Waukegan to Peoria Heights is 190.8 miles and takes about 3h 50m via I 80 and IL 29, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, making it a straightforward drive. Given the relatively short duration, it's a manageable one-day trip if you're looking for an efficient way to get between these two points.
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
95.4 miles from Waukegan, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
64.2 mi
1h 8m
Tri-State Tollway
42.6 mi
51m
IL 29
32.6 mi
38m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
25.9 mi
32m
I 180
8.7 mi
9m
North Galena Road
5.6 mi
7m
Belvidere Road
2.2 mi
3m
Belvidere Street
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 64.2 mi, about 1h 8m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~992 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,284
Quietest
2 AM
~153 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 97 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Peoria Heights, 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
26 mi·32 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 250BToward I 80 West: IowaUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 80
64 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward I 180 South: Hennepin
16
Continue on I 180
8.7 mi·9 min·I 180
17
Keep slight right at fork
2.1 mi·2 min
Toward Peoria
18
Continue on IL 29
33 mi·38 min·IL 29
19
Continue on IL 29
5.6 mi·7 min·North Galena Road
20
Turn right onto East Roosevelt Road
0.4 mi·1 min·East Roosevelt Road
21
Turn right onto North Grand View Drive
0.7 mi·2 min·North Grand View Drive
22
Turn right onto North Prospect Road
5 ft·0 sec·North Prospect Road
23
Arrive at destination
North Prospect Road
Trip Plan
This is a comfortable one-day drive, so you have the flexibility to leave when it suits you. Consider an early start to maximize your daylight. With a 3h 50m estimated drive time, you'll likely only need one brief stop for gas or a stretch. The fuel cost is estimated at $28, so factor that into your budget. Pay attention to signage as you transition from I 80 to IL 29 to ensure you stay on course for Peoria Heights.
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 95.4 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.2 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 42 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.4 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Peoria Heights, 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 190.8 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 I 80 for about 64.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
$20 to $30
Oglesby, Illinois
Hours: 3–11 pm
+17792131436
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.9 and 74.6 — 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
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
7
74.6 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Iowa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 250B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.83 one way
$63.66 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$34.59
$69.18
premium
$5.26
$39.50
$79.01
diesel
$6.18
$46.42
$92.83
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
$32
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.2
0
$20.03
$9.16
Efficient EV
47.7
0
$16.70
$7.63
EV Truck/SUV
76.3
0
$26.71
$12.21
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Waukegan, IL
Morning
in Waukegan on Monday
Local time
9:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
SW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Peoria Heights, IL
Morning
in Peoria Heights on Monday
Local time
9:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Clear
S 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
76°F
Peoria, IL
95 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 50m 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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 46.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 69% of this drive is on highways, so expect a good amount of time cruising at higher speeds. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 64.2 miles on I 80. After the highway portions, you'll transition to surface roads like IL 29. Be prepared for a noticeable shift in driving pace and exit frequency when you leave the interstate.
69% 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: 64.2 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Tri-State Tollway. 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 17 significant decision points across 190.8 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 46.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
786 ft463 ft
Total Climb
648 ft
Total Descent
515 ft
Highest Point
786 ft
~190.8 mi in
Elevation Range
323 ft
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 Peoria Heights, IL, road signs point toward O'hare, St. Louis and Peoria.
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.
Top landmarks
•Waukegan Public Library — library in Waukegan, Illinois, United States
•Waukegan Building — office building in Waukegan, Illinois, United States
•Hotel Waukegan — historic hotel in Waukegan, Illinois, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 190.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.2 miles on I 80. 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 22 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 Peoria Heights, 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 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 46.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Peoria Heights, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
