Connecting Sugar Grove to Waukegan, this 71.1-mile journey across the Illinois Midwest typically takes about 1 hour and 17 minutes. Because the route is relatively short, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. You will navigate via a combination of Cross Street, Route 30, and IL 56 East. This drive is best viewed as a straightforward local transit rather than a destination-focused road trip, making it an efficient way to cross the region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.5 miles from Sugar Grove, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tri-State Tollway
35.2 mi
43m
IL 56
24.8 mi
30m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
4.7 mi
5m
Belvidere Road
1.9 mi
2m
Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
3m
South Jackson Street
0.5 mi
1m
Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
United States Route 30
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 35.2 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sugar Grove, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on this road
76 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn left
69 ft·7 sec
3
Turn right onto Cross Street
270 ft·13 sec·Cross Street
4
Turn left onto US 30; IL 47
0.1 mi·14 sec·United States Route 30
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward IL 56 East: ChicagoUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto IL 56
25 mi·30 min·IL 56
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 139Toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, RockfordUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
10
Merge onto I 294
35 mi·43 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 11AToward IL 120 East: Belvidere RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto IL 120
1.9 mi·2 min·Belvidere Road
13
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi·3 min·Belvidere Street
14
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Jackson Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 71.1-mile route, plan to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on local roads. Since there are zero scheduled stops, you have the flexibility to pull over whenever you need a break, though you should keep an eye on your fuel gauge to ensure you don't dip below that $11 estimated cost. Because you will be navigating local turns rather than highway exits, use a reliable GPS to track your specific sequence of roads like IL 56 East and Route 30. Staying alert for changing speed limits on these local thoroughfares is key to a smooth journey. Take advantage of the short duration to remain flexible with your departure time, as the lack of highway miles makes this an easy trip to manage on your own schedule.
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 35.5 miles from Sugar Grove, IL, or about 45m 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 16 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.5 miles or 45m 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 16m
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 Sugar Grove, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sugar Grove, IL
This is one driving day of about 71 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Sugar Grove, 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 66.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the exit toward IL 56 East: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward IL 56 East: Chicago
6
25.4 mi into trip|~32m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
30.1 mi into trip|~38m 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...
6
30.7 mi into trip|~39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International A...
7
66.1 mi into trip|~1h 23m 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
$11.10 one way
$22.20 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.19
$24.37
premium
$4.89
$13.66
$27.33
diesel
$5.61
$15.68
$31.35
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
$11
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.3
0
$7.46
$3.41
Efficient EV
17.8
0
$6.21
$2.84
EV Truck/SUV
28.4
0
$9.94
$4.54
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Sugar Grove, IL
Late night
in Sugar Grove on Sunday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Late night
in Waukegan on Sunday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Widespread Fog
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 1:55AM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 1:55AM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
7 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 32m 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 29.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Since the route features a 0% highway share, you will not be dealing with the monotony of long, straight interstate stretches. Navigating through local roads means you will frequently transition between streets, with no long uninterrupted segments like the 0-mile stretch on Cross Street. This is a technical, hands-on drive that requires your full attention as you navigate through the local Illinois landscape. You won't find high-speed cruising here, so adjust your expectations for a slower, more deliberate pace.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 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 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71 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 0.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.4 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sugar Grove, 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 32m. Total distance: 71 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). 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 0.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.4 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waukegan, IL before heading back.
