Origin
Waukegan, IL
Morning in Waukegan on Tuesday
Local time
6:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waukegan, IL to Shelbyville, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 58m
Distance
247.1 mi
398 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 45m
★
6 AM
4h 58m
8 AM
5h 25m
10 AM
5h 8m
12 PM
5h 5m
3 PM
5h 9m
5 PM
5h 24m
8 PM
4h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shelbyville, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Waukegan to Shelbyville is 247.1 miles and takes about 4h 58m via I 57, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Illinois, moving you from the Midwest's northern reaches down towards its central plains. The majority of your travel will be on interstate highways, making for a straightforward trip. With its relatively short duration, this drive is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
123.5 miles from Waukegan, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 168.6 mi | 3h 5m |
| Edens Expressway | 13.7 mi | 17m |
| 2900 East | 10.2 mi | 15m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 8.8 mi | 11m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| North Skokie Highway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| South 1st Street | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Skokie Highway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 168.6 mi, about 3h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan, IL and Shelbyville, 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
8.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Continue on I 90; I 94
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
169 mi
·
3 hr 5 min
·
I 57
Exit 63
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
Use the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 190B
Toward IL 16 West: Mattoon
15
Turn straight onto IL 16
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Charleston Avenue East
16
Turn left onto IL 16
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
South 21st Street
17
Turn right onto IL 16
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Marshall Avenue
18
Continue on IL 16
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Route 16
19
Continue on IL 16
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Marshall Avenue
20
Continue on IL 16
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Illinois Route 16
21
Continue on IL 16
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
South 1st Street
22
Continue on IL 16
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Kentucky Avenue
23
Continue on IL 16; IL 32
10 mi
·
15 min
·
2900 East
24
Continue on IL 16
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
25
Arrive at destination
IL 16
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 58-minute drive, leaving Waukegan in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and avoid late-night driving. The route is manageable in one day, so you don't need to plan for an overnight stop. Consider breaking up the 168.6-mile stretch on I 57 with a brief stop for fuel or a quick stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 168.6-mile mark on I 57, as services may become less frequent before you transition to surface roads.
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 123.5 miles from Waukegan, IL, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 168.6 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 54 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.5 miles or 2h 28m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shelbyville, 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 247.1 miles and 4h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 57 for about 168.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
124 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 123.5 miles from Waukegan, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 168.6 miles.
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 105 decision points cluster between mile 4.1 and 219.6 — 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
42.2 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
8
51 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
I 57
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 63
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
5
219.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 14m in
Take the exit toward IL 16 West: Mattoon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 190B
Toward IL 16 West: Mattoon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.63 one way
$77.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
87 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $42.42 | $84.83 |
| premium | $4.89 | $47.55 | $95.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $54.56 | $109.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.1 | 0 | $25.95 | $11.86 |
| Efficient EV | 61.8 | 0 | $21.62 | $9.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 98.8 | 1 | $34.59 | $15.81 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Destination
Shelbyville, IL
Morning in Shelbyville on Tuesday
Local time
6:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
9 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
4h 58m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 83% of the 247.1 miles on high-speed roads like I 57. You'll experience a long stretch of 168.6 miles on I 57 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a fairly consistent driving experience with frequent exits on the interstate portion, and then a change to more local traffic patterns as you approach Shelbyville.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 168.6 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Edens Expressway. You will hit about 10 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 247.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 42.2 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Arriving in Shelbyville, IL
Full guide →Founded 1827
Shelbyville is a city in Central Illinois.
Top landmarks
- • Chautauqua Auditorium — historic icosagonal (20-sided) wooden chautauqua meeting hall located at Forest...
- • Shelbyville Historic District — historic district in Illinois, United States
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 4h 58m. Total distance: 247.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 168.6 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Shelbyville, 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 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 42.2 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Shelbyville, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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