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Trip from Warsaw, IL to Waukegan, IL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 11m

Distance

316 mi

509 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
5h 59m ★
6 AM
6h 12m
8 AM
6h 37m
10 AM
6h 20m
12 PM
6h 18m
3 PM
6h 22m
5 PM
6h 36m
8 PM
6h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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capital and largest city of Poland

Warsaw, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 316-mile journey from Warsaw, Illinois, to Waukegan, Illinois, is designed for a single day of driving, estimated to take around 6 hours and 11 minutes. You'll primarily be on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and US 61, with a significant portion on IL 110. The drive is highly focused on highways, making it an efficient way to cover ground across the Midwest. With a projected fuel cost of $49, it's an accessible trip for many. While one stop is suggested, the route is straightforward enough that you can adjust your breaks as needed. Consider this a practical, no-frills way to get from point A to point B efficiently.

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

158 miles from Warsaw, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 7m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
IL 110 135 mi 2h 28m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway 60.1 mi 1h 7m
US 61 36.5 mi 42m
Tri-State Tollway 35.2 mi 43m
US 34 28.6 mi 35m
US 136 5.1 mi 8m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway 4.7 mi 5m
County Highway 32 3.7 mi 6m
Longest stretch: IL 110 — 135 mi, about 2h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Warsaw, IL and Waukegan, IL.

1

Start on Main Street

50 ft · 6 sec · Main Street
2

Turn left onto North 6th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North 6th Street
3

Continue on County Highway 32

3.7 mi · 6 min · County Highway 32
4

Continue on Warsaw Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Warsaw Road
5

At end of road, turn left onto US 136

5.1 mi · 8 min · US 136
6

Continue on US 61; US 218

36 mi · 42 min · US 61; US 218
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward US 34 East, IA 163 East
8

Merge onto US 34; IA 163

28 mi · 34 min · US 34; IA 163
Use the straight lane.
9

Take the exit onto US 34

0.4 mi · 51 sec · US 34
10

Merge onto US 34; US 67; IL 110

22 mi · 25 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
11

Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110

32 mi · 34 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
12

Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110

6.3 mi · 6 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
13

Take the exit onto IL 110

135 mi · 2 hr 28 min · IL 110
Exit 4B Toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

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.
15

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 139 Toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
17

Merge onto I 294

35 mi · 43 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Exit 11A Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Turn straight onto IL 120

1.9 mi · 2 min · Belvidere Road
20

Continue on IL 120

1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street
21

Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue
Use the left lane.
22

Turn left onto South Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Jackson Street
23

Arrive at destination

North Jackson Street

Trip Plan

For this 6-hour, 11-minute drive covering 316 miles, starting in the morning will give you plenty of daylight. Given the highway-focused nature and a longest stretch of 135 miles, plan for one main stop for fuel and a break, perhaps around the halfway point. The estimated fuel cost is $49, so ensure you have enough for the journey. Since the drive is manageable in a single day, you have flexibility in pacing your stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the longer stretches on IL 110, to ensure you don't need to detour for gas.

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 158 miles from Warsaw, IL, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135 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 70 miles or 1h 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 158 miles or 3h 7m 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 Warsaw, 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 Warsaw, IL

This is one driving day of about 316 miles and 6h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Warsaw, 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 IL 110 for about 135 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Dayton, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dayton, IL

158 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Burgess, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Geneseo, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 158 miles from Warsaw, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before IL 110 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 135 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Huddle Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ashton, Illinois

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 203.2

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+18154532677

Visit website

Simon's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Villa Park, Illinois

1.6 mi

Ditka's Oakbrook

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois

1.8 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Drip and Culture - Socially Minded Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Waukegan, Illinois

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 316

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

Visit website

Huddle Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 203.2

Ashton, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+18154532677

Visit website

Simon's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 270.9

Villa Park, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+16305300200

Visit website

Ditka's Oakbrook

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour Expensive mile 270.9

Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+16305722200

Visit website

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately mile 270.9

Downers Grove, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13312159463

Visit website

Jerusalem Cafe - Restaurant and Grill - Lombard

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 270.9

Lombard, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+16306296400

Visit website

J. Alexander's Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour Expensive mile 270.9

Oak Brook, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+16305738180

Visit website

Casey's

3.4 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 203.2

Ashton, Illinois

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+18154532556

Visit website

Mai Thai Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour Inexpensiv mile 270.9

Westmont, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+16304554298

Visit website

Drip and Culture - Socially Minded Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 316

Waukegan, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

Visit website

Flip Side Coffee & Espresso Bar

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 180.6

Rock Falls, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+18157180022

Air Play Espresso and Bakery

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 180.6

Sterling, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+18155854327

Visit website

The Speakeasy at La Bella Notte

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 180.6

Rock Falls, Illinois

Hours: 11:30 am–9:30 pm

+18157168559

Sammy's Slots Video & Gaming Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour $20 to $30 mile 180.6

Rock Falls, Illinois

Hours: 8 am–1 pm

+18157168318

Haraz Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10 mile 316

Gurnee, Illinois

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

Visit website

Dick’s Drive Thru Fuel

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 180.6

Sterling, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+18154997746

Visit website

Lisa's Brick House Bar & Grill

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 180.6

Sterling, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–1 pm

+18155905472

The Logger House

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 135.4

Hampton, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–1 pm

+13097553077

Rooney's

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 203.2

Franklin Grove, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–1 pm

+18154562590

Visit website

Historic Nauvoo

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 22.6

Nauvoo, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12174532243

Visit website

Prairie Trail Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 270.9

Willowbrook, Illinois

Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 97.2 and 311.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
97.2 mi into trip | ~2h 1m in | IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
8
135.4 mi into trip | ~2h 42m in | IL 110

Take the exit onto IL 110 toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls

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 4B Toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Fa...
6
270.4 mi into trip | ~5h 11m 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
275.2 mi into trip | ~5h 17m 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
311.2 mi into trip | ~6h 2m 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

$49.40 one way

$98.81 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 111 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $54.24 $108.49
premium $4.89 $60.81 $121.62
diesel $5.61 $69.77 $139.54

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

$49

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$77–$102

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 110.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 94.8 1 $33.18 $15.17
Efficient EV 79 0 $27.65 $12.64
EV Truck/SUV 126.4 1 $44.24 $20.22

Gas CO2

111 kg

EV CO2

37 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 Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Warsaw, IL

Night in Warsaw on Saturday

Local time

11:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waukegan, IL

Night in Waukegan on Saturday

Local time

11:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Partly Sunny

WNW 15 to 20 mph 14% chance 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

26 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

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...

21 mi from route ~52 min detour Free near mile 272.4
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for 85% of this 316-mile trip. The Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and US 61 will form the backbone of your drive, offering consistent speeds and easy navigation. You'll encounter a long stretch of 135 miles on IL 110, which will likely be your most uninterrupted segment of highway driving. While not characterized by winding scenic byways, this route prioritizes direct travel. The personality of the drive is that of efficient transit, allowing you to make good time across Illinois.

85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 135 mi on IL 110.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 110 and Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 97.2 miles in near IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 316 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 97.2 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.4 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 270.4 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

871 ft 538 ft

Total Climb

550 ft

Total Descent

473 ft

Highest Point

871 ft

~225.7 mi in

Elevation Range

333 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Warsaw, IL and Waukegan, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island, Rock Falls, Rockford and Milwaukee.

Rock Island

97.2 mi in | ~2h 1m | via IL 110

Rock Falls

135.4 mi in | ~2h 42m | via IL 110

Rockford

275.2 mi in | ~5h 17m

Milwaukee

275.7 mi in | ~5h 18m

About the Cities

Starting in Warsaw, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1814

Arriving in Waukegan, IL

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 11m. Total distance: 316 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 135 miles on IL 110. 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.

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 97.2 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.4 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 270.4 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): 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.

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.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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