Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Burbank, IL to Waukegan, IL

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 14m

Distance

56.3 mi

91 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 9m ★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Burbank, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Burbank to Waukegan is 56.3 miles and takes about 1h 14m via Tri-State Tollway and local roads, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive within Illinois, taking you from the Midwest region of Burbank north to the Midwest region of Waukegan. Expect a local feel for much of this trip, with a good portion dedicated to surface streets rather than high-speed highways. It's a manageable distance, making it ideal for a single-day excursion or a relaxed commute.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Tri-State Tollway 48.7 mi 59m
Belvidere Road 1.9 mi 2m
Belvidere Street 1.6 mi 3m
West 95th Street 1.3 mi 2m
South Ridgeland Avenue 1 mi 1m
South Jackson Street 0.5 mi 1m
Glen Rock Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
West 87th Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Tri-State Tollway — 48.7 mi, about 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Burbank, IL and Waukegan, IL.

1

Start on West 87th Street

59 ft · 3 sec · West 87th Street
2

Turn left onto South Ridgeland Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Ridgeland Avenue
Use the left lane.
3

Turn right onto US 12; US 20

1.3 mi · 2 min · West 95th Street
4

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 58 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin Use the right lane.
5

Merge onto I 294

12 mi · 14 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 294

37 mi · 45 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Exit 11A Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Turn straight onto IL 120

1.9 mi · 2 min · Belvidere Road
9

Continue on IL 120

1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street
10

Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
11

Turn left onto South Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Jackson Street
12

Arrive at destination

North Jackson Street

Where to Stop

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

city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Des Plaines, IL

28 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

Downers Grove, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Des Plaines, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 28.1 miles from Burbank, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 55.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
2.3 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
5
2.7 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Merge onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
14.4 mi into trip | ~20m in | I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
51.4 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in

Take the exit toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 11A Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
5
55.3 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in | Glen Rock Avenue

Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.80 one way

$17.60 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 20 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $9.66 $19.33
premium $4.89 $10.83 $21.67
diesel $5.61 $12.43 $24.86

Estimated Tolls: $2.92

Tri-state Tollway (48.7 mi) $2.92

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Tolls

$3

Total

$12

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.9 0 $5.91 $2.70
Efficient EV 14.1 0 $4.93 $2.25
EV Truck/SUV 22.5 0 $7.88 $3.60

Gas CO2

20 kg

EV CO2

7 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

Burbank, IL

Morning in Burbank on Tuesday

Local time

6:09 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Partly Sunny

WNW 20 mph 5% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 12:05PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 12:05PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Morning in Waukegan on Tuesday

Local time

6:09 AM

CDT

Current temp

58°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

8 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 14m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter numerous intersections and traffic signals. While there's a significant stretch of 48.7 miles on the Tri-State Tollway, the overall experience involves navigating local roads for a substantial part of the journey. With a 0% highway share, be prepared for a more stop-and-go rhythm dictated by city traffic and the main roads like Belvidere Road and Belvidere Street. The drive transitions from a more open tollway feel to a more connected, community-level experience as you approach your destination.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.7 mi on Tri-State Tollway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 6/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Burbank, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1970

Burbank is a city in Chicagoland, Illinois.

Arriving in Waukegan, IL

Full guide →

Waukegan is in the Far North Suburbs of the Chicagoland region of Illinois. It sits on Lake Michigan, has a large harbor, and is the county seat of Lake County, Illinois.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 56.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 48.7 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.92 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Waukegan, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waukegan, IL before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Waukegan, IL

Anna, IL 385.3 mi · 7h 15m Madison, IL 322.8 mi · 6h 9m Flora, IL 282.3 mi · 5h 37m Shelbyville, IL 247.1 mi · 4h 58m

More from Burbank, IL

Bremen, IL 334.1 mi · 6h 29m North Peoria, IL 158.8 mi · 3h 3m Peoria, IL 156.7 mi · 2h 59m Bloomington, IL 124.7 mi · 2h 30m Champaign, IL 122.6 mi · 2h 25m Rockford, IL 95.3 mi · 1h 56m

More trips to Waukegan, IL

Cairo, IL 411.7 mi Metropolis, IL 403.6 mi Cambria, IL 363.1 mi Herrin, IL 356.4 mi Quincy, IL 341.6 mi Okawville, IL 337.8 mi
Escape planner: Burbank, IL Scenic drives in IL

Explore more options from Burbank, IL or browse trips ending in Waukegan, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.