Origin
Oak Forest, IL
Late night in Oak Forest on Tuesday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oak Forest, 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 24m
Distance
64.3 mi
103 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Forest, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 64.3 miles, this trek from Oak Forest to Waukegan serves as a straightforward Midwestern connection within Illinois. You should anticipate a travel time of approximately 1 hour and 16 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of roughly $10, the drive is highly economical for travelers moving between these two points. Because the route is relatively short, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay or mid-trip hotel accommodations. Relying on a combination of local streets and major thoroughfares, the trip offers a practical way to traverse the region without the need for multiple stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 54.4 mi | 1h 6m |
| Cicero Avenue | 4.1 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 |
| West 159th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Jackson Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 54.4 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oak Forest, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on this road
116 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn uturn onto US 6
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
West 159th Street
3
Turn left onto IL 50
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Cicero Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 294
17 mi
·
21 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
37 mi
·
45 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 11A
Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto IL 120
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Belvidere Road
9
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Belvidere Street
10
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.1 miles from Oak Forest, 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 and 59.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 6 / West 159th Street
Turn uturn onto US 6 / West 159th Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
5
5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Merge onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
22.4 mi into trip
|
~30m 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
59.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m 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
$10.05 one way
$20.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.04 | $22.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.37 | $24.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.20 | $28.39 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.26
Tri-state Tollway
(54.4 mi)
$3.26
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$3
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.75 | $3.09 |
| Efficient EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.63 | $2.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.7 | 0 | $9.00 | $4.12 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (64% 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
Late night in Waukegan on Tuesday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
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
14 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
1h 24m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate through the area. You will start your journey on West 159th Street before transitioning onto Cicero Avenue and eventually connecting to I-294 North. Unlike long-haul interstate routes, this drive features a 0% highway share, meaning you will spend your time navigating through local infrastructure rather than cruising on open stretches. With the longest uninterrupted stretch being zero miles on West 159th Street, the experience is defined by constant movement and frequent changes in direction. Prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
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 early in the drive near US 6 / West 159th Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 64.3 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: near the start (US 6 / West 159th Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 24m. Total distance: 64.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.26 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.
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: near the start (US 6 / West 159th Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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