How far is Aledo, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Aledo, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 225.2 miles (362.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 169.9 miles (273.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
225.25 mi
03h 42m
Flight
169.87 mi
273.38 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Aledo.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
169.87 mi
Kilometers
273.38 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
225.25 mi
Kilometers
362.5 km
Drive Time
03h 42m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Thu, Apr 23, 4:40 AM CDT
Return by in Aledo
Thu, Apr 23, 8:22 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Aledo
2026-04-23T00:57
Arrive Waukegan
Thu, Apr 23, 4:40 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:42 AM to 11:42 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:36 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Aledo
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Ashton
IL

Village in Lee County, Illinois, United States

From Aledo
112.5 mi
01h 51m
To Waukegan
112.8 mi
01h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
77°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Aledo and Waukegan.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Aledo and Waukegan.

  1. 1

    Start on South College Avenue

    22 m · 5 sec · South College Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Southeast 3rd Street

  3. 3

    Continue on IL 17

    14.1 mi · 21 min · IL 17

  4. 4

    Continue on West Main Street

    3.7 mi · 6 min · West Main Street

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn left

    6.4 mi · 10 min

  6. 6

    Turn right onto IL 81

    1.2 km · 1 min · IL 81

  7. 7

    Continue on South Street

    2263 ft · 38 sec · South Street

  8. 8

    Continue on IL 81

    1.2 mi · 2 min · IL 81

  9. 9

    Take the ramp left toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island

    1558 ft · 38 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    9.8 mi · 11 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    6.3 mi · 7 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls

    135 mi · 2 hr 29 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford

    3128 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee

    1156 ft · 28 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    35.2 mi · 43 min · Tri-State Tollway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road

    1923 ft · 47 sec

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road

  19. 19

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Aledo and Waukegan.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 88 East
135 mi · 60%
Tri-State Tollway
35.2 mi · 16%
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
16.1 mi · 7%
IL 17
14.1 mi · 6%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
4.74 mi · 2%
West Main Street
3.69 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 88 East

Take the exit slight right toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls

135 mi · 02h 29m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 42m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+55.3 mi
169.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ashton
01h 51m from Aledo
Leave By
9:36 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Aledo and Mostly Sunny near Waukegan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Aledo to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 225.2 miles (362.5 km) and usually takes 03h 42m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Ashton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 112.5 miles from Aledo and 112.8 miles from Waukegan.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 169.9 miles (273.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 55.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:36 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.98 one way or $59.96 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 70.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Aledo and Mostly Sunny near Waukegan.

Stop Ideas Near Ashton

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Ashton, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Ashton.

RAIL

Mendota station

36 mi away
783 Main Street
BUS

Rockford, Illinois

49 mi away
7559 Walton St.
RAIL

Princeton

57 mi away
107 Bicentennial Dr.
RAIL

Plano

61 mi away
101 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Aledo and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 169.87 mi (273.38 km).

Aledo

#1 Aledo

City in Mercer County, Illinois, United States

Population3,383
Coordinates41.1997600, -90.7493100
Altitude224
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: South College Avenue (-90.749241, 41.199759)
End: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 363 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 48m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.95 gal
30.09 L · about $29.98
Round trip
$59.96
15.9 gal · 60.18 L
Estimated CO2
70.7 kg one way
Round trip: 141.3 kg / 312 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $29.98 $59.96
Mid-grade $4.25 $33.81 $67.62
Premium $4.65 $37.00 $74.00
Diesel $5.30 $42.17 $84.33

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Aledo and Waukegan. The current time is 00:57:59.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.