This 166.2-mile drive from Thomasboro, IL to Waukegan, IL will take you about 3 hours and 22 minutes, making it a very manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily be on I-57 and the Edens Expressway, with a good portion of your journey on major highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $26, which is quite budget-friendly for a trip of this length. Given its relatively short duration and focus on interstate travel, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. Both your origin and destination are within the Midwest region, keeping the general scenery consistent.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
83.1 miles from Thomasboro, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
108.2 mi
2h
Edens Expressway
13.5 mi
17m
South Skokie Highway
8.2 mi
10m
Kennedy Expressway
8.2 mi
11m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi
11m
Skokie Highway
3.8 mi
4m
Skokie Valley Road
3.4 mi
3m
Dan Ryan Expressway
3.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 108.2 mi, about 2h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thomasboro, IL and Waukegan, IL.
1
Start on West Clark Street
257 ft·8 sec·West Clark Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 45
2.9 mi·4 min·County Road 1500 East
3
Continue on US 45
0.9 mi·1 min·West Liberty Drive
4
Continue on US 45
0.8 mi·1 min·Liberty Avenue
5
Turn left onto South Tanner Street
0.3 mi·54 sec·South Tanner Street
6
Turn left onto US 136
1.1 mi·1 min·West Champaign Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I-57 North: Kankakee
8
Merge onto I 57
108 mi·2 hr·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi·4 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi·11 min·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 94
14 mi·17 min·Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
3.8 mi·4 min·Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi·3 min·Skokie Valley Road
15
Continue on US 41
8.2 mi·10 min·South Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward IL 120 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto IL 120
0.3 mi·33 sec·Belvidere Road
18
Continue on IL 120
1.6 mi·3 min·Belvidere Street
19
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Jackson Street
21
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour, 22-minute drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach the Chicago metropolitan area. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to decide when and where to pull over for fuel or a break. Keep an eye on your fuel level, as the longest stretch without a major town is over 100 miles. A good tip for this route is to ensure you have your preferred navigation app ready before you depart, as the transition between I-57, the Edens Expressway, and South Skokie Highway can sometimes be complex.
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 83.1 miles from Thomasboro, IL, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108.2 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 37 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.1 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 42m
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 Thomasboro, 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 Thomasboro, IL
This is one driving day of about 166.2 miles and 3h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Thomasboro, 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 108.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.4 and 165.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.4 mi into trip|~10m in|I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
117.9 mi into trip|~2h 16m 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
147.5 mi into trip|~2h 56m 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
163 mi into trip|~3h 15m 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
5
165.2 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|Glen Rock Avenue
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.98 one way
$51.97 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.53
$57.06
premium
$4.89
$31.98
$63.97
diesel
$5.61
$36.69
$73.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.9
0
$17.45
$7.98
Efficient EV
41.6
0
$14.54
$6.65
EV Truck/SUV
66.5
0
$23.27
$10.64
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Thomasboro, IL
Morning
in Thomasboro on Tuesday
Local time
7:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waukegan, IL
Morning
in Waukegan on Tuesday
Local time
7:15 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
10 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
3h 22m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 114.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive, with 85% of the route utilizing major interstates and expressways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 108.2 miles on I-57, so be prepared for sustained highway speeds. This profile suggests a fairly direct and efficient journey, likely involving minimal scenic detours but maximizing your travel time. You'll transition onto the Edens Expressway and then South Skokie Highway as you approach your destination, offering a change in road type but still remaining on well-traveled routes.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 108.2 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Edens Expressway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.4 miles in near I 57.
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 166.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 6.4 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 117.9 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.5 miles (US 41 / Skokie Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 22m. Total distance: 166.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 108.2 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 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 6.4 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 117.9 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.5 miles (US 41 / Skokie Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Waukegan, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
