Trip from Odin, IL to Waukegan, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 42m

Distance

298.5 mi

480 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 29m ★

6 AM

5h 42m

8 AM

6h 9m

10 AM

5h 52m

12 PM

5h 49m

3 PM

5h 53m

5 PM

6h 8m

8 PM

5h 35m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Odin, IL

Fernando Cortés

Trip Overview

Embarking from Odin, Illinois, to Waukegan, Illinois, this 298.5-mile journey will take approximately 5 hours and 42 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, it covers a modest distance with an estimated fuel cost of $45. You'll navigate primarily via local roads, including Laury Street, East Poplar Street, and West Main Street, with no highway driving. This route offers a straightforward, turn-heavy local experience through the Midwest. With only one recommended stop, you can maintain a steady pace, making it a manageable drive for most.

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

149.3 miles from Odin, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 57	241.8 mi	4h 24m
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
Skokie Highway	3.8 mi	4m
Skokie Valley Road	3.4 mi	3m
Dan Ryan Expressway	3.3 mi	4m

Longest stretch: I 57 — 241.8 mi, about 4h 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Odin, IL and Waukegan, IL.

Start on East Kirkwood Street

124 ft · 8 sec · East Kirkwood Street

Turn right onto Laury Street

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Laury Street

Turn right onto US 50

2.1 mi · 2 min · East Poplar Street

Continue on US 50

2.4 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

Turn left

0.4 mi · 54 sec

Merge onto I 57

47 mi · 50 min · I 57

Keep slight left at fork onto I 57

195 mi · 3 hr 34 min · I 57

Toward I 57 North: Chicago Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 94

3.3 mi · 4 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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 Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 90; I 94

8.2 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 94

14 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

Toward I 94 West: Milwaukee Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 41

3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 41

3.4 mi · 3 min · Skokie Valley Road

Continue on US 41

8.2 mi · 10 min · South Skokie Highway

Use the left lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Toward IL 120 East Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto IL 120

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Belvidere Road

Continue on IL 120

1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto South Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Jackson Street

Arrive at destination

North Jackson Street

Trip Plan

Given the 5-hour and 42-minute duration, consider an early morning departure from Odin to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. While the route is manageable in one day with an estimated fuel cost of $45, planning for one stop is recommended. Pay close attention to local speed limits as you'll be on numerous local roads throughout the 298.5-mile journey. Staying alert for turns, especially on streets like Laury Street and East Poplar Street, will be key to a smooth drive.

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 149.3 miles from Odin, IL, or about 2h 44m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 241.8 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 66 miles or 1h 13m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 149.3 miles or 2h 44m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 29m

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 Odin, 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 Odin, IL

This is one driving day of about 298.5 miles and 5h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Odin, 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 241.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Joliet, IL

149 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

Bruce, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 66 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Champaign, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 149.3 miles from Odin, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 241.8 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

Gio's Cafe And Deli

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Chicago, Illinois

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 49min to go 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 10 am–9:30 pm

+13122256368

Visit website

New Furama Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Chicago, Illinois

0.4 mi

Paxton Family Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Paxton, Illinois

0.3 mi

Best coffee break · home stretch

Drip and Culture - Socially Minded Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Waukegan, Illinois

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

Visit website

Cafe Jumping Bean

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Chicago, Illinois

1.6 mi

The Well

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Manteno, Illinois

2.8 mi

Gio's Cafe And Deli

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Chicago, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–9:30 pm

+13122256368

Visit website

New Furama Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Chicago, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+13122256888

Visit website

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Waukegan, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

Visit website

Cafe Jumping Bean

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Chicago, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+13124550019

Visit website

The Well

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Manteno, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+17795295090

Visit website

Original Mocha Coffee House

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Tinley Park, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–11 pm

+17089044960

Visit website

La Bodega Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

Final third 4 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Posen, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

Visit website

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Champaign, Illinois

+18668167584

Circle K | Electric Vehicle Charging Station

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Champaign, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18335052291

Visit website

Nissan Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Champaign, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+12173528910

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

Chicago, Illinois

Hours: 9:30 am–5 pm

+13126426502

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 295.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Laury Street

Turn right onto Laury Street

Navigation decision point

51.7 mi into trip | ~57m in | I 57

Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 57 North: Chicago

250.3 mi into trip | ~4h 36m 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...

279.9 mi into trip | ~5h 17m 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.

295.3 mi into trip | ~5h 35m 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

$46.67 one way

$93.33 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 104 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$51.24	$102.48
premium	$4.89	$57.44	$114.89
diesel	$5.61	$65.91	$131.81

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 104.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	89.6	1	$31.34	$14.33
Efficient EV	74.6	0	$26.12	$11.94
EV Truck/SUV	119.4	1	$41.79	$19.10

Gas CO2

104 kg

EV CO2

35 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Odin, IL

Late night in Odin on Tuesday

Local time

4:22 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Late night in Waukegan on Tuesday

Local time

4:22 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

15 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

5h 42m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be making frequent turns and navigating through towns rather than cruising on interstates. With a 0% highway share, expect to be on local roads for the entire 298.5 miles. The absence of long highway stretches means you won't find a 'longest stretch' of uninterrupted fast driving. The road's personality will likely involve varying speed limits and more frequent interactions with local traffic as you progress from Odin towards Waukegan.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 241.8 mi on I 57.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Edens Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Laury Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 298.5 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 (Laury Street): Navigation decision point; at 51.7 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 250.3 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Starting in Odin, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1865

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 5h 42m. Total distance: 298.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 241.8 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.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Waukegan, IL before the return drive.

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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Explore more options from Odin, IL or browse trips ending in Waukegan, IL.

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Trip from Odin, IL to Waukegan, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Gio's Cafe And Deli

Drip and Culture - Socially Minded Coffee

Gio's Cafe And Deli

New Furama Restaurant

Paxton Family Restaurant

Taipei Cafe

Triple Crown Restaurant

Han 202 Restaurant

Cafe Bionda

Kristoffer's Cafe & Bakery

Drip and Culture - Socially Minded Coffee

Cafe Jumping Bean

The Well

Original Mocha Coffee House

La Bodega Cafe

Haraz Coffee House

Tesla Supercharger

Electrify America Charging Station

EV Connect Charging Station

Circle K | Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Nissan Charging Station

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Destination Charger

International Museum of Surgical Science, A Division of the International College of Surgeons

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Odin, IL

Waukegan, IL

Same local time

15 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 42m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Starting in Odin, IL

Arriving in Waukegan, IL

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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