Traveling from Cambria to Waukegan spans 363.1 miles across the state of Illinois, a journey that typically takes about 6 hours and 56 minutes. Because this route relies on turn-heavy local roads rather than major interstates, it is best suited for a single, focused day of driving. You should budget approximately $54 for fuel to complete the trip. Navigating through the heart of the Midwest, you will find this path requires your full attention due to the lack of high-speed highway segments. While it is technically possible to complete the drive in one day, be prepared for a long stint behind the wheel as you navigate off the beaten path.
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
181.6 miles from Cambria, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
195.2 mi
3h 34m
Ken Gray Expressway
104.1 mi
1h 52m
Edens Expressway
13.5 mi
17m
South Skokie Highway
8.2 mi
10m
Kennedy Expressway
8.2 mi
11m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi
11m
Herrin Road
6.8 mi
10m
Skokie Highway
3.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 195.2 mi, about 3h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cambria, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on South Maple Street
1.5 mi·2 min·South Maple Street
2
Continue on Cambria Road
0.5 mi·48 sec·Cambria Road
3
Enter roundabout onto Herrin Road
34 ft·0 sec·Herrin Road
4
Continue on Herrin Road
3.5 mi·5 min·Herrin Road
5
Continue on West Herrin Street
3.1 mi·5 min·West Herrin Street
6
Continue on Herrin Road
3.3 mi·4 min·Herrin Road
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
8
Merge onto I 57
37 mi·39 min·Ken Gray Expressway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
195 mi·3 hr 34 min·I 57
Toward I 57 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi·4 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
7.9 mi·11 min·Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi·11 min·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 94
14 mi·17 min·Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
3.8 mi·4 min·Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi·3 min·Skokie Valley Road
17
Continue on US 41
8.2 mi·10 min·South Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward IL 120 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto IL 120
0.3 mi·33 sec·Belvidere Road
20
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi·3 min·Belvidere Street
21
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Jackson Street
23
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
To manage this 6-hour and 56-minute trek effectively, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid fatigue while navigating the constant turns of local roads. Since the route involves only one planned stop, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave, as the $54 fuel estimate assumes steady driving and limited idling. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, prioritize frequent movement checks to keep your focus sharp throughout the day. Because you are avoiding major highways, use a reliable GPS to track your turns on Herrin Road and West Herrin Street, as missing a junction on these local paths can add significant time to your travel. Flexibility is your best asset here, so keep your schedule open to accommodate the slower pace of local transit.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 181.6 miles from Cambria, IL, or about 3h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 195.2 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.6 miles or 3h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waukegan, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cambria, 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 Cambria, IL
This is one driving day of about 363.1 miles and 6h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cambria, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 195.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 359.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.1 mi into trip|~3m in|Herrin Road
Enter roundabout onto Herrin Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
116.4 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
8
314.9 mi into trip|~5h 50m in|I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Roa...
6
344.5 mi into trip|~6h 31m in|US 41 / Skokie Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41 / Skokie Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
359.9 mi into trip|~6h 50m in
Take the exit toward IL 120 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward IL 120 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.77 one way
$113.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$62.33
$124.65
premium
$4.89
$69.88
$139.75
diesel
$5.61
$80.17
$160.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.9
1
$38.13
$17.43
Efficient EV
90.8
1
$31.77
$14.52
EV Truck/SUV
145.2
1
$50.83
$23.24
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Cambria, IL
Evening
in Cambria on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Evening
in Waukegan on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
6h 56m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 313.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a demanding experience on this route, as it features a 0% highway share and relies heavily on local thoroughfares like Cambria Road, Herrin Road, and West Herrin Street. The character of the drive is defined by a turn-heavy layout that lacks long, uninterrupted stretches; in fact, the longest segment on Cambria Road offers no sustained highway miles at all. You will spend the entire trip navigating through local infrastructure, which requires constant vigilance and frequent adjustments. This is not a cruise-control interstate experience, but rather a slow-paced, technical drive that keeps you engaged with the local road network for the duration of your 363.1-mile journey.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 195.2 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in near Herrin Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 363.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (Herrin Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 116.4 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 314.9 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 56m. Total distance: 363.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 56m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 195.2 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (Herrin Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 116.4 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 314.9 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Waukegan, IL before the return drive.
