Origin
Waukegan, IL
Late night in Waukegan on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waukegan, IL to Berwyn, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
43.2 mi
70 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Berwyn, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Waukegan to Berwyn covers 49.1 miles across the Illinois Midwest, typically taking about one hour and one minute behind the wheel. Because this is a short trip, you can easily complete the journey as a one-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $7 on fuel for the trek, making it a very budget-friendly local commute. You will navigate primarily via local streets like Glen Rock Avenue, Belvidere Street, and South Lewis Avenue rather than major interstates. It is a straightforward drive that serves as a practical connection between these two Illinois communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Edens Expressway | 13.7 mi | 17m |
| North Skokie Highway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| North Pulaski Road | 5 mi | 9m |
| Skokie Highway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Skokie Valley Road | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| South Lewis Avenue | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| West Cermak Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Buckley Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Edens Expressway
— 13.7 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Berwyn, IL.
1
Start on North Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Jackson Street
2
Turn right onto Glen Rock Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Rock Avenue
3
Turn right onto Belvidere Street
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Belvidere Street
4
Turn left onto South Lewis Avenue
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
South Lewis Avenue
5
Turn right onto IL 137
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Buckley Road
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto US 41
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
North Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
8
Continue on US 41
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 94; US 41
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 90; I 94
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Kennedy Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 44A
Toward IL 19: Irving Park Road, Keeler Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on Kennedy Irving Park Road
389 ft
·
16 sec
·
Kennedy Irving Park Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Turn slight left onto IL 19
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
West Irving Park Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn right onto North Pulaski Road
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North Pulaski Road
15
At end of road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue
170 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Belden Avenue
16
Turn left onto North Pulaski Road
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
North Pulaski Road
17
Turn right onto West Madison Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Madison Street
18
Turn left onto IL 50
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cicero Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto West Roosevelt Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Roosevelt Road
20
Turn left onto South Central Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Cermak Road
22
Arrive at destination
West Cermak Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.6 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 4.1 and 40.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
IL 137 / Buckley Road
Turn right onto IL 137 / Buckley Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
32.1 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward IL 19: Irving Park Road, Keeler Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44A
Toward IL 19: Irving Park Road, Keeler Avenue
5
34.7 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
West Belden Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
38.7 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue
Turn left onto IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
40.7 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
South Central Avenue
Turn left onto South Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.75 one way
$13.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.42 | $14.83 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.31 | $16.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.54 | $19.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.78 | $1.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.05 | $2.76 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Berwyn, IL
Late night in Berwyn on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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
1h 4m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that requires your full attention, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You won't find any long-distance stretches of open road, with Glen Rock Avenue serving as the longest continuous segment. The character of this drive is defined by frequent navigation through local intersections rather than high-speed cruising. Because you are avoiding major highways entirely, the pace remains steady but requires constant awareness of local traffic patterns. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that contrasts sharply with the typical monotony of an interstate commute.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.7 mi on Edens Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near IL 137 / Buckley Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 43.2 miles you will encounter 16 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 4.1 miles (IL 137 / Buckley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.7 miles (West Belden Avenue): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting 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.
Arriving in Berwyn, IL
Full guide →Founded 1908
Berwyn is a city in the Chicagoland region of Illinois.
Top landmarks
- • Arthur J. Dunham House — historic house in Berwyn, Illinois
- • Mr. Robert Silhan House — historic house in Illinois, United States
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 1h 4m. Total distance: 43.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). 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 13.7 miles on Edens Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Berwyn, 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 4.1 miles (IL 137 / Buckley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.7 miles (West Belden Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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 Berwyn, IL before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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