onto US 12; US 20; US 45
21 ft·0 sec·South La Grange Road
15
Arrive at destination
US 12; US 20; US 45
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.9 mi from Waukegan, IL
· 31m into the drive
The midpoint is around 23.9 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in La Grange, IL
The final approach into La Grange, 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
$7.49 one way
$14.98 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg17 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$8.22
$16.44
premium
$4.89
$9.22
$18.44
diesel
$5.61
$10.58
$21.15
Estimated Tolls: $2.36
Tri-state Tollway
(39.3 mi)$2.36
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
14.4
0
$5.03
$2.30
Efficient EV
12
0
$4.19
$1.92
EV Truck/SUV
19.2
0
$6.71
$3.07
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Waukegan, IL
Late night
in Waukegan on Saturday
Local time
1:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 15 to 20 mph100% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 17 at 11:24PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:24PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
La Grange, IL
Late night
in La Grange on Saturday
Local time
1:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
27 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 6m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 La Grange, IL covers 47.9 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, Belvidere Road, East Ogden Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.9 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 $7.49 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 47.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 5.1 miles (I 94 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; 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.
On the drive from Waukegan, IL to La Grange, IL, road signs begin pointing toward O'hare along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
