If you are planning a trip from Loran to Waukegan, expect a 119.9-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 2 minutes to complete. Because this route avoids major highways entirely, it is best suited for a single-day excursion rather than a multi-day trek. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel to cover the distance across this stretch of the Midwest. Navigating through local roads requires your full attention, making it a more interactive driving experience than a standard interstate commute. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this direct route provides a clear path between the 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
59.9 miles from Loran, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
35.7 mi
46m
West Belvidere Road
10.5 mi
16m
West State Road
9.8 mi
11m
West Pearl City Road
9.7 mi
17m
Telegraph Street
9 mi
12m
IL 176
7.1 mi
12m
Belvidere Road
6.3 mi
9m
IL 31
5.1 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
— 35.7 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Loran, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on Center Street
98 ft·9 sec·Center Street
2
Turn left onto South Loran Road
0.4 mi·54 sec·South Loran Road
3
Keep slight right at fork
296 ft·8 sec
4
Continue on this road
387 ft·10 sec·this road
5
Turn straight onto West Loran Road
4.0 mi·9 min·West Loran Road
6
Turn left onto IL 73
1.1 mi·1 min·IL 73
7
Continue on IL 73
0.7 mi·1 min·South Main Street
8
Turn right onto West Pearl City Road
8.8 mi·15 min·West Pearl City Road
9
Enter roundabout onto West Pearl City Road
152 ft·4 sec·West Pearl City Road
10
Continue on West Pearl City Road
0.9 mi·1 min·West Pearl City Road
11
Continue on West Empire Street
2.2 mi·4 min·West Empire Street
12
Turn right onto US 20 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·South Galena Avenue
13
Turn left onto US 20 Business
2.9 mi·4 min·US 20 Business
14
Take the ramp onto US 20 Business
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 20 Business
15
Merge onto US 20
7.5 mi·8 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
16
Continue on US 20
9.8 mi·11 min·West State Road
17
Continue on US 20
14 mi·16 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Toward US 20 East: Chicago
18
Take the exit onto US 20
0.2 mi·30 sec·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Exit 122AToward US 20 East: Belvedere
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 20
14 mi·20 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Exit 122AToward US 20 East: Belvedere
20
Continue on US 20
5.0 mi·7 min·West Grant Highway
21
Turn left onto IL 23
0.5 mi·43 sec·South State Street
22
Turn right onto IL 176
9.0 mi·12 min·Telegraph Street
23
Turn right onto IL 47
0.8 mi·1 min·IL 47
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left onto IL 176
7.1 mi·12 min·IL 176
25
Turn left onto IL 31
5.1 mi·8 min·IL 31
26
Turn right onto A32
0.2 mi·17 sec·Bull Valley Road
27
Continue on A32
1.2 mi·2 min·Charles J Miller Road
28
At end of road, turn left onto V45
0.9 mi·1 min·South River Road
Use the straight lane.
29
Continue on V45
0.7 mi·58 sec·Chapel Hill Road
Use the straight lane.
30
Turn slight right
208 ft·5 sec
Use the right lane.
31
Turn straight onto IL 120
1.1 mi·1 min·West Elm Street
32
Continue on IL 120
1.1 mi·1 min·Rand Road
33
Continue on IL 120
10 mi·16 min·West Belvidere Road
Use the right lane.
34
Continue on IL 120
6.3 mi·9 min·Belvidere Road
Use the left lane.
35
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi·3 min·Belvidere Street
36
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
37
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Jackson Street
38
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 3-hour trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience without needing an overnight stop. Plan for at least one stop to break up the drive, as the turn-heavy nature of the local roads can be more taxing than driving on a straight expressway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before setting out, as the $18 estimated cost is based on standard consumption and local roads can sometimes impact efficiency. A helpful tip for this specific route is to familiarize yourself with the turns on IL 73 before you leave, as the lack of highway signage means you will be relying on local road markers for the duration of your travel.
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 59.9 miles from Loran, IL, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.7 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 26 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.9 miles or 1h 27m 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 27m
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 Loran, 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 Loran, IL
This is one driving day of about 119.9 miles and 3h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Loran, 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 U.S. Grant Memorial Highway for about 35.7 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.1 and 96.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
15.1 mi into trip|~29m in|West Pearl City Road
Enter roundabout onto West Pearl City Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
54 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Take the exit onto US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway toward US 20 East: Belvedere
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 122A
Toward US 20 East: Belvedere
6
54.3 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway toward US 20 East: Belvedere
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 122A
Toward US 20 East: Belvedere
5
82.3 mi into trip|~2h in|IL 47
Turn right onto IL 47
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
96.7 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|V45 / South River Road
At end of road, turn left onto V45 / South River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.74 one way
$37.49 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.58
$41.16
premium
$4.89
$23.07
$46.15
diesel
$5.61
$26.47
$52.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36
0
$12.59
$5.76
Efficient EV
30
0
$10.49
$4.80
EV Truck/SUV
48
0
$16.79
$7.67
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 20, 2026
Origin
Loran, IL
Morning
in Loran on Tuesday
Local time
7:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Morning
in Waukegan on Tuesday
Local time
7:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°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
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 2m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating South Loran Road, West Loran Road, and IL 73, which keeps you engaged behind the wheel. The personality of this trip is defined by its constant navigation through local corridors rather than high-speed interstate travel. Because the roads are technical and winding, you will find that the character of the journey remains consistent from start to finish. Without long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, your focus stays sharp as you transition through the Illinois landscape.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.7 mi on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 around 15.1 miles in near West Pearl City Road.
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 18 significant decision points across 119.9 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 15.1 miles (West Pearl City Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 54 miles (US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 54.3 miles (US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 2m. Total distance: 119.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.7 miles on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway. 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 15.1 miles (West Pearl City Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 54 miles (US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 54.3 miles (US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Waukegan, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
