Traveling from Rome to Waukegan covers approximately 179.1 miles, making for a manageable journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 32 minutes. Because this is a straightforward trek through the Illinois Midwest, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend around $27 on fuel for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. The route relies on major arteries including I-80, I-55, and the Tri-State Tollway. Whether you are heading north for business or a change of scenery, this drive offers a practical connection between two distinct Illinois locales.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
89.5 miles from Rome, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
65 mi
1h 9m
Tri-State Tollway
41.8 mi
50m
I 55
26.6 mi
32m
County Road 1400 East
17.8 mi
20m
South 4th Street
9.1 mi
10m
I 180
8.9 mi
9m
Belvidere Road
1.9 mi
2m
Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 65 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rome, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on IL 29
1.3 mi·1 min·North State Route 29
2
Continue on IL 29
9.1 mi·10 min·South 4th Street
3
Continue on IL 29
1.1 mi·1 min·Railroad Street
4
Continue on IL 29
18 mi·20 min·County Road 1400 East
5
Merge onto I 180
8.9 mi·9 min·I 180
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward I 80 East: Joliet
7
Merge onto I 80
65 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 126BToward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto I 55
27 mi·32 min·I 55
Use the straight / 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
Since this is a 3.5-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns to ensure a smoother experience. Aim to complete the trip with just one well-timed stop, which is sufficient given the duration of the journey. Keep in mind that the Tri-State Tollway is a primary component of your approach, so having your payment method ready for tolls will help you avoid unnecessary delays. Because you are traversing several major interstates, monitor your fuel levels before hitting the longer 65-mile stretches to ensure you don't have to pull off in a hurry. Being prepared for these high-speed sections will make your arrival in Waukegan much more relaxed.
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 89.5 miles from Rome, IL, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65 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 39 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.5 miles or 1h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 49m
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 Rome, 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 Rome, IL
This is one driving day of about 179.1 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Rome, 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 80 for about 65 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 38.2 and 174.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
38.2 mi into trip|~43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 East: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Joliet
7
103.6 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 126B
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
7
130.5 mi into trip|~2h 27m 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
137.2 mi into trip|~2h 37m 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
174.2 mi into trip|~3h 22m 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
$28.00 one way
$56.00 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.74
$61.49
premium
$4.89
$34.47
$68.93
diesel
$5.61
$39.54
$79.09
Estimated Tolls: $2.51
Tri-state Tollway
(41.8 mi)$2.51
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
$28
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.7
0
$18.81
$8.60
Efficient EV
44.8
0
$15.67
$7.16
EV Truck/SUV
71.6
0
$25.07
$11.46
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Rome, IL
Late night
in Rome on Tuesday
Local time
4:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Late night
in Waukegan on Tuesday
Local time
4:14 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
8 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
3h 32m 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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 129.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that leans heavily on interstate travel, with highway driving accounting for 57% of your time behind the wheel. You will spend a significant portion of the journey navigating high-speed corridors, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 65 miles on I-80. While the transition between regional interstate systems keeps the route moving quickly, the character of the drive shifts as you move from the quieter stretches near Rome onto the busier segments of the Tri-State Tollway. Prepare for a blend of open road cruising and the denser traffic patterns common as you approach the Waukegan area.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 38.2 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 179.1 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: at 38.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 103.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 130.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 3h 32m. Total distance: 179.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.51 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.
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: at 38.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 103.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 130.5 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Waukegan, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
