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Trip from Waukegan, IL to Peru, IL

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

Drive Time

2h 37m

Distance

128.7 mi

207 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 27m ★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 44m
12 PM
2h 42m
3 PM
2h 45m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m

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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city in Illinois, United States

Peru, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 128.7-mile drive from Waukegan, IL to Peru, IL is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 37 minutes. You'll primarily be navigating on I-80, the Tri-State Tollway, and the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, with 59% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $20, making it an economical option for a short getaway within the Midwest. Given its manageable length and duration, this route is ideal for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule without the need for an overnight stay.

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

64.3 miles from Waukegan, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 47.2 mi 50m
Tri-State Tollway 42.6 mi 51m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway 25.9 mi 32m
Belvidere Road 2.2 mi 3m
I 39 2.1 mi 2m
Belvidere Street 1.6 mi 3m
US 6 1.2 mi 1m
4th Street 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 47.2 mi, about 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Peru, 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'Hare Use 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 23 Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis Use 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 250B Toward I 80 West: Iowa Use the slight right lane.
14

Merge onto I 80

47 mi · 50 min · I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 79A Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomington
16

Merge onto I 39; US 51

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 39; US 51
17

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Toward US 6: LaSalle, Peru, Ottowa
18

Turn right onto US 6

1.2 mi · 1 min · US 6
19

Turn left onto US 6; IL 351

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Joliet Street
20

Turn right onto US 6

0.6 mi · 57 sec · 3rd Street
21

Continue on US 6

0.4 mi · 33 sec · 5th Street
22

Continue on US 6

0.9 mi · 1 min · 4th Street
23

Arrive at destination

US 6

Trip Plan

For this 2-hour and 37-minute drive, leaving in the morning is generally recommended to maximize your day. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of about $20, you have a lot of flexibility. The longest stretch without a change in major road type is 47.2 miles on I-80, so plan for a fuel or rest break before or after this segment if needed. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially when merging onto or exiting major expressways like the Tri-State Tollway and I-80, as these can experience congestion.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.3 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.2 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 28 miles or 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 64.3 miles or 1h 23m 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 9m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Peru, 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 128.7 miles and 2h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 47.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

village in Downers Grove, Lisle, and York Townships, DuPage County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Downers Grove, IL

64 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

Des Plaines, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Romeoville, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 64.3 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

LongHorn Steakhouse

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Bolingbrook, Illinois

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately mile 55.2

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+16307830684

Visit website

Taco Bell

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Countryside, Illinois

2.1 mi

La Mexicana Restaurant & Grocery Store

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ottawa, Illinois

2.3 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Drip and Culture - Socially Minded Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Waukegan, Illinois

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

Visit website

Hansa Coffee Roasters

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Libertyville, Illinois

2.5 mi

LongHorn Steakhouse

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately mile 55.2

Bolingbrook, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+16307830684

Visit website

Taco Bell

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 46

Countryside, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–2 pm

+17083545535

Visit website

La Mexicana Restaurant & Grocery Store

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 110.3

Ottawa, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+18154334714

Visit website

Carrabba's Italian Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour Moderately mile 55.2

Woodridge, Illinois

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+16304270900

Visit website

Sushi Ya

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30 mile 73.5

Joliet, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+18157303838

Visit website

Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe & Banquets

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $20 to $30 mile 55.2

Darien, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13314314000

Visit website

Capri Ristorante

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour Moderately mile 46

Burr Ridge, Illinois

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+16304554003

Visit website

Cebu Lechon House & New Chinese Kitchen

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour Inexpensiv mile 55.2

Woodridge, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+16309104100

Visit website

Drip and Culture - Socially Minded Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Waukegan, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

Visit website

Hansa Coffee Roasters

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 9.2

Libertyville, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+18472268815

Visit website

Haraz Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10

Gurnee, Illinois

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

Visit website

Prairie Trail Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 46

Willowbrook, Illinois

Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

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

$20.12 one way

$40.24 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $22.09 $44.18
premium $4.89 $24.77 $49.53
diesel $5.61 $28.42 $56.83

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

$20

Tolls

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 45 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38.6 0 $13.51 $6.18
Efficient EV 32.2 0 $11.26 $5.15
EV Truck/SUV 51.5 0 $18.02 $8.24

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 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 15, 2026

Origin

Waukegan, IL

Night in Waukegan on Saturday

Local time

11:37 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Peru, IL

Night in Peru on Saturday

Local time

11:37 PM

CDT

Current temp

52°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

10 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

2h 37m 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

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...

16 mi from route ~41 min detour Free near mile 48.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a mixed driving experience on this 128.7-mile journey. While 59% of the route utilizes highways, including significant portions of I-80, you'll also encounter other expressway-style roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 47.2 miles on I-80, offering a period of consistent travel. The character of the drive shifts between faster-paced highway travel and potentially more varied road conditions as you progress. It's a drive that balances efficient transit with the typical characteristics of major Midwestern arteries.

59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.2 mi on I 80.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort 10/10

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 18 significant decision points across 128.7 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.

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 Peru, IL, road signs point toward O'hare and St. Louis.

O'hare

18.9 mi in | ~25m | via I 294

St. Louis

47.6 mi in | ~1h 1m

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 2h 37m. Total distance: 128.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (59%). 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 47.2 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.

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 Peru, 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 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Peru, 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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