How far is Chatham, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Chatham, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 50.8 miles (81.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 44.6 miles (71.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 28m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
50.85 mi
01h 14m
Flight
44.63 mi
71.82 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chatham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
44.63 mi
Kilometers
71.82 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
50.85 mi
Kilometers
81.83 km
Drive Time
01h 14m

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 01h 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Sat, Nov 7, 12:50 PM CST
Return by in Chatham
Sat, Nov 7, 2:05 PM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chatham
2026-11-07T11:36
Arrive Waukegan
Sat, Nov 7, 12:50 PM CST
Route Timing
01h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:14 AM to 11:14 AM CST

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:02 PM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chatham
9:30 PM CST
Morning start is best

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
Morton Grove
IL

Village in United States of America

From Chatham
25.4 mi
00h 37m
To Waukegan
25.5 mi
00h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
34°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 12:00 AM CST
Wind
5 mph WNW
Destination
51°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM CST
Wind
5 to 10 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    96 m · 29 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East 84th Street

    670 ft · 32 sec · East 84th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive

    669 ft · 26 sec · South Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East 83rd Street

    2620 ft · 1 min · East 83rd Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto South State Street

    33 m · 2 sec · South State Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 94 West

    1231 ft · 32 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West

    732 ft · 18 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

  10. 10

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    8.2 mi · 12 min · Kennedy Expressway

  11. 11

    Continue on Edens Expressway

    13.5 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Skokie Valley Road

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Skokie Valley Road

  14. 14

    Continue on South Skokie Highway

    8.2 mi · 10 min · South Skokie Highway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East

    1323 ft · 36 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

    1830 ft · 33 sec · Belvidere Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Chatham 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
20 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
39.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Edens Expressway
13.5 mi · 27%
South Skokie Highway
8.22 mi · 16%
Kennedy Expressway
8.16 mi · 16%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi · 16%
Skokie Highway
3.84 mi · 8%
Skokie Valley Road
3.38 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Edens Expressway

Continue on Edens Expressway

13.5 mi · 00h 17m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 14m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.2 mi
44.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Morton Grove
00h 37m from Chatham
Leave By
4:02 PM CST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving Chatham 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 Chatham to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 50.8 miles (81.8 km) and usually takes 01h 14m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Morton Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 25.4 miles from Chatham and 25.5 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 44.6 miles (71.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:02 PM CST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.17 one way or $16.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Morton Grove

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

4 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

22 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

La Grange Road

26 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

28 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chatham and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 44.63 mi (71.82 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Chatham

Chatham is a place in Illinois, United States.

Population0
Coordinates41.7411500, -87.6125500
Altitude180
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: (-87.612223, 41.741155)
End: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 82 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.79 gal
6.79 L · about $8.17
Round trip
$16.33
3.58 gal · 13.58 L
Estimated CO2
15.9 kg one way
Round trip: 31.8 kg / 70 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.56 $8.17 $16.33
Mid-grade $5.19 $9.28 $18.57
Premium $5.75 $10.29 $20.58
Diesel $6.56 $11.75 $23.49

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 · Nov 07, 2026

There is no time difference between Chatham and Waukegan. The current time is 11:36:12.

Distance to Other Cities

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