Spanning 228.9 miles from Mount Zion to Waukegan, this Illinois road trip takes approximately 3 hours and 44 minutes of driving time. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, it is best suited for a single-day journey rather than an overnight split. You should budget roughly $35 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Midwestern points. Navigating via West Main Street, State Route 121, and South Mount Zion Road, you will find this path avoids major interstates entirely. It is a straightforward trip for those who prefer navigating local roads over high-speed highway travel.
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
112.5 miles from Mount Zion, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
123.5 mi
2h 17m
I 72
36.9 mi
39m
Edens Expressway
13.5 mi
17m
South Skokie Highway
8.2 mi
10m
Kennedy Expressway
8.2 mi
11m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi
11m
North 22nd Street
3.9 mi
6m
Skokie Highway
3.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 123.5 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Zion, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on North Henderson Street
64 ft·5 sec·North Henderson Street
2
Turn right onto CTH 30
0.3 mi·32 sec·West Main Street
3
Turn slight left onto IL 121
1.6 mi·2 min·South State Route 121
4
Continue on IL 121
2.1 mi·3 min·South Mount Zion Road
5
Turn left onto US 36; IL 121
3.1 mi·4 min·US 36; IL 121
6
Turn right onto North 22nd Street
3.9 mi·6 min·North 22nd Street
7
Continue on IL 48
1.0 mi·1 min·IL 48
8
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I-72 East: Champaign
9
Merge onto I 72
37 mi·39 min·I 72
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 182BToward I 57 North: Chicago
11
Merge onto I 57
124 mi·2 hr 17 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi·4 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi·11 min·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 94
14 mi·17 min·Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
3.8 mi·4 min·Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi·3 min·Skokie Valley Road
18
Continue on US 41
8.2 mi·10 min·South Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward IL 120 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn straight onto IL 120
0.3 mi·33 sec·Belvidere Road
21
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi·3 min·Belvidere Street
22
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Jackson Street
24
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 3-hour and 44-minute drive, plan your departure for a time when you are fresh and ready for active navigation. While you only have one planned stop along the way, keep your schedule flexible to accommodate the slower pace of local roads compared to major highways. Since you are not utilizing interstates, check your fuel levels before leaving Mount Zion to ensure you don't run low while navigating the local stretches. A smart strategy is to map out your single stop in advance to break up the drive effectively. Prioritize comfort and patience, as the winding, local-road focus of this route makes for a different experience than a typical high-speed commute.
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 112.5 miles from Mount Zion, IL, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.5 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 49 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.5 miles or 2h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 33m
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 Mount Zion, 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 Mount Zion, IL
This is one driving day of about 224.9 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Mount Zion, 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 123.5 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 0 and 221.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CTH 30 / West Main Street
Turn right onto CTH 30 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
49.5 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the exit toward I 57 North: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 182B
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
8
176.7 mi into trip|~3h 22m 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
206.3 mi into trip|~4h 3m 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
221.7 mi into trip|~4h 21m 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
$35.16 one way
$70.32 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$38.60
$77.21
premium
$4.89
$43.28
$86.56
diesel
$5.61
$49.66
$99.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.5
0
$23.61
$10.80
Efficient EV
56.2
0
$19.68
$9.00
EV Truck/SUV
90
1
$31.49
$14.39
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Mount Zion, IL
Morning
in Mount Zion on Sunday
Local time
9:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Morning
in Waukegan on Sunday
Local time
9:29 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
7 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
4h 28m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 170.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a hands-on experience behind the wheel, as this 0% highway-share route relies exclusively on local thoroughfares. The road’s personality is defined by constant turns and transitions rather than long, monotonous stretches of pavement. Since the route utilizes local infrastructure, you will encounter a more varied pace compared to a standard interstate trek. Be prepared to stay alert, as the lack of highway miles means you will be navigating intersections and changing road conditions frequently throughout the 228.9-mile journey. This is a drive that demands your full attention, providing a distinct, grassroots look at the Illinois landscape.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 123.5 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 72. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CTH 30 / West Main Street.
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 224.9 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: near the start (CTH 30 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 49.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 176.7 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Jerusalem (Hebrew: ירושלים Yerushalayim, Arabic: القدس al-Quds) is the largest city of Israel. Israel claims it as its capital and a few countries including the United States recognize that claim, but most other countries and the United Nations do not.
The ancient city in the Judean Hills has a fascinating history spanning thousands of years. The city is holy to the three monotheistic religions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and serves as a spiritual, religious, and cultural center. Due to the religious significance of the city, and in particular the many sites of the Old City area, Jerusalem is one of the main tourist destinations in Israel. Jerusalem has many historic, archeological and cultural sites, along with vibrant and crowded shopping centers, cafes, and restaurants.
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 4h 28m. Total distance: 224.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 123.5 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: near the start (CTH 30 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 49.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 176.7 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 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Waukegan, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
