How far is Fairview Heights, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Fairview Heights, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 326.8 miles (525.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 284.1 miles (457.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 03m 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
326.75 mi
05h 01m
Flight
284.12 mi
457.24 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fairview Heights.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
284.12 mi
Kilometers
457.24 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
326.75 mi
Kilometers
525.86 km
Drive Time
05h 01m

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 05h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Sat, Apr 25, 4:08 AM CDT
Return by in Fairview Heights
Sat, Apr 25, 9:10 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fairview Heights
2026-04-24T23:07
Arrive Waukegan
Sat, Apr 25, 4:08 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:02 AM to 1:02 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:56 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fairview Heights
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
Normal
IL

Town in McLean County, Illinois, United States

From Fairview Heights
160.2 mi
02h 30m
To Waukegan
166.6 mi
02h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
53°F
Tonight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Fri, Apr 24 11:00 PM CDT
Wind
5 mph N
Destination
71°F
Today

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Fri, Apr 24 8:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fairview Heights and Waukegan.

  1. 1

    Start on North Brook Circle

    36 m · 10 sec · North Brook Circle

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Waterside Drive

    99 m · 26 sec · Waterside Drive

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Brook Circle

    969 ft · 1 min · North Brook Circle

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Longacre Drive

    1397 ft · 46 sec · Longacre Drive

  5. 5

    Turn left onto North Illinois Street

    4.8 mi · 8 min · North Illinois Street

  6. 6

    Continue on South Morrison Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · South Morrison Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue on Vandalia Street

    2.8 mi · 5 min · Vandalia Street

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North, I 70 East

    2235 ft · 55 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    3.8 mi · 4 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City

    107.9 mi · 1 hr 57 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

    29.4 mi · 31 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

    120.8 mi · 2 hr 14 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 Fairview Heights and Waukegan.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
22 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
262 mi · 80%
Tri-State Tollway
41.8 mi · 13%
North Illinois Street
4.8 mi · 1%
Vandalia Street
2.76 mi · 1%
Belvidere Road
1.87 mi · 1%
Belvidere Street
1.65 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

121 mi · 02h 14m

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
05h 01m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+42.7 mi
284.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Normal
02h 30m from Fairview Heights
Leave By
6:56 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Fairview Heights and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Waukegan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fairview Heights to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 326.8 miles (525.9 km) and usually takes 05h 01m 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?

Normal is a useful midpoint, sitting about 160.2 miles from Fairview Heights and 166.6 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 284.1 miles (457.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.7 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 6:56 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.48 one way or $86.96 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 102.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Fairview Heights and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Waukegan.

Stop Ideas Near Normal

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Normal and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 2.1 mi away

City Hall - Town of Normal

Normal , IL
11 Uptown Circle, Normal, IL 61761
Parking lot
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Meeting point 4.3 mi away

City of Bloomington, Illinois

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
Rating 3.6/5 8 reviews City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 4.3 mi away

Bloomington Finance Department

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
City tax office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Normal.

RAIL

Uptown Station

1 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Pontiac station

50 mi away
721 West Washington St.
RAIL

Lincoln

52 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

61 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fairview Heights and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 284.12 mi (457.24 km).

Fairview Heights

#1 Fairview Heights

City in Saint Clair County, Illinois, United States

Population16,127
Coordinates38.5889400, -89.9903800
Altitude178
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 Brook Circle (-89.99038, 38.588956)
End: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 526 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.53 gal
43.65 L · about $43.48
Round trip
$86.96
23.06 gal · 87.3 L
Estimated CO2
102.5 kg one way
Round trip: 204.9 kg / 452 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $43.48 $86.96
Mid-grade $4.25 $49.04 $98.07
Premium $4.65 $53.66 $107.32
Diesel $5.30 $61.16 $122.31

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 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Fairview Heights and Waukegan. The current time is 23:07:01.

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.