How far is Beardstown, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Beardstown, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 263.3 miles (423.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 31m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 210.4 miles (338.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 02m 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
263.31 mi
04h 31m
Flight
210.37 mi
338.55 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Beardstown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
210.37 mi
Kilometers
338.55 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
263.31 mi
Kilometers
423.76 km
Drive Time
04h 31m

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 04h 31m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Sat, May 23, 5:40 PM CDT
Return by in Beardstown
Sat, May 23, 10:11 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Beardstown
2026-05-23T13:09
Arrive Waukegan
Sat, May 23, 5:40 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 31m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:31 AM to 12:31 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:58 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Beardstown
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
Chenoa
IL

City in Illinois

From Beardstown
135.6 mi
02h 15m
To Waukegan
127.6 mi
02h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Saturday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, May 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph WNW
Destination
66°F
Saturday

Rain Showers Likely then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, May 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Wall Street

    1.3 km · 3 min · Wall Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Beardstown Road

    2060 ft · 2 min · Beardstown Road

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left

    23.7 mi · 34 min

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    11 mi · 16 min

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    1.5 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    5 mi · 7 min

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Veterans Parkway

    4.2 mi · 6 min · Veterans Parkway

  8. 8

    Continue on North Peoria Road

    5.3 mi · 8 min · North Peoria Road

  9. 9

    Take the exit straight

    21.4 mi · 24 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

    29.4 mi · 31 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

    120.8 mi · 2 hr 14 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin

    1.6 mi · 3 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin

    1694 ft · 41 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    37 mi · 45 min · Tri-State Tollway

  16. 16

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

    1923 ft · 47 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Beardstown 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
21 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
150 mi · 57%
Tri-State Tollway
41.8 mi · 16%
North Peoria Road
26.7 mi · 10%
Beardstown Road
17.3 mi · 7%
Veterans Parkway
4.23 mi · 2%
Belvidere Road
1.87 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

121 mi · 02h 14m

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
04h 31m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52.9 mi
210.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chenoa
02h 15m from Beardstown
Leave By
7:58 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Beardstown and Rain Showers Likely then Mostly Cloudy near Waukegan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 263.3 miles (423.8 km) and usually takes 04h 31m 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?

Chenoa is a useful midpoint, sitting about 135.6 miles from Beardstown and 127.6 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 210.4 miles (338.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.9 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 7:58 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.03 one way or $70.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 82.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Beardstown and Rain Showers Likely then Mostly Cloudy near Waukegan.

Stop Ideas Near Chenoa

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Chenoa, 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 Chenoa.

RAIL

Pontiac station

17 mi away
721 West Washington St.
RAIL

Uptown Station

34 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Dwight station

46 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Gilman

61 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Beardstown and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 210.37 mi (338.55 km).

Beardstown

#1 Beardstown

City in Illinois

Population5,335
Coordinates40.0175500, -90.4242900
Altitude138
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: Wall Street (-90.424491, 40.017462)
End: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 424 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.29 gal
35.17 L · about $35.03
Round trip
$70.07
18.58 gal · 70.34 L
Estimated CO2
82.6 kg one way
Round trip: 165.1 kg / 364 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $35.03 $70.07
Mid-grade $4.25 $39.51 $79.02
Premium $4.65 $43.24 $86.47
Diesel $5.30 $49.27 $98.55

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 · May 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Beardstown and Waukegan. The current time is 13:09:31.

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.