Waukegan, IL to Colona, IL is 185.3 miles and takes about 3h 34m via Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest region. Expect a drive that involves a significant portion on tollways, but also a good amount of local road navigation. Given the relatively short duration, it’s a manageable one-day trip, perfect for a quick journey between these two Illinois locations.
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
92.7 miles from Waukegan, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
95.3 mi
1h 45m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
38.9 mi
41m
Tri-State Tollway
35.5 mi
44m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
5.4 mi
5m
IL 110
3.5 mi
4m
Belvidere Road
2.2 mi
3m
Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
3m
Cleveland Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 95.3 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Colona, 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
1.6 mi·3 min·Belvidere Street
4
Continue on IL 120
2.2 mi·3 min·Belvidere Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
6
Merge onto I 94
14 mi·15 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
20 mi·25 min·Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'HareUse the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit onto I 294
1.0 mi·1 min·Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, IndianaUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
0.2 mi·30 sec·Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, IndianaUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 294
0.4 mi·47 sec·Tri-State Tollway
Exit 15AToward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·49 sec
Exit 31AToward I 88 West Toll: AuroraUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
0.8 mi·59 sec·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
25 mi·30 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 138Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalbUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 88; IL 110
1.1 mi·1 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
16
Continue on I 88; IL 110
38 mi·40 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Exit 41
17
Continue on I 88; IL 92; IL 110
5.4 mi·5 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
18
Take the exit onto IL 110
3.5 mi·4 min·IL 110
Toward I 80: Peoria
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward Colona
20
Keep slight right at fork
148 ft·5 sec
Toward Colona
21
Turn straight onto Cleveland Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Cleveland Road
22
Arrive at destination
Cleveland Road
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 3.5 hours, this trip is well-suited for a single day. Consider departing in the morning to take advantage of daylight and minimize potential traffic delays on the tollways. The estimated fuel cost is $29, so plan accordingly. While there's only one suggested stop, you'll likely find plenty of service areas along the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for quick breaks. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition from the main highway to the local roads in the final stretch; the 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile means paying attention to your turns will be key.
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 92.7 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.3 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 41 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.7 miles or 1h 53m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colona, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waukegan, 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 Waukegan, IL
This is one driving day of about 185.3 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Waukegan, 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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 95.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.9 and 66.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
18.9 mi into trip|~25m in|I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
8
40 mi into trip|~52m in|I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
8
40.6 mi into trip|~54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31A
Toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
8
41.8 mi into trip|~55m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
8
66.9 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.97 one way
$57.94 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.81
$63.61
premium
$4.89
$35.66
$71.32
diesel
$5.61
$40.91
$81.82
Estimated Tolls: $7.85
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(95.3 mi)$5.72
Tri-state Tollway
(35.5 mi)$2.13
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
$29
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.6
0
$19.46
$8.89
Efficient EV
46.3
0
$16.21
$7.41
EV Truck/SUV
74.1
0
$25.94
$11.86
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Waukegan, IL
Night
in Waukegan on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Partly Sunny
WNW 15 to 20 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Colona, IL
Night
in Colona on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
1 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
3h 34m 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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 44.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route leans heavily on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for a significant portion of its 185.3 miles. While the highway share is around 5%, the longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 95.3 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, offering a chance for steady progress. However, the overall profile is described as 'Turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting you'll transition from the tollway to more intricate local roads as you near your destination. Be prepared for a mix of open highway and more engaged driving as you navigate the final legs of this journey.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.3 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.9 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
Driving Effort9/10
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 15 significant decision points across 185.3 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 18.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waukegan, IL and Colona, IL, road signs point toward O'hare, Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
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 34m. Total distance: 185.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 95.3 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.85 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan Memorial 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 Colona, 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 18.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.6 miles: 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 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Colona, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
