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Trip from Waukegan, IL to Lower West Side, IL

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

Drive Time

57m

Distance

41.2 mi

66 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 53m ★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m

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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Downtown Lower West Side, IL, IL

Lower West Side, IL

Quang Vuong

Trip Overview

This 41.2-mile drive from Waukegan, IL, to Chicago's Lower West Side is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 57 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Edens Expressway and Kennedy Expressway, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Midwest, staying within Illinois. With a modest fuel cost of around $6, it's an economical option for a quick transition between areas. The drive is predominantly on major expressways, making it a practical choice for those seeking efficiency. You'll experience a mixed drive profile, so expect some variation in your travel pace.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Edens Expressway 13.7 mi 17m
Kennedy Expressway 6.3 mi 8m
North Skokie Highway 5.6 mi 6m
Skokie Highway 3.8 mi 4m
Skokie Valley Road 3.4 mi 3m
South Lewis Avenue 2.9 mi 5m
South Ashland Avenue 1.8 mi 3m
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 Lower West Side, 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

6.3 mi · 8 min · Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 50A Toward Ogden Avenue, Racine Avenue Use the slight right lane.
12

Continue on North Racine Avenue

0.1 mi · 23 sec · North Racine Avenue
13

Turn slight right onto North Ogden Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · North Ogden Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Turn left onto South Ashland Avenue

1.8 mi · 3 min · South Ashland Avenue
Use the left lane.
15

Turn left onto West 21st Street

137 ft · 5 sec · West 21st Street
Use the left lane.
16

Arrive at destination

West 21st Street

Where to Stop

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

village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Glenview, IL

21 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

Chicago, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Glenview, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.6 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 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.1 and 41.1 — 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.
4
5.2 mi into trip | ~10m in | US 41 / North Skokie Highway

Turn left onto US 41 / North Skokie Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
38 mi into trip | ~51m in

Take the exit toward Ogden Avenue, Racine 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 50A Toward Ogden Avenue, Racine Avenue
4
39.3 mi into trip | ~53m in | South Ashland Avenue

Turn left onto South Ashland Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
41.1 mi into trip | ~57m in | West 21st Street

Turn left onto West 21st Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.44 one way

$12.88 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $7.07 $14.14
premium $4.89 $7.93 $15.86
diesel $5.61 $9.10 $18.19

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.4 0 $4.33 $1.98
Efficient EV 10.3 0 $3.61 $1.65
EV Truck/SUV 16.5 0 $5.77 $2.64

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Waukegan, IL

Late night in Waukegan on Sunday

Local time

4:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Isolated Rain Showers

N 5 to 10 mph 21% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 3:15PM CDT until April 16 at 4:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 3:10PM CDT until April 16 at 4:15PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Destination

Lower West Side, IL

Late night in Lower West Side on Sunday

Local time

4:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°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

8 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

57m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Your journey will largely unfold on major expressways, with nearly half of the 41.2 miles being highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 13.7 miles on the Edens Expressway, offering a period of consistent travel. As you transition from the North Skokie Highway onto the Kennedy Expressway, the character of the drive shifts, reflecting its urban approach. This mixed drive profile means you'll experience both open-road cruising and more dynamic traffic conditions as you near your destination.

49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 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 9 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 41.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 5.2 miles (US 41 / North Skokie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 38 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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.

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 57m. Total distance: 41.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

57m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (49%). 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 Lower West Side, 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 5.2 miles (US 41 / North Skokie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 38 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Lower West Side, 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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