Waukegan, IL to Le Roy, IL is 174 miles and takes about 3h 32m via Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Tri-State Tollway, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving you from the Midwest region's northern edge down toward its center. With a high percentage of highway driving, this route is designed for efficient travel. It's a straightforward drive, good if you're looking for a simple, direct path between these two points with minimal fuss.
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
87 miles from Waukegan, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Le Roy, 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
23 mi·28 min·Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'HareUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
4.8 mi·5 min·Tri-State Tollway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
1.2 mi·1 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 23Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 55
105 mi·1 hr 58 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward Towanda
14
Turn straight onto CR 29
0.4 mi·44 sec·North 1900 East Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on CR 29
0.5 mi·1 min·North Jefferson Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto CR 29
0.2 mi·34 sec·West Hely Street
17
Continue on CR 29
3.0 mi·4 min·Towanda-Barnes Road
18
Continue on CR 29
6.8 mi·10 min·North Towanda Barnes Road
19
Turn left onto US 150
8.8 mi·12 min·US 150
20
Turn left onto CR 21
127 ft·3 sec·North West Street
21
Arrive at destination
CR 21
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 32m estimated drive time, leaving Waukegan in the morning should get you to Le Roy with plenty of daylight to spare. The fuel cost is estimated at $27, so factor that into your budget. While there's only one recommended stop, it's worth considering if you need a break, especially since the longest stretch without exiting is over 100 miles. Pay attention as you transition from the Tri-State Tollway to US 150, as the driving environment will change. There are no specific overnight recommendations, so this is best treated as a single-day trip.
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 87 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.4 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 38 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87 miles or 1h 46m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Le Roy, 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 174 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 Adlai Stevenson Expressway for about 105.4 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 5.1 and 48.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.1 mi into trip|~9m in|I 94 / Tri-State Tollway
Merge onto I 94 / Tri-State Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
6
46.4 mi into trip|~59m in|I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
47.6 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 23
Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
7
48.3 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.20 one way
$54.41 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.87
$59.74
premium
$4.89
$33.48
$66.97
diesel
$5.61
$38.42
$76.83
Estimated Tolls: $2.55
Tri-state Tollway
(42.6 mi)$2.55
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
$27
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.2
0
$18.27
$8.35
Efficient EV
43.5
0
$15.23
$6.96
EV Truck/SUV
69.6
0
$24.36
$11.14
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Waukegan, IL
Late night
in Waukegan on Tuesday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Le Roy, IL
Late night
in Le Roy on Tuesday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°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
11 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 32m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 66% of your time on the highway, covering a significant portion of the 174 miles on major routes. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 105.4 miles, primarily on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway. After this, you'll transition to US 150, which will feel more like local cruising with potentially more frequent exits and intersections. Expect a mix of high-speed travel and more varied road conditions as you get closer to your destination.
66% 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: 105.4 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.1 miles in near I 94 / Tri-State Tollway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 174 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 5.1 miles (I 94 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; 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 46.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): 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 Le Roy, IL, road signs point toward O'hare, St. Louis and Towanda.
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 32m. Total distance: 174 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105.4 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.55 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.
Yes — we found about 16 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 Le Roy, 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 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.1 miles (I 94 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; 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 46.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Le Roy, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
