How far is Garfield, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Garfield, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 138.6 miles (223.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 105.3 miles (169.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 04m 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
138.63 mi
03h 02m
Flight
105.3 mi
169.47 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Garfield.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
105.3 mi
Kilometers
169.47 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
138.63 mi
Kilometers
223.1 km
Drive Time
03h 02m

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 03h 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Thu, Apr 23, 4:59 AM CDT
Return by in Garfield
Thu, Apr 23, 8:01 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Garfield
2026-04-23T01:56
Arrive Waukegan
Thu, Apr 23, 4:59 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:02 AM to 11:02 AM CDT

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

Leave by
10:56 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Garfield
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
Crystal Lawns
IL

Census designated place

From Garfield
69.3 mi
01h 31m
To Waukegan
69.3 mi
01h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 20 mph S
Destination
77°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    76 m · 19 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East 1075th Road

    1440 ft · 1 min · East 1075th Road

  3. 3

    Continue on North 1050th Road

    1753 ft · 1 min · North 1050th Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto County Highway 44

    1.5 mi · 4 min · County Highway 44

  5. 5

    Turn left onto North 9th Road

    1 mi · 1 min · North 9th Road

  6. 6

    Continue on East 3000 North Road

    6.4 mi · 10 min · East 3000 North Road

  7. 7

    Continue on East 3000 N Road

    5.7 mi · 9 min · East 3000 N Road

  8. 8

    Continue on East 3000 North Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · East 3000 North Road

  9. 9

    Turn right onto E 3200 N Road

    3 mi · 4 min · E 3200 N Road

  10. 10

    Continue on East 3200 North Road

    10.1 mi · 15 min · East 3200 North Road

  11. 11

    Turn left onto I 55 North: Joliet

    2047 ft · 50 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    59.4 mi · 1 hr 9 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 Garfield and Waukegan.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
22 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
59.8 mi · 43%
Tri-State Tollway
41.8 mi · 30%
East 3200 North Road
10.1 mi · 7%
East 3000 North Road
8.2 mi · 6%
East 3000 N Road
5.74 mi · 4%
E 3200 N Road
2.99 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Merge slight left

59.4 mi · 01h 09m

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
03h 02m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.3 mi
105.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Crystal Lawns
01h 31m from Garfield
Leave By
10:56 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Garfield 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 Garfield to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 138.6 miles (223.1 km) and usually takes 03h 02m 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?

Crystal Lawns is a useful midpoint, sitting about 69.3 miles from Garfield and 69.3 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 105.3 miles (169.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.3 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 10:56 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.44 one way or $36.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 43.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Crystal Lawns

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

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

RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

8 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street
RAIL

Naperville

23 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Plano

33 mi away
101 West Main Street
RAIL

La Grange Road

36 mi away
25 West Burlington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Garfield and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 105.3 mi (169.47 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Garfield

Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

Population1,483
Coordinates41.0850300, -88.9561900
Altitude203
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: Garfield (-88.95619, 41.08503)
End: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 223 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 58m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.89 gal
18.52 L · about $18.44
Round trip
$36.88
9.78 gal · 37.04 L
Estimated CO2
43.5 kg one way
Round trip: 86.9 kg / 192 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $18.44 $36.88
Mid-grade $4.25 $20.80 $41.59
Premium $4.65 $22.76 $45.52
Diesel $5.30 $25.94 $51.87

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 Garfield and Waukegan. The current time is 01:56:58.

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.