Shawneetown, IL to Waukegan, IL is 361.3 miles and takes about 7h 35m via I 57 and IL 1, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region up to the northern part of the state. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward drive. With only 2 planned stops and a duration under 8 hours, it's a manageable one-day excursion.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
180.6 miles from Shawneetown, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
196 mi
3h 35m
County Road 200 East
17.4 mi
25m
IL 1
16.3 mi
25m
County Road 925 E
16.2 mi
24m
United States Route 45
14.9 mi
22m
County Road 1400E
14.3 mi
20m
Edens Expressway
13.5 mi
17m
County Road 1600E
8.5 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 196 mi, about 3h 35m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~783 veh/hr typical
Quietest
3 AM
~77 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 5 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 Shawneetown, IL and Waukegan, IL.
Toward I 57 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi·4 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
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 RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi·11 min·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on I 94
14 mi·17 min·Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
3.8 mi·4 min·Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi·3 min·Skokie Valley Road
32
Continue on US 41
8.2 mi·10 min·South Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
33
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward IL 120 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Turn straight onto IL 120
0.3 mi·33 sec·Belvidere Road
35
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi·3 min·Belvidere Street
36
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
37
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Jackson Street
38
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7.5-hour drive, aim for an early morning departure from Shawneetown to maximize daylight. The longest stretch on I 57 is nearly 200 miles, so plan a break before you hit that segment or shortly after to stay refreshed. With a fuel cost estimate of $52, be sure to factor that into your budget. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility with your two stops; consider using one for a meal and the other for a quick stretch or to refuel.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 180.6 miles from Shawneetown, IL, or about 4h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 196 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 79 miles or 1h 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 180.6 miles or 4h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 15m
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 Shawneetown, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Shawneetown, IL
This is one driving day of about 361.3 miles and 7h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Shawneetown, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 196 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 23.3 and 358.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
23.3 mi into trip|~35m in|US 45 / South Division Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 45 / South Division Street
Navigation decision point
7
114.5 mi into trip|~2h 50m 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
8
313 mi into trip|~6h 29m 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...
6
342.6 mi into trip|~7h 10m 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.
6
358.1 mi into trip|~7h 28m 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
$53.36 one way
$106.71 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg126 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$58.90
$117.81
premium
$4.72
$67.08
$134.16
diesel
$4.80
$68.22
$136.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.4
1
$37.94
$17.34
Efficient EV
90.3
1
$31.61
$14.45
EV Truck/SUV
144.5
1
$50.58
$23.12
Gas CO2
126 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (67% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Shawneetown, IL
Evening
in Shawneetown on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Evening
in Waukegan on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Martinsville, IL
181 mi in
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
14 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 35m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 311.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 74% of the route on major roads like I 57. You'll experience a long stretch of 196 miles on I 57, which means fewer exits and more consistent cruising. The route transitions to County Road 200 East and IL 1, indicating a shift to more rural, two-lane roads as you get closer to your destination.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 196 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and County Road 200 East. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.3 miles in near US 45 / South Division Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 361.3 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 23.3 miles (US 45 / South Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 114.5 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 313 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
782 ft401 ft
Total Climb
586 ft
Total Descent
333 ft
Highest Point
782 ft
~206.4 mi in
Elevation Range
381 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Shawneetown, IL to Waukegan, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Terre Haute along the way.
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
•Waukegan Building — office building in Waukegan, Illinois, United States
•Hotel Waukegan — historic hotel in Waukegan, Illinois, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 35m. Total distance: 361.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 35m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 196 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 23.3 miles (US 45 / South Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 114.5 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 313 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.6 hours each way, a round trip means 15.2 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.
