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Trip from Waukegan, IL to Waterman, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 58m

Distance

88.5 mi

142 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 50m ★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 3m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 15m
8 PM
1h 54m

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

Downtown Waterman, IL, IL

Waterman, IL

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Trip Overview

The drive from Waukegan, IL to Waterman, IL covers 88.5 miles and takes about 1h 58m 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, Belvidere Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.84 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.

Midpoint

44.2 miles from Waukegan, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 88.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 58m drive with frequent turns across 88.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Waukegan, IL to Waterman, IL is easy. At 1h 58m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waukegan, IL to Waterman, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Glen Rock Avenue
Belvidere Street
Belvidere Road
I 94 East
Tri-State Tollway
I 88 West
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
IL 56 West

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 Waterman, 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 Belvidere Road

2.2 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road
5

Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago

0.3 mi · 37 sec · I 94 East Toll: Chicago
6

Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

14 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway
7

Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

20 mi · 25 min · Tri-State Tollway
8

Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
9

Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Tri-State Tollway
10

Continue on Tri-State Tollway

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Tri-State Tollway
11

Keep slight right to continue on I 88 West Toll: Aurora

0.5 mi · 50 sec · I 88 West Toll: Aurora
12

Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

0.8 mi · 1 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
13

Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

25 mi · 30 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
14

Keep slight right to continue on IL 56 West: Sugar Grove

4.2 mi · 5 min · IL 56 West: Sugar Grove
15

Continue straight

17 mi · 26 min
16

Turn right onto North Elm Street

0.2 mi · 29 sec · North Elm Street
17

Arrive at your destination

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.2 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 59m 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 19 miles or 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 44.2 miles or 59m 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 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterman, 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 88.5 miles and 1h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Waukegan, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 44.2 mi from Waukegan, IL · 59m into the drive

village in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lombard, IL

44 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

Buffalo Grove, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lombard, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 44.2 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Waterman, IL

The final approach into Waterman, 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

$13.84 one way

$27.67 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $15.19 $30.38
premium $4.89 $17.03 $34.06
diesel $5.61 $19.54 $39.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 31 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26.6 0 $9.29 $4.25
Efficient EV 22.1 0 $7.74 $3.54
EV Truck/SUV 35.4 0 $12.39 $5.66

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Waukegan, IL

Morning in Waukegan on Thursday

Local time

11:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waterman, IL

Morning in Waterman on Thursday

Local time

11:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 58m 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 Waterman, IL covers 88.5 miles and takes about 1h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Glen Rock Avenue, Belvidere Street, Belvidere Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.2 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 $13.84 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.
The drive from Waukegan, IL to Waterman, IL is easy. At 1h 58m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waukegan, IL to Waterman, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waukegan, IL to Waterman, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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