Origin
Marengo, IL
Morning in Marengo on Tuesday
Local time
7:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marengo, IL to Waukegan, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
47 mi
76 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marengo, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 47-mile drive from Marengo to Waukegan, Illinois, is a straightforward 1 hour and 15-minute trip, making it an ideal day trip. You'll navigate primarily via West Belvidere Road and IL 176. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $7, this route offers a budget-friendly way to travel within the Midwest. The drive's 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests it's less about high-speed travel and more about engaging with local roads. Since there are no recommended stops and the duration is short, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits you best.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Belvidere Road | 10.5 mi | 16m |
| Telegraph Street | 9 mi | 12m |
| IL 176 | 7.1 mi | 12m |
| Belvidere Road | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| IL 31 | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| Belvidere Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Charles J Miller Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West Elm Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
West Belvidere Road
— 10.5 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marengo, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on IL 23
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
South State Street
2
Turn right onto IL 176
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Telegraph Street
3
Turn right onto IL 47
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
IL 47
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto IL 176
7.1 mi
·
12 min
·
IL 176
5
Turn left onto IL 31
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
IL 31
6
Turn right onto A32
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Bull Valley Road
7
Continue on A32
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Charles J Miller Road
8
At end of road, turn left onto V45
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South River Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on V45
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn slight right
208 ft
·
5 sec
Use the right lane.
11
Turn straight onto IL 120
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Elm Street
12
Continue on IL 120
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Rand Road
13
Continue on IL 120
10 mi
·
16 min
·
West Belvidere Road
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on IL 120
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Belvidere Road
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
16
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
18
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.5 miles from Marengo, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 46.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 176 / Telegraph Street
Turn right onto IL 176 / Telegraph Street
Navigation decision point
5
9.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
IL 47
Turn right onto IL 47
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
3
10.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
IL 176
Turn left onto IL 176
Navigation decision point
7
23.8 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
V45 / South River Road
At end of road, turn left onto V45 / South River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
46.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
Glen Rock Avenue
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.35 one way
$14.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.07 | $16.14 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.04 | $18.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.38 | $20.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.11 | $1.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.58 | $3.01 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Morning in Waukegan on Tuesday
Local time
7:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Widespread Fog
SE 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
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
1 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
1h 15m 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 47-mile journey, with only 28% of the route on highways. Your longest continuous stretch will be about 10.5 miles along West Belvidere Road. This means you'll be making frequent turns and navigating through local traffic patterns rather than settling into a long, monotonous highway cruise. The character of the drive will likely shift as you transition between different local roads, requiring your attention to be on navigation and road conditions.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.5 mi on West Belvidere Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near IL 176 / Telegraph Street.
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 47 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.4 miles (IL 176 / Telegraph Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.5 miles (IL 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles (IL 176): Navigation decision point.
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 1h 15m. Total distance: 47 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.5 miles on West Belvidere Road. 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: at 0.4 miles (IL 176 / Telegraph Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.5 miles (IL 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles (IL 176): Navigation decision point.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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