Origin
Hoopeston, IL
Late night in Hoopeston on Sunday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hoopeston, 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
3h 34m
Distance
154.1 mi
248 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 22m
★
6 AM
3h 35m
8 AM
4h 0m
10 AM
3h 43m
12 PM
3h 41m
3 PM
3h 45m
5 PM
3h 58m
8 PM
3h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hoopeston, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Trip Overview
Embarking on a journey from Hoopeston, IL, to Waukegan, IL, covers 154.1 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 34 minutes. This drive is easily manageable as a single-day trip, making it a convenient option for a quick getaway or a functional transit. You'll be looking at an estimated fuel cost of around $24 for this excursion through the Midwest. The route is primarily composed of interstate driving, offering a straightforward path between these two Illinois communities. With only one recommended stop, this trip is designed for efficiency.
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
77 miles from Hoopeston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 46.7 mi | 55m |
| North 2100 E Road | 14.8 mi | 22m |
| Edens Expressway | 13.5 mi | 17m |
| County Road 2300 East | 10.7 mi | 15m |
| 2300 East | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| South Skokie Highway | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 7.9 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 46.7 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hoopeston, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on South Market Street
41 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Market Street
2
Turn left onto East Main Street
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East Main Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto IL 1
11 mi
·
15 min
·
County Road 2300 East
4
Continue on IL 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Chicago St
5
Continue on IL 1
9.9 mi
·
14 min
·
2300 East
6
Turn left onto US 24; IL 1
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
East Walnut Street
7
Turn right onto IL 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North 2100 East Road
8
Continue on IL 1
15 mi
·
22 min
·
North 2100 E Road
9
Continue on IL 1
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
S 7000E Road
10
Continue on IL 1
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
E 7000S Road
11
Turn left onto IL 1
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Dixie Highway
12
Continue on IL 1
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
South State Route 1
13
Turn left onto IL 17
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
IL 17
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-57 North: Chicago
15
Merge onto I 57
47 mi
·
55 min
·
I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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 Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 94
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
22
Continue on US 41
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
South Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward IL 120 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn straight onto IL 120
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Belvidere Road
25
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
26
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
27
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
28
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Consider an early morning departure from Hoopeston to make the most of your day and potentially avoid heavier traffic, especially as you near the Chicago metropolitan area. With a duration under four hours, this trip is best completed in one day, so planning for a single stop is sufficient. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 46 miles. The estimated fuel cost of $24 should help you budget accordingly for this straightforward drive.
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 77 miles from Hoopeston, IL, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.7 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 34 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77 miles or 1h 54m 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 57m
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 Hoopeston, 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 Hoopeston, IL
This is one driving day of about 154.1 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Hoopeston, 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 46.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 77 miles from Hoopeston, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 150.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
IL 1 / County Road 2300 East
At end of road, turn right onto IL 1 / County Road 2300 East
Navigation decision point
5
55.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
105.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 28m 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
135.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 9m 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
150.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 27m 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
$24.09 one way
$48.18 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.45 | $52.90 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.66 | $59.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.02 | $68.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.2 | 0 | $16.18 | $7.40 |
| Efficient EV | 38.5 | 0 | $13.48 | $6.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.6 | 0 | $21.57 | $9.86 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Late night in Waukegan on Sunday
Local time
3:09 AM
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
9 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
3h 34m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 100.9
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a mixed drive, with about 60% of the journey taking place on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-57, including a continuous stretch of 46.7 miles, which offers a consistent pace. The drive transitions from interstate travel to utilizing roads like North 2100 E Road before merging onto the Edens Expressway as you approach Waukegan. Expect a blend of faster highway speeds and more typical road conditions as you navigate through Illinois.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.7 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near IL 1 / County Road 2300 East.
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 154.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 1 miles (IL 1 / County Road 2300 East): Navigation decision point; at 55.8 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.8 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
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 3h 34m. Total distance: 154.1 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 46.7 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 1 miles (IL 1 / County Road 2300 East): Navigation decision point; at 55.8 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.8 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Waukegan, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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