This 70.5-mile drive from New Lenox, IL to Waukegan, IL will take you about 1 hour and 34 minutes. Primarily using the Tri-State Tollway, Veterans Memorial Tollway, and Adlai Stevenson Expressway, this trip is well-suited for a single day. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, it's an economical choice for a quick getaway. The route stays within the Midwest region, offering a straightforward journey through Illinois. You won't need to plan for overnight stays, allowing for a flexible schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.3 miles from New Lenox, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tri-State Tollway
41.8 mi
50m
Veterans Memorial Tollway
10.9 mi
11m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
6.9 mi
9m
North Cedar Road
2.5 mi
6m
Belvidere Road
1.9 mi
2m
Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
3m
South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
1m
Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 41.8 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Lenox, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on this road
215 ft·22 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto East Haven Avenue
175 ft·10 sec·East Haven Avenue
3
Enter roundabout onto North Cedar Road
106 ft·2 sec·North Cedar Road
4
Continue on North Cedar Road
2.5 mi·6 min·North Cedar Road
5
Turn left onto US 6
0.2 mi·18 sec·Maple Road
6
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·57 sec
Toward I 355 Toll North: West SuburbsUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 355
11 mi·11 min·Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 12AToward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 55
6.9 mi·9 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
1.6 mi·3 min
Exit 277AToward I 294 Tollway North: WisconsinUse the right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
12
Merge onto I 294
4.8 mi·5 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
37 mi·45 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 11AToward IL 120 East: Belvidere RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto IL 120
1.9 mi·2 min·Belvidere Road
16
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi·3 min·Belvidere Street
17
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Jackson Street
19
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 1 hour and 34-minute duration for this 70.5-mile trip, you have a lot of flexibility. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid the worst of rush hour traffic, especially as you'll be using major tollways. The $11 fuel cost is manageable, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during the 41.8-mile stretch on the Tri-State Tollway, as services might be less frequent on certain segments. Since there are no recommended stops, you can choose to make this a direct journey or pull over as needed for breaks.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.3 miles from New Lenox, IL, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.8 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 16 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.3 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
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 New Lenox, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from New Lenox, IL
This is one driving day of about 70.5 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from New Lenox, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Tri-State Tollway for about 41.8 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 65.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Cedar Road
Enter roundabout onto North Cedar Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
14.3 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12A
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
7
22 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 277A
Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
6
28.7 mi into trip|~40m in|I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
65.7 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 11A
Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.02 one way
$22.04 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.10
$24.20
premium
$4.89
$13.57
$27.13
diesel
$5.61
$15.57
$31.13
Estimated Tolls: $3.27
Tri-state Tollway
(41.8 mi)$2.51
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(10.9 mi)$0.76
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.2
0
$7.40
$3.38
Efficient EV
17.6
0
$6.17
$2.82
EV Truck/SUV
28.2
0
$9.87
$4.51
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
New Lenox, IL
Late night
in New Lenox on Sunday
Local time
5:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Late night
in Waukegan on Sunday
Local time
5:14 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
6 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 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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 21.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" with a significant portion on tollways. While 10% of the route involves highways, the overall profile suggests a more involved driving experience than a simple interstate cruise. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 41.8 miles on the Tri-State Tollway. This means you'll likely navigate a mix of faster-paced toll road sections and more frequent turns as you approach your destination.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.8 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.1 miles in near North Cedar Road.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.1 miles (North Cedar Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The South Suburbs make up a region of Chicagoland, in Illinois. The region is generally defined as the area south of I-55 and the Chicago Skyway. Many of the communities immediately near Chicago continue to have an urban character while many of the southernmost communities are suburban and exurban.
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 1h 34m. Total distance: 70.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.8 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.27 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 0.1 miles (North Cedar Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waukegan, IL before heading back.
