If you are planning a trip from Pecatonica to Waukegan, expect a 90.3-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 13 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay to reach your destination comfortably. Budget approximately $14 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Illinois locations. You will navigate via the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway, West Belvidere Road, and Telegraph Street as you transition through the Midwest. Because this is a turn-heavy drive, it is best approached as a focused local trip rather than a high-speed interstate haul. Overall, the drive offers a straightforward, manageable experience for those looking to traverse this part of the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.1 miles from Pecatonica, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
28.2 mi
37m
West Belvidere Road
10.5 mi
16m
Telegraph Street
9 mi
12m
West State Road
8.2 mi
9m
IL 176
7.1 mi
12m
Belvidere Road
6.3 mi
9m
IL 31
5.1 mi
8m
West Grant Highway
5 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
— 28.2 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pecatonica, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on East 3rd Street
39 ft·6 sec·East 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Continue on North Pecatonica Road
1.1 mi·1 min·North Pecatonica Road
4
Turn left onto US 20
8.2 mi·9 min·West State Road
5
Continue on US 20
14 mi·16 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Toward US 20 East: Chicago
6
Take the exit onto US 20
0.2 mi·30 sec·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Exit 122AToward US 20 East: Belvedere
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 20
14 mi·20 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Exit 122AToward US 20 East: Belvedere
8
Continue on US 20
5.0 mi·7 min·West Grant Highway
9
Turn left onto IL 23
0.5 mi·43 sec·South State Street
10
Turn right onto IL 176
9.0 mi·12 min·Telegraph Street
11
Turn right onto IL 47
0.8 mi·1 min·IL 47
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto IL 176
7.1 mi·12 min·IL 176
13
Turn left onto IL 31
5.1 mi·8 min·IL 31
14
Turn right onto A32
0.2 mi·17 sec·Bull Valley Road
15
Continue on A32
1.2 mi·2 min·Charles J Miller Road
16
At end of road, turn left onto V45
0.9 mi·1 min·South River Road
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on V45
0.7 mi·58 sec·Chapel Hill Road
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn slight right
208 ft·5 sec
Use the right lane.
19
Turn straight onto IL 120
1.1 mi·1 min·West Elm Street
20
Continue on IL 120
1.1 mi·1 min·Rand Road
21
Continue on IL 120
10 mi·16 min·West Belvidere Road
Use the right lane.
22
Continue on IL 120
6.3 mi·9 min·Belvidere Road
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi·3 min·Belvidere Street
24
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
25
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Jackson Street
26
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Because the route relies heavily on local roads rather than high-speed highways, factor in extra time for traffic or unexpected turns along the way. You won't need to plan for major stops to manage fatigue, but keeping your fuel tank in mind is wise given the $14 estimated cost. For a smoother experience, try to avoid peak local commuting hours, as the reliance on surface streets can make the drive feel longer during busy times. Staying attentive to navigation is the best way to handle the turn-heavy nature of this specific route.
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 45.1 miles from Pecatonica, IL, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.2 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 20 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.1 miles or 1h 1m 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 47m
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 Pecatonica, 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 Pecatonica, IL
This is one driving day of about 90.3 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Pecatonica, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway for about 28.2 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 24.5 and 89.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
24.5 mi into trip|~29m in|US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Take the exit onto US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway toward US 20 East: Belvedere
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 122A
Toward US 20 East: Belvedere
6
24.7 mi into trip|~30m in|US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway toward US 20 East: Belvedere
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 122A
Toward US 20 East: Belvedere
5
52.7 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|IL 47
Turn right onto IL 47
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
67.1 mi into trip|~1h 36m 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
89.3 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|Glen Rock Avenue
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.12 one way
$28.23 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.50
$31.00
premium
$4.89
$17.38
$34.75
diesel
$5.61
$19.94
$39.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.1
0
$9.48
$4.33
Efficient EV
22.6
0
$7.90
$3.61
EV Truck/SUV
36.1
0
$12.64
$5.78
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Pecatonica, IL
Late night
in Pecatonica on Tuesday
Local time
5:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Late night
in Waukegan on Tuesday
Local time
5:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 15 to 20 mph100% chanceLive 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
2 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
2h 13m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. With only 14% of the trip spent on highways, you will spend the majority of your time navigating local roads rather than cruising on open interstates. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 28.2 miles along the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway. As you move away from your starting point, the road rhythm shifts frequently, requiring you to stay alert through the various turns and transitions. Expect a steady, hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local landscape throughout the entire 90.3-mile distance.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.2 mi on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway.
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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 24.5 miles in near US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 90.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 24.5 miles (US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 24.7 miles (US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 52.7 miles (IL 47): Lane positioning matters here.
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 2h 13m. Total distance: 90.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.2 miles on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.5 miles (US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 24.7 miles (US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 52.7 miles (IL 47): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waukegan, IL before heading back.
