How far is Crystal Lake, IL from Waterloo, IL?
The driving distance from Crystal Lake, IL to Waterloo, IL is about 322.2 miles (518.5 km), with a travel time of about 06h 27m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 286.6 miles (461.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 55m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 06h 27m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Logan County, Illinois, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Rain Showers
Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Crystal Lake and Waterloo.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crystal Lake and Waterloo.
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1
Start on East Crystal Lake Avenue
8 m · 5 sec · East Crystal Lake Avenue
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2
Turn right onto South Main Street
1.7 mi · 4 min · South Main Street
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3
Continue on Pyott Road
1776 ft · 34 sec · Pyott Road
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4
Turn right onto James R Rakow Road
1.2 mi · 2 min · James R Rakow Road
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5
Continue on North Randall Road
2.2 mi · 3 min · North Randall Road
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6
Continue on South Randall Road
17.9 mi · 29 min · South Randall Road
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7
Keep slight left to continue on North Randall Road
1.2 mi · 2 min · North Randall Road
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8
Continue on Randall Road
2.6 mi · 5 min · Randall Road
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9
Continue on North Randall Road
3.3 mi · 5 min · North Randall Road
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10
Turn right onto Orchard Road
11.2 mi · 19 min · Orchard Road
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11
Continue on Minkler Road
1.5 km · 2 min · Minkler Road
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12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Minkler Road
39 m · 4 sec · Minkler Road
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13
Exit the roundabout onto Minkler Road
3.4 mi · 5 min · Minkler Road
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14
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Schoolhouse Road
2391 ft · 47 sec · East Schoolhouse Road
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15
Turn left onto Ashley Road
3.8 mi · 5 min · Ashley Road
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16
Turn right onto Caton Farm Road
1.5 mi · 2 min · Caton Farm Road
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17
Turn left
7.2 mi · 10 min
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18
Continue on North Bridge Street
1.3 mi · 2 min · North Bridge Street
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19
Continue straight
22.1 mi · 26 min
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20
Take the exit right toward I 55 South: Bloomington
1864 ft · 46 sec
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21
Merge slight left
62.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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22
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min
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23
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
82 mi · 1 hr 29 min
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24
Take the exit slight right toward I 255: Memphis, Interstate 270
1386 ft · 34 sec
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25
Keep slight left to continue on I 255 South: Memphis
1.1 mi · 2 min
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26
Merge slight left
17.2 mi · 20 min
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27
Take the exit slight left toward IL 3 South: Columbia
10.4 mi · 13 min
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28
Turn left onto North Market Street
1.4 mi · 4 min · North Market Street
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29
Turn right onto West Mill Street
79 m · 11 sec · West Mill Street
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30
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West Mill Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Crystal Lake and Waterloo.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 55 South
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
82 mi · 01h 29m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Rain Showers leaving Crystal Lake and Showers And Thunderstorms near Waterloo.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Crystal Lake to Waterloo?
The road trip is about 322.2 miles (518.5 km) and usually takes 06h 27m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Atlanta is a useful midpoint, sitting about 161.1 miles from Crystal Lake and 161.1 miles from Waterloo.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 286.6 miles (461.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.6 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $53.04 one way or $106.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Rain Showers around Crystal Lake and Showers And Thunderstorms near Waterloo.
Stop Ideas Near Atlanta
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
City of Lincoln
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Atlanta.
Lincoln
Uptown Station
Peoria, Illinois
Springfield station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Crystal Lake and Waterloo. Straight-line distance: 286.59 mi (461.22 km).
#1 Crystal Lake
City located in McHenry County, Illinois, USA
| Population | 39,642 |
| Coordinates | 42.2411300, -88.3162000 |
| Altitude | 279 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Waterloo
City in Illinois
| Population | 10,536 |
| Coordinates | 38.3358900, -90.1498300 |
| Altitude | 216 |
| Country | United States |
End: Waterloo (-90.14983, 38.33589)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 519 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 44m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 03m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 26m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 22m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 36m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 01m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.67 | $53.04 | $106.08 |
| Mid-grade | $5.29 | $60.17 | $120.34 |
| Premium | $5.84 | $66.37 | $132.73 |
| Diesel | $6.57 | $74.71 | $149.42 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026