This 87.6-mile drive from Sandwich, IL, to Waukegan, IL, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes. The route primarily utilizes the Tri-State Tollway and IL 56, offering a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, this journey through the Midwest is a straightforward option for a quick getaway or transit. You won't need to worry about overnight stays, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times. It's a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.8 miles from Sandwich, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tri-State Tollway
35.2 mi
43m
IL 56
24.8 mi
30m
East Church Street
7.1 mi
13m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
4.7 mi
5m
Eldamain Road
3.5 mi
5m
US 30
2.9 mi
3m
Galena Road
2 mi
2m
Belvidere Road
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 35.2 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sandwich, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 34
7.1 mi·13 min·East Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto Eldamain Road
3.5 mi·5 min·Eldamain Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto Galena Road
2.0 mi·2 min·Galena Road
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto North Bridge Street
1.2 mi·1 min·North Bridge Street
6
Continue on US 30; IL 47
2.9 mi·3 min·US 30; IL 47
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward IL 56 East: ChicagoUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto IL 56
25 mi·30 min·IL 56
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
4.7 mi·5 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 139Toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, RockfordUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
12
Merge onto I 294
35 mi·43 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 11AToward IL 120 East: Belvidere RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto IL 120
1.9 mi·2 min·Belvidere Road
15
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi·3 min·Belvidere Street
16
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Jackson Street
18
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of under two hours, this route is perfect for a spontaneous trip or a leisurely start to your day. There are no specific stops recommended, so you can tailor your breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the 35.2-mile stretch on the Tri-State Tollway, where services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $14 makes budgeting straightforward. Enjoy the flexibility this short drive offers.
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 43.8 miles from Sandwich, IL, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.2 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 19 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.8 miles or 1h 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 39m
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 Sandwich, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sandwich, IL
This is one driving day of about 87.6 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Sandwich, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Tri-State Tollway for about 35.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 82.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 34 / East Church Street
Turn left onto US 34 / East Church Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
7.2 mi into trip|~13m in|Eldamain Road
Turn left onto Eldamain Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
10.8 mi into trip|~18m in|Galena Road
Turn right onto Galena Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
46.8 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 139
Toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rock...
7
82.8 mi into trip|~1h 49m 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
$13.70 one way
$27.39 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.04
$30.07
premium
$4.89
$16.86
$33.72
diesel
$5.61
$19.34
$38.68
Estimated Tolls: $2.39
Tri-state Tollway
(35.2 mi)$2.11
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(4.7 mi)$0.28
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
$14
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.3
0
$9.20
$4.20
Efficient EV
21.9
0
$7.66
$3.50
EV Truck/SUV
35
0
$12.26
$5.61
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Sandwich, IL
Afternoon
in Sandwich on Sunday
Local time
2:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Afternoon
in Waukegan on Sunday
Local time
2:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 to 20 mph96% 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
9 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
1h 58m 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.
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 45.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive with a 32% highway share, featuring a significant 35.2-mile stretch on the Tri-State Tollway. This means you'll encounter both faster-paced toll road driving and sections on local roads like IL 56 and East Church Street. The profile is best described as a mixed drive, where you'll transition between different road types. This variety can keep the driving experience engaging without being overly demanding.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.2 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.1 miles in near US 34 / East Church Street.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (US 34 / East Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.2 miles (Eldamain Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles (Galena Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sandwich, IL and Waukegan, IL, road signs point toward Rockford and Milwaukee.
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 1h 58m. Total distance: 87.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.2 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.39 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.
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.
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: at 0.1 miles (US 34 / East Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.2 miles (Eldamain Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles (Galena Road): 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.
