Rushville, IL to Waukegan, IL is 267.1 miles and takes about 5h 29m via I 55 and Tri-State Tollway, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward drive. Given the duration and mileage, this is a solid option for a single-day trip, especially if you prefer highway travel and want to get to your destination efficiently.
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
133.6 miles from Rushville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
113.6 mi
2h 6m
Tri-State Tollway
41.8 mi
50m
I 74
27 mi
28m
East Valley View Drive
17.7 mi
21m
Broadway Street
17.1 mi
25m
North Congress Street
15.7 mi
23m
US 24
13.9 mi
20m
I 474
7.5 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 113.6 mi, about 2h 6m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,073 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,464
Quietest
2 AM
~148 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 73 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rushville, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on West Washington Street
120 ft·7 sec·West Washington Street
2
Turn right onto US 24
16 mi·23 min·North Congress Street
3
Continue on US 24
17 mi·25 min·Broadway Street
4
Turn right onto US 24; IL 97
3.6 mi·5 min·East Avenue E
5
Continue on US 24; IL 78
14 mi·20 min·US 24; IL 78
6
Continue on US 24
186 ft·7 sec·West Valley View Drive
7
Turn right onto US 24; IL 9
0.1 mi·13 sec·West Valleyview Drive
8
Continue on US 24; IL 9
18 mi·21 min·East Valley View Drive
9
Continue on US 24
0.9 mi·1 min·McKinley Avenue
10
Take the exit onto US 24
0.4 mi·54 sec·US 24
11
Merge onto I 474
7.5 mi·8 min·I 474
12
Merge onto I 74
27 mi·28 min·I 74
13
Keep slight left at fork
1.4 mi·2 min
Toward I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago
14
Merge onto I 55; US 51
114 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 55; US 51
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
1.6 mi·3 min
Exit 277AToward I 294 Tollway North: WisconsinUse the right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
17
Merge onto I 294
4.8 mi·5 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
37 mi·45 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 11AToward IL 120 East: Belvidere RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn straight onto IL 120
1.9 mi·2 min·Belvidere Road
21
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi·3 min·Belvidere Street
22
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Jackson Street
24
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-and-a-half-hour drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to complete the 267.1 miles. With only one recommended stop, you can easily manage this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel, budgeting around $42, and consider filling up before you hit longer stretches, such as the 113.6 miles on I 55. The Tri-State Tollway portion may involve toll collection, so have a payment method ready. Given the manageable distance, you have flexibility to take short breaks as needed.
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 133.6 miles from Rushville, IL, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.6 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 59 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.6 miles or 2h 50m 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 25m
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 Rushville, 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 Rushville, IL
This is one driving day of about 267.1 miles and 5h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Rushville, 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 55 for about 113.6 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 103.5 and 262.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
103.5 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago
5
104.9 mi into trip|~2h 18m in|I 55; US 51
Merge onto I 55; US 51
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
218.6 mi into trip|~4h 24m 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
225.3 mi into trip|~4h 34m 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
262.3 mi into trip|~5h 19m 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
$48.85 one way
$97.69 round trip
$4.65/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.27
$55.44
$110.88
premium
$5.83
$61.28
$122.55
diesel
$6.54
$68.78
$137.57
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
$49
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.1
0
$28.05
$12.82
Efficient EV
66.8
0
$23.37
$10.68
EV Truck/SUV
106.8
1
$37.39
$17.09
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Rushville, IL
Afternoon
in Rushville on Thursday
Local time
4:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
SSE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Afternoon
in Waukegan on Thursday
Local time
4:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
S 5 mph0% 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
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
5h 29m 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.
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 221.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 61% of the total mileage on major roads like I 55, Tri-State Tollway, and I 74. You'll experience a long stretch of 113.6 miles on I 55, which means extended periods of consistent speed. The highway portion will likely involve navigating a good number of exits and interchanges, particularly as you approach the greater Chicago area. Surface roads will become more prevalent once you leave the main interstate corridors.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113.6 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 103.5 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 15 significant decision points across 267.1 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 103.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 104.9 miles (I 55; US 51): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 218.6 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.
Top landmarks
•Waukegan Public Library — library in Waukegan, Illinois, United States
•Waukegan Building — office building in Waukegan, Illinois, United States
•Hotel Waukegan — historic hotel in Waukegan, Illinois, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 29m. Total distance: 267.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113.6 miles on I 55. 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 103.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 104.9 miles (I 55; US 51): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 218.6 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 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.
