Elburn, IL to Waukegan, IL is 60.7 miles and takes about 1h 35m via Randall Road and the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest and Illinois, connecting two local areas. Expect a route that involves frequent turns and a mix of road types, making it more of a local exploration than a high-speed transit. It’s a manageable distance for a single day trip, offering a straightforward way to travel between these points without requiring an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
30.4 miles from Elburn, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Randall Road
8.6 mi
13m
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
6.7 mi
7m
North Hough Road
6.4 mi
10m
Belvidere Road
6.3 mi
9m
New Sutton Road
5.3 mi
8m
Ivanhoe Road
3.7 mi
6m
West Liberty Street
3.4 mi
6m
Lincoln Highway
3.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Randall Road
— 8.6 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elburn, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on East North Street
35 ft·3 sec·East North Street
2
Turn right onto IL 47
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
3
Turn right onto IL 38
3.3 mi·4 min·Lincoln Highway
4
Turn left onto CR 81
2.3 mi·3 min·LaFox Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on CR 2
0.3 mi·31 sec·Burlington Road
6
Enter roundabout onto Bolcum Road
22 ft·0 sec·Bolcum Road
7
Continue on Bolcum Road
3.2 mi·5 min·Bolcum Road
8
Turn left onto CR 34
8.6 mi·13 min·Randall Road
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 90 East: ChicagoUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 90
6.7 mi·7 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
Exit 59Toward IL 59Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto IL 59
3.6 mi·5 min·New Sutton Road
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on IL 59; IL 68
1.4 mi·1 min·Dundee Road
14
Continue on IL 59
1.7 mi·2 min·New Sutton Road
15
Continue on South Hough Street
1.4 mi·2 min·South Hough Street
16
Continue on IL 59
6.4 mi·10 min·North Hough Road
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on Barrington Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Barrington Road
18
Turn right onto IL 176
3.4 mi·6 min·West Liberty Street
19
Turn right onto IL 176
1.9 mi·2 min·IL 176
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on IL 176
152 ft·3 sec·IL 176
21
Turn left onto Schank Avenue
0.2 mi·23 sec·Schank Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on IL 83
3.7 mi·6 min·Ivanhoe Road
23
Continue on South Atkinson Road
0.5 mi·59 sec·South Atkinson Road
24
Turn right onto IL 120
1.0 mi·1 min·East Belvidere Road
25
Continue on IL 120
6.3 mi·9 min·Belvidere Road
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi·3 min·Belvidere Street
27
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
28
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Jackson Street
29
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 35-minute estimated drive time, this is a perfect same-day trip. You can depart anytime, but leaving mid-morning will help you avoid the worst of local commuter traffic. With only 60.7 miles, there's no need to rush or plan extensive stops; however, be mindful of the frequent turns, especially on the local road sections. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $9, and plan to refuel before you leave Elburn or near Waukegan if your tank is low. The longest stretch of highway is relatively short, so stay alert for changing speed limits as you transition back to local roads.
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 30.4 miles from Elburn, IL, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.6 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 13 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.4 miles or 45m 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 20m
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 Elburn, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Elburn, IL
This is one driving day of about 60.7 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Elburn, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Randall Road for about 8.6 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 46.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4 mi into trip|~6m in|CR 81 / LaFox Road
Turn left onto CR 81 / LaFox Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
6.7 mi into trip|~10m in|Bolcum Road
Enter roundabout onto Bolcum Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
9.9 mi into trip|~16m in|CR 34 / Randall Road
Turn left onto CR 34 / Randall Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
25.6 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward IL 59
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 59
Toward IL 59
6
46.4 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|Schank Avenue
Turn left onto Schank Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.49 one way
$18.98 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$10.42
$20.84
premium
$4.89
$11.68
$23.36
diesel
$5.61
$13.40
$26.80
Estimated Tolls: $0.47
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(6.7 mi)$0.47
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.2
0
$6.37
$2.91
Efficient EV
15.2
0
$5.31
$2.43
EV Truck/SUV
24.3
0
$8.50
$3.88
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% 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
Elburn, IL
Morning
in Elburn on Tuesday
Local time
10:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Morning
in Waukegan on Tuesday
Local time
10:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
WNW 15 to 20 mph9% chanceLive 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
14 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 35m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a high percentage of local roads, with only about 30% of the journey on highways. The profile is best described as a turn-heavy local drive, meaning you'll be navigating through various streets and intersections. The longest stretch without a significant turn or change in road type is 8.6 miles along Randall Road. As you progress, the route transitions from more rural or suburban local roads onto the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway before heading back to local roads towards Waukegan.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.6 mi on Randall Road.
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 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in near CR 81 / LaFox Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 60.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 4 miles (CR 81 / LaFox Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles (Bolcum Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.9 miles (CR 34 / Randall Road): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 60.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.6 miles on Randall Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.47 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams Memorial 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 4 miles (CR 81 / LaFox Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles (Bolcum Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.9 miles (CR 34 / Randall Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waukegan, IL before heading back.
