Origin
Waukegan, IL
Evening in Waukegan on Wednesday
Local time
6:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waukegan, IL to Paris, IL
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
4h 56m
Distance
216.3 mi
348 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 43m
★
6 AM
4h 56m
8 AM
5h 23m
10 AM
5h 6m
12 PM
5h 3m
3 PM
5h 7m
5 PM
5h 22m
8 PM
4h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paris, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Waukegan, IL to Paris, IL covers 216.3 miles and takes about 4h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Glen Rock Avenue, Belvidere Street, South Lewis Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.82 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
108.1 miles from Waukegan, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 56m drive with frequent turns across 216.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 40 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Glen Rock Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 56m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waukegan, IL to Paris, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Glen Rock Avenue | — | — |
| Belvidere Street | — | — |
| South Lewis Avenue | — | — |
| Buckley Road | — | — |
| North Skokie Highway | — | — |
| Skokie Valley Road | — | — |
| Skokie Highway | — | — |
| Edens Expressway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Glen Rock Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Paris, 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
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Belvidere Street
4
Turn left onto South Lewis Avenue
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
South Lewis Avenue
5
Turn right onto Buckley Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Buckley Road
6
Turn left onto North Skokie Highway
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
North Skokie Highway
7
Continue on Skokie Valley Road
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
8
Continue on Skokie Highway
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
9
Continue on Edens Expressway
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
10
Continue on Kennedy Expressway
8.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
11
Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
12
Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
13
Keep slight left to continue on Bishop Ford Freeway
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Bishop Ford Freeway
14
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East, I 94 East: Indiana
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 East, I 94 East: Indiana
15
Keep slight right to continue on US 6 West, IL 83: Torrence Avenue
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
US 6 West, IL 83: Torrence Avenue
16
Keep slight left to continue on US 6 West, IL 83 West: Torrence Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 6 West, IL 83 West: Torrence Avenue
17
Keep slight right to continue on IL 83 South
502 ft
·
12 sec
·
IL 83 South
18
Turn straight onto Torrence Avenue
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Torrence Avenue
19
Turn left onto Glenwood Dyer Road
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Glenwood Dyer Road
20
Continue on Lincoln Highway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Lincoln Highway
21
Continue on Joliet Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Joliet Street
22
Continue on West Lincoln Highway
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
West Lincoln Highway
23
Turn right onto Wicker Avenue
59 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
Wicker Avenue
24
Keep slight left
22 mi
·
26 min
25
Continue straight
18 mi
·
23 min
26
Take the exit right toward I 74 West
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 74 West
27
Merge slight left
9.3 mi
·
10 min
28
Take the exit slight right toward US 150, IL 1
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 150, IL 1
29
Keep slight left to continue on US 150 East, IL 1 South
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
US 150 East, IL 1 South
30
Keep slight right to continue on US 150 East, IL 1 South: Georgetown Road
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
US 150 East, IL 1 South: Georgetown Road
31
Continue on Georgetown Road
14 mi
·
20 min
·
Georgetown Road
32
Continue on North State Street
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North State Street
33
Continue on Georgetown Road
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Georgetown Road
34
Continue on 1575 E US 36
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
1575 E US 36
35
Continue on Georgetown Road
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Georgetown Road
36
Continue on IL Route 1
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
IL Route 1
37
Turn right onto West Elliot Street
512 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Elliot Street
38
Turn left onto North Central Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Central Avenue
39
Turn left onto West Court Street
36 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Court Street
40
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 108.1 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
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 48 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.1 miles or 2h 28m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paris, 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 216.3 miles and 4h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 108.1 mi from Waukegan, IL · 2h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 108.1 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Paris, IL
The final approach into Paris, 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 Paris, 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
$33.82 one way
$67.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $37.13 | $74.26 |
| premium | $4.89 | $41.62 | $83.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.76 | $95.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.9 | 0 | $22.71 | $10.38 |
| Efficient EV | 54.1 | 0 | $18.93 | $8.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.5 | 1 | $30.28 | $13.84 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Paris, IL
Evening in Paris on Wednesday
Local time
6:40 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
11 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
4h 56m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Paris, IL covers 216.3 miles and takes about 4h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Glen Rock Avenue, Belvidere Street, South Lewis Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 108.1 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 $33.82 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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.
This is a straightforward 4h 56m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waukegan, IL to Paris, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waukegan, IL to Paris, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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