This 180.2-mile journey from Heyworth, IL, to Waukegan, IL, will take approximately 3 hours and 34 minutes. It's a manageable one-day trip, so you can easily complete it without an overnight stay. The route primarily utilizes US 51 and the Tri-State Tollway, with a significant 68% of the drive on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $28 for this drive through the Midwest. This highway-focused route is designed for efficient travel between these two Illinois locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
90.1 miles from Heyworth, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 51
122.1 mi
2h 16m
Tri-State Tollway
41.8 mi
50m
North 1450 East Road
8.3 mi
10m
Belvidere Road
1.9 mi
2m
Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
3m
East Cleveland Street
0.8 mi
1m
South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
1m
Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 51
— 122.1 mi, about 2h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Heyworth, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on Emery Street
501 ft·26 sec·Emery Street
2
Turn right onto East Cleveland Street
0.8 mi·1 min·East Cleveland Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward US 51 North: Bloomington-Normal
4
Merge onto US 51
8.3 mi·10 min·North 1450 East Road
5
Take the exit onto US 51
122 mi·2 hr 16 min·US 51
Toward I 74 West, US 51 North: Peoria, RockfordUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
1.6 mi·3 min
Exit 277AToward I 294 Tollway North: WisconsinUse the right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
8
Merge onto I 294
4.8 mi·5 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
37 mi·45 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 11AToward IL 120 East: Belvidere RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto IL 120
1.9 mi·2 min·Belvidere Road
12
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi·3 min·Belvidere Street
13
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Jackson Street
15
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
With a duration of just over three and a half hours, this route is ideal for a same-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time. Plan for one stop along the way to stretch your legs or refuel, keeping the total journey manageable. Given that a substantial portion is on the Tri-State Tollway, be prepared for potential tolls. A fuel cost of approximately $28 should be budgeted for this 180.2-mile drive. Consider leaving Heyworth in the morning to ensure you arrive in Waukegan with ample daylight.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 90.1 miles from Heyworth, IL, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.1 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 40 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.1 miles or 1h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 51m
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 Heyworth, 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 Heyworth, IL
This is one driving day of about 180.2 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Heyworth, 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 US 51 for about 122.1 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 9.4 and 175.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
9.4 mi into trip|~13m in|US 51
Take the exit onto US 51 toward I 74 West, US 51 North: Peoria, Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 74 West, US 51 North: Peoria, Rockford
7
131.6 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 277A
Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
5
133.1 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
6
138.3 mi into trip|~2h 39m 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
175.3 mi into trip|~3h 24m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.17 one way
$56.34 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.93
$61.86
premium
$4.89
$34.68
$69.36
diesel
$5.61
$39.79
$79.57
Estimated Tolls: $2.51
Tri-state Tollway
(41.8 mi)$2.51
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
$28
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.1
0
$18.92
$8.65
Efficient EV
45.1
0
$15.77
$7.21
EV Truck/SUV
72.1
0
$25.23
$11.53
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Heyworth, IL
Morning
in Heyworth on Tuesday
Local time
7:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
NW 18 to 22 mph26% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:50AM CDT until April 21 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:48AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Morning
in Waukegan on Tuesday
Local time
7:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
WNW 15 to 20 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:50AM CDT until April 21 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:48AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
4 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
3h 34m 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.
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 130.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The majority of this drive, 68%, is spent on highways, offering a consistent pace. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 122.1 miles on US 51, allowing for extended driving periods. While largely highway-focused, the route incorporates segments of North 1450 East Road, potentially offering a slight change of scenery. This drive emphasizes forward momentum, making it suitable for those prioritizing reaching their destination efficiently.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.1 mi on US 51.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 51 and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.4 miles in near US 51.
Driving Effort8/10
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 180.2 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 9.4 miles (US 51): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 133.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Heyworth, IL to Waukegan, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rockford along the way.
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 3h 34m. Total distance: 180.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 122.1 miles on US 51. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.51 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.
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 9.4 miles (US 51): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 133.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Waukegan, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
