Traveling from Sumner to Waukegan spans 297.8 miles across the state of Illinois, typically taking about 6 hours and 11 minutes to complete. Because this journey is manageable within a single day, you can easily handle the drive in one go without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $45 on fuel for the trip, which is largely defined by its efficient highway-focused profile. You will navigate through the Midwest, transitioning from the southern landscape toward the northern reaches of the state. It is a straightforward trek that relies heavily on major thoroughfares to get you to your destination quickly. Use this route if you prioritize speed and direct transit over winding backroads.
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
148.9 miles from Sumner, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
168.6 mi
3h 5m
IL 33
36.3 mi
53m
Edens Expressway
13.5 mi
17m
South Van Buren Street
11 mi
15m
1100N
10 mi
13m
South Skokie Highway
8.2 mi
10m
Kennedy Expressway
8.2 mi
11m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 168.6 mi, about 3h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sumner, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on West North Avenue
49 ft·7 sec·West North Avenue
2
Turn left onto North Christy Avenue
473 ft·14 sec·North Christy Avenue
3
Turn left onto IL 250
1.1 mi·1 min·IL 250
4
Turn right onto IL 250
95 ft·7 sec·IL 250
5
Turn left onto US 50; IL 250
10.0 mi·13 min·1100N
6
Turn right onto East Main Street
1.1 mi·2 min·East Main Street
7
Turn right onto North Lincoln Avenue
481 ft·18 sec·North Lincoln Avenue
8
Turn left onto East Butler Street
1.3 mi·3 min·East Butler Street
9
Turn right onto IL 130
1.3 mi·2 min·North West Street
10
Continue on IL 130
6.7 mi·9 min·County Road 1100 East
11
Continue on IL 130
11 mi·15 min·South Van Buren Street
12
Turn right onto IL 33; IL 130
36 mi·53 min·IL 33; IL 130
13
Turn left onto IL 16
2.5 mi·4 min·Lincoln Avenue
14
Continue on IL 16
5.3 mi·7 min·Illinois Route 16
15
Continue on IL 16
0.4 mi·38 sec·Charleston Avenue East
16
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
17
Merge onto I 57
169 mi·3 hr 5 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi·4 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
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.
20
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi·11 min·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 94
14 mi·17 min·Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
3.8 mi·4 min·Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi·3 min·Skokie Valley Road
24
Continue on US 41
8.2 mi·10 min·South Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward IL 120 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn straight onto IL 120
0.3 mi·33 sec·Belvidere Road
27
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi·3 min·Belvidere Street
28
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
29
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Jackson Street
30
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Aim to depart early in the morning to avoid potential congestion, especially as you near the busier northern segments of the route. Given the 6-hour duration, plan for at least one substantial stop to stretch your legs and refresh your focus. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the 168.6-mile stretch on I-57 to ensure you don't run low between service stations. Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace based on traffic conditions in real time. Prioritize consistent movement to maintain your estimated arrival time, and make sure your vehicle is prepared for a steady, high-speed haul across the state.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 148.9 miles from Sumner, IL, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 168.6 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 66 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.9 miles or 3h 14m 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 59m
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 Sumner, 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 Sumner, IL
This is one driving day of about 297.8 miles and 6h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Sumner, 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 57 for about 168.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 294.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Christy Avenue
Turn left onto North Christy Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
77.6 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
249.6 mi into trip|~5h 5m 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
279.2 mi into trip|~5h 46m 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
294.6 mi into trip|~6h 4m 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
$46.56 one way
$93.12 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$51.12
$102.24
premium
$4.89
$57.31
$114.62
diesel
$5.61
$65.75
$131.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.3
1
$31.27
$14.29
Efficient EV
74.5
0
$26.06
$11.91
EV Truck/SUV
119.1
1
$41.69
$19.06
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Sumner, IL
Late night
in Sumner on Tuesday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Sunny
WSW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Late night
in Waukegan on Tuesday
Local time
3:10 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
5 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
6h 11m 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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 246.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip dominated by high-speed travel, as 82% of this route takes place on highways. You will spend a significant portion of your time on I-57, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of 168.6 miles. The journey begins with local connections on IL 33 before transitioning into the heavy-duty interstate system that links the regions. As you approach the final leg, the drive utilizes the Edens Expressway to navigate your way into Waukegan. While the experience is largely a functional interstate grind, the shift from rural stretches to the expressway environment keeps the drive from feeling entirely uniform.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 168.6 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and IL 33. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Christy Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 297.8 miles you will encounter 17 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: near the start (North Christy Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 77.6 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 249.6 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 6h 11m. Total distance: 297.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 11m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 168.6 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Christy Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 77.6 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 249.6 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 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.4 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.
