How far is Canton, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Canton, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 225.7 miles (363.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 41m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 168.6 miles (271.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 22m 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
225.71 mi
03h 41m
Flight
168.58 mi
271.31 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Canton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
168.58 mi
Kilometers
271.31 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
225.71 mi
Kilometers
363.24 km
Drive Time
03h 41m

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 41m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Thu, Apr 23, 12:09 AM CDT
Return by in Canton
Thu, Apr 23, 3:50 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Canton
2026-04-22T20:27
Arrive Waukegan
Thu, Apr 23, 12:09 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 41m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:41 AM to 11:41 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
9:38 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Canton
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
Odell
IL

Township in Livingston County, Illinois

From Canton
112.7 mi
01h 50m
To Waukegan
113 mi
01h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 mph SW
Destination
64°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Main Street

    8 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn slight right

    22 m · 3 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Locust Street

    2118 ft · 46 sec · East Locust Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto North 5th Avenue

    1.4 km · 2 min · North 5th Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto East Linn Street

    7.1 mi · 11 min · East Linn Street

  6. 6

    Continue on East Valley View Drive

    17.7 mi · 22 min · East Valley View Drive

  7. 7

    Continue on McKinley Avenue

    1.5 km · 1 min · McKinley Avenue

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right

    2209 ft · 54 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    7.5 mi · 8 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    27 mi · 29 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago

    1.4 mi · 3 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    113.6 mi · 2 hr 7 min

  13. 13

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

    1.6 mi · 3 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin

    1694 ft · 41 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    37 mi · 45 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 Canton and Waukegan.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
22 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
115 mi · 51%
Tri-State Tollway
41.8 mi · 19%
McKinley Avenue
35.9 mi · 16%
East Valley View Drive
17.7 mi · 8%
East Linn Street
7.13 mi · 3%
Belvidere Road
1.87 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Merge slight left

114 mi · 02h 07m

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 41m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+57.1 mi
168.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Odell
01h 50m from Canton
Leave By
9:38 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Canton 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 Canton to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 225.7 miles (363.2 km) and usually takes 03h 41m 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?

Odell is a useful midpoint, sitting about 112.7 miles from Canton and 113 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 168.6 miles (271.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 57.1 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 9:38 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.02 one way or $60.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 70.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Canton and Mostly Sunny near Waukegan.

Stop Ideas Near Odell

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

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

RAIL

Dwight station

13 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Pontiac station

17 mi away
721 West Washington St.
RAIL

Gilman

52 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.
RAIL

Kankakee

57 mi away
199 South East Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Canton and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 168.58 mi (271.31 km).

Canton

#1 Canton

City in Fulton County, Illinois, United States

Population13,265
Coordinates40.5580900, -90.0351200
Altitude197
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: North Main Street (-90.035088, 40.558091)
End: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 363 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 38m
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
7.96 gal
30.15 L · about $30.02
Round trip
$60.03
15.92 gal · 60.3 L
Estimated CO2
70.7 kg one way
Round trip: 141.5 kg / 312 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $30.02 $60.03
Mid-grade $4.25 $33.85 $67.71
Premium $4.65 $37.05 $74.09
Diesel $5.30 $42.22 $84.44

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 Canton and Waukegan. The current time is 20:27:43.

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.