Origin
Evanston, IL
Late night in Evanston on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Evanston, IL to Waukegan, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
28.8 mi
46 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Evanston, IL to Waukegan, IL is 28.8 miles and takes about 43m via South Skokie Highway, Edens Expressway, and Skokie Highway, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip within the Midwest region, specifically connecting two Illinois communities. Expect a local driving experience rather than a long-haul adventure. The relatively short distance and duration make it an easy option for a quick drive, whether for leisure or necessity. Consider this route for its directness and minimal time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Skokie Highway | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| Edens Expressway | 4 mi | 5m |
| Skokie Highway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Skokie Valley Road | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| Belvidere Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Central Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Skokie Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Green Bay Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
South Skokie Highway
— 8.2 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on this road
197 ft
·
21 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn left
139 ft
·
15 sec
3
At end of road, turn left onto Dempster Street
213 ft
·
11 sec
·
Dempster Street
4
Turn right onto Asbury Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Asbury Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Turn left onto Green Bay Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Green Bay Road
6
Turn left onto Central Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Street
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto Crawford Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Crawford Avenue
8
Turn left onto Wilmette Avenue
90 ft
·
1 sec
·
Wilmette Avenue
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Glenview Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Glenview Road
10
Turn right onto US 41
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Skokie Boulevard
11
Take the ramp onto US 41
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
US 41
Toward I 94 West
12
Merge onto I 94; US 41
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Edens Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
15
Continue on US 41
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
South Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward IL 120 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto IL 120
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Belvidere Road
18
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
19
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
21
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 25.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
At end of road, turn left
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Dempster Street
At end of road, turn left onto Dempster Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Asbury Avenue
Turn right onto Asbury Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
10.1 mi into trip
|
~17m 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
25.6 mi into trip
|
~36m 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
$4.50 one way
$9.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.94 | $9.89 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.54 | $11.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.36 | $12.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.52 | $1.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Late night in Waukegan on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Widespread Fog
SSE 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 1:55AM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 1:55AM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
24 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
43m 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 drive is characterized by frequent turns and a mix of local roads and expressway segments, making it a 'turn-heavy local drive'. With highway driving accounting for only about 15% of the total, you'll spend most of your time navigating surface streets. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.2 miles on South Skokie Highway, offering a brief period of consistent travel before re-engaging with more varied road conditions. Be prepared for changes in speed limits and traffic patterns as you transition between these road types.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.2 mi on South Skokie Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 28.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Dempster Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Asbury Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Evanston, IL
Full guide →Founded 1836
Evanston is a city in the North Shore region of Illinois along the shores of Lake Michigan. Evanston has many identities: college town, dining destination, cultural center and gateway to the wealthy North Shore, although the city itself is anything but homogeneous in regards to economic status, culture and race. Evanston is named after John Evans, one of the founders of Northwestern University, which ranks among the most prestigious universities in the United States.
Top landmarks
- • Grosse Point Light — lighthouse in Illinois, United States
- • Shakespeare Garden — garden on the campus of Northwestern University
- • Frederick B. Carter, Jr. House — historic house in Illinois, United States
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 43m. Total distance: 28.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m 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 8.2 miles on South Skokie Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Dempster Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Asbury Avenue): 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.
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