Jackson, IL to Waukegan, IL is 284.4 miles and takes about 6h 20m via US 41, SR 63, and Edens Expressway, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This all-Midwest drive stays within Illinois, offering a straightforward path north. Given its manageable length and predominantly highway profile, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip. You'll primarily be on major roads, making it a practical choice for efficient travel between these two Illinois locations.
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
142.2 miles from Jackson, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 41
137.9 mi
3h 2m
SR 63
63.3 mi
1h 20m
Edens Expressway
13.5 mi
17m
Bishop Ford Freeway
10.7 mi
14m
US 50 Business
9.3 mi
11m
South Skokie Highway
8.2 mi
10m
Kennedy Expressway
8.2 mi
11m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
US 41
— 137.9 mi, about 3h 2m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~8,925 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,444 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on 990N
0.1 mi·20 sec·990N
2
Turn right onto US 50 Business
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 50 Business
3
Take the ramp onto US 50 Business
9.0 mi·10 min·US 50 Business
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward US 41 North, US 150 West: Terre Haute
5
Continue on North 6th Street
0.3 mi·18 sec·North 6th Street
6
Continue on US 41; US 150
57 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 41; US 150
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn straight onto SR 63
63 mi·1 hr 20 min·SR 63
Toward Chicago
8
Continue on US 41
81 mi·1 hr 45 min·US 41
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto US 30
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Lincoln Highway
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on US 30
2.7 mi·5 min·Joliet Street
11
Continue on US 30
1.0 mi·2 min·Lincoln Highway
12
Continue on IL 83
3.1 mi·5 min·Glenwood Dyer Road
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward IL 394 North
14
Merge onto IL 394
3.7 mi·5 min·Calumet Expressway
15
Continue on I 94
7.9 mi·10 min·Bishop Ford Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
2.8 mi·3 min·Bishop Ford Freeway
Toward I 94 West: Chicago LoopUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi·4 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
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.
19
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi·11 min·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 94
14 mi·17 min·Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
3.8 mi·4 min·Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi·3 min·Skokie Valley Road
23
Continue on US 41
8.2 mi·10 min·South Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward IL 120 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn straight onto IL 120
0.3 mi·33 sec·Belvidere Road
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
For this 6h 20m drive, leaving early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you near Waukegan. Since it's a single-day trip, you don't need to plan for an overnight stay, giving you flexibility. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 137.9 miles on US 41, so plan your fuel stops before you hit that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $50, and it's always wise to top off when you see a good price.
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 142.2 miles from Jackson, IL, or about 3h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.9 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 63 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.2 miles or 3h 5m 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 10m
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 Jackson, 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 Jackson, IL
This is one driving day of about 284.4 miles and 6h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Jackson, 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 41 for about 137.9 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.4 and 281.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.4 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward US 41 North, US 150 West: Terre Haute
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 41 North, US 150 West: Terre Haute
7
230 mi into trip|~5h 5m in|I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway toward I 94 West: Chicago Loop
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West: Chicago Loop
8
236.1 mi into trip|~5h 14m 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
265.7 mi into trip|~5h 54m 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
281.2 mi into trip|~6h 13m 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
$42.00 one way
$84.00 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$46.37
$92.73
premium
$4.72
$52.80
$105.61
diesel
$4.80
$53.70
$107.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.3
1
$29.86
$13.65
Efficient EV
71.1
0
$24.89
$11.38
EV Truck/SUV
113.8
1
$39.82
$18.20
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Jackson, IL
Evening
in Jackson on Monday
Local time
7:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SW 5 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:32PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Evening
in Waukegan on Monday
Local time
7:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 5 to 10 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:32PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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
2 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 20m 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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 225.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly highway driving, with 91% of the 284.4 miles on major roads. The longest continuous stretch on a primary highway is 137.9 miles on US 41. You'll experience a significant portion of the drive with a consistent highway feel, punctuated by exits and merges. The remaining 9% of the drive will transition to surface roads as you approach your destination.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137.9 mi on US 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 41 and SR 63. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.4 miles in.
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 12 significant decision points across 284.4 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: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 230 miles (I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 236.1 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
758 ft476 ft
Total Climb
488 ft
Total Descent
310 ft
Highest Point
758 ft
~142.2 mi in
Elevation Range
282 ft
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 Jackson, IL to Waukegan, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago 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.
Top landmarks
•Waukegan Public Library — library
•Waukegan Building — office building in Waukegan, Illinois, United States
•Hotel Waukegan — historic hotel in Waukegan, Illinois, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 20m. Total distance: 284.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 20m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 137.9 miles on US 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 230 miles (I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 236.1 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 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 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.
