How far is Elburn, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Elburn, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 76.7 miles (123.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 45.8 miles (73.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 42m 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
76.68 mi
01h 21m
Flight
45.77 mi
73.66 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elburn.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
45.77 mi
Kilometers
73.66 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
76.68 mi
Kilometers
123.4 km
Drive Time
01h 21m

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 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Tue, May 26, 7:43 AM CDT
Return by in Elburn
Tue, May 26, 9:05 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elburn
2026-05-26T06:22
Arrive Waukegan
Tue, May 26, 7:43 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:21 AM to 11:21 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:48 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elburn
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
Barrington Hills
IL

Village in United States of America

From Elburn
30.3 mi
00h 40m
To Waukegan
46.4 mi
00h 40m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SE
Destination
78°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East North Street

    11 m · 4 sec · East North Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · North Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Lincoln Highway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Lincoln Highway

  4. 4

    Turn left onto LaFox Road

    2.3 mi · 4 min · LaFox Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Burlington Road

    1513 ft · 31 sec · Burlington Road

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Bolcum Road

    7 m · 1 sec · Bolcum Road

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto Bolcum Road

    3.2 mi · 5 min · Bolcum Road

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Randall Road

    8.6 mi · 14 min · Randall Road

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 East: Chicago

    1852 ft · 45 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    6.7 mi · 7 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 59

    2334 ft · 60 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto New Sutton Road

    3.6 mi · 6 min · New Sutton Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Dundee Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Dundee Road

  14. 14

    Continue on New Sutton Road

    1.7 mi · 2 min · New Sutton Road

  15. 15

    Continue on South Hough Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · South Hough Street

  16. 16

    Continue on North Hough Road

    6.4 mi · 10 min · North Hough Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Barrington Road

    2852 ft · 1 min · Barrington Road

  18. 18

    Turn right onto West Liberty Street

    3.4 mi · 6 min · West Liberty Street

  19. 19

    Turn right

    1.9 mi · 3 min

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    46 m · 4 sec

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Schank Avenue

    797 ft · 24 sec · Schank Avenue

  22. 22

    Continue on Ivanhoe Road

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Ivanhoe Road

  23. 23

    Continue on South Atkinson Road

    2863 ft · 60 sec · South Atkinson Road

  24. 24

    Turn right onto East Belvidere Road

    1 mi · 2 min · East Belvidere Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Belvidere Road

    6.3 mi · 9 min · Belvidere Road

  26. 26

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  28. 28

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Elburn and Waukegan.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
29 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
37.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Randall Road
8.61 mi · 11%
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
6.72 mi · 9%
North Hough Road
6.35 mi · 8%
Belvidere Road
6.3 mi · 8%
New Sutton Road
5.29 mi · 7%
Ivanhoe Road
3.74 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Randall Road

Turn left onto Randall Road

8.61 mi · 00h 14m

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 21m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.9 mi
45.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Barrington Hills
00h 40m from Elburn
Leave By
3:48 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Elburn 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 Elburn to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 76.7 miles (123.4 km) and usually takes 01h 21m 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?

Barrington Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 30.3 miles from Elburn and 46.4 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 45.8 miles (73.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:48 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.22 one way or $20.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 24.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Barrington Hills

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

30 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Naperville

41 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

La Grange Road

44 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

48 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elburn and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 45.77 mi (73.66 km).

Elburn

#1 Elburn

City in Illinois, United States of America

Population6,098
Coordinates41.8922500, -88.4723000
Altitude260
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: East North Street (-88.4723, 41.892217)
End: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 123 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.71 gal
10.24 L · about $10.22
Round trip
$20.44
5.42 gal · 20.48 L
Estimated CO2
24.1 kg one way
Round trip: 48.2 kg / 106 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $10.22 $20.44
Mid-grade $4.25 $11.53 $23.05
Premium $4.65 $12.61 $25.22
Diesel $5.30 $14.37 $28.75

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 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Elburn and Waukegan. The current time is 06:22:42.

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.