How far is Chillicothe, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Chillicothe, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 176.3 miles (283.8 km), with a travel time of about 02h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 130.7 miles (210.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 49m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
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
176.36 mi
02h 54m
Flight
130.76 mi
210.44 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chillicothe.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
130.76 mi
Kilometers
210.44 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
176.36 mi
Kilometers
283.82 km
Drive Time
02h 54m

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 02h 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Thu, Apr 23, 12:29 AM CDT
Return by in Chillicothe
Thu, Apr 23, 3:23 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chillicothe
2026-04-22T21:34
Arrive Waukegan
Thu, Apr 23, 12:29 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:55 AM to 12:55 PM CDT

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

Leave by
12:40 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chillicothe
9:30 PM CDT
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
Morris
IL

City in Illinois

From Chillicothe
88 mi
01h 27m
To Waukegan
88.3 mi
01h 27m

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
6 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 Chillicothe and Waukegan.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North 4th Street

    7.5 mi · 9 min · North 4th Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Railroad Street

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Railroad Street

  3. 3

    Continue on County Road 1400 East

    17.8 mi · 20 min · County Road 1400 East

  4. 4

    Merge slight right

    8.9 mi · 10 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East: Joliet

    2040 ft · 44 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    65 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55 North: Chicago

    1892 ft · 54 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    26.6 mi · 33 min

  9. 9

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

    1.6 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin

    1694 ft · 41 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    37 mi · 45 min · Tri-State Tollway

  13. 13

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

    1923 ft · 47 sec

  14. 14

    Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Chillicothe 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
18 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 East
65.4 mi · 37%
Tri-State Tollway
41.8 mi · 24%
I 55 North
26.9 mi · 15%
County Road 1400 East
26.7 mi · 15%
North 4th Street
7.51 mi · 4%
Belvidere Road
1.87 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 80 East

Merge slight left

65 mi · 01h 10m

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
02h 54m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+45.6 mi
130.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Morris
01h 27m from Chillicothe
Leave By
12:40 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Chillicothe 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 Chillicothe to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 176.3 miles (283.8 km) and usually takes 02h 54m 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?

Morris is a useful midpoint, sitting about 88 miles from Chillicothe and 88.3 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 130.7 miles (210.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.6 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:40 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.46 one way or $46.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Morris

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

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

RAIL

Dwight station

29 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

34 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street
RAIL

Plano

35 mi away
101 West Main Street
RAIL

Naperville

52 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chillicothe and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 130.76 mi (210.44 km).

Chillicothe

#1 Chillicothe

Civil township in northeast Peoria County, Illinois

Population5,955
Coordinates40.9222600, -89.4862000
Altitude153
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: IL 29 (-89.486204, 40.922261)
End: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 284 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 56m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.22 gal
23.56 L · about $23.46
Round trip
$46.91
12.44 gal · 47.12 L
Estimated CO2
55.3 kg one way
Round trip: 110.6 kg / 244 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.46 $46.91
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.45 $52.91
Premium $4.65 $28.95 $57.90
Diesel $5.30 $32.99 $65.98

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 Chillicothe and Waukegan. The current time is 21:34:40.

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.