How far is Germantown, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Germantown, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 330.8 miles (532.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 23m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 277.9 miles (447.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
330.78 mi
06h 23m
Flight
277.88 mi
447.2 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Germantown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
277.88 mi
Kilometers
447.2 km
Flight Time
00h 33m

Driving Distance

Road route
330.78 mi
Kilometers
532.34 km
Drive Time
06h 23m

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 23m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Thu, Apr 23, 12:34 AM CDT
Return by in Germantown
Thu, Apr 23, 6:57 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Germantown
2026-04-22T18:10
Arrive Waukegan
Thu, Apr 23, 12:34 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 23m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:23 PM to 1:53 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:14 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Germantown
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Thomasboro
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Germantown
165.5 mi
03h 11m
To Waukegan
165.3 mi
03h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 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 Germantown and Waukegan.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Munster Street

    104 m · 18 sec · Munster Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Main Street

    932 ft · 47 sec · Main Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Hanover Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Hanover Street

  4. 4

    Continue on South Germantown Road

    3.1 mi · 5 min · South Germantown Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Old Route 50 West

    2697 ft · 1 min · Old Route 50 West

  6. 6

    Turn left onto North Walnut Street

    2896 ft · 58 sec · North Walnut Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Jamestown Road

    681 ft · 15 sec · Jamestown Road

  8. 8

    Take the ramp right

    1524 ft · 42 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    8.1 mi · 9 min

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn right onto 12th Street

    1 mi · 1 min · 12th Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Franklin Street

    14.1 mi · 16 min · Franklin Street

  12. 12

    At the end of the road, turn left onto N Mine St

    1107 ft · 14 sec · N Mine St

  13. 13

    Continue on North Mine Street

    106 m · 5 sec · North Mine Street

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right

    41 m · 4 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right

    7.8 mi · 9 min

  16. 16

    Turn left

    2149 ft · 54 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    46.6 mi · 50 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    195.2 mi · 3 hr 34 min

  19. 19

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

  21. 21

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    8.2 mi · 12 min · Kennedy Expressway

  22. 22

    Continue on Edens Expressway

    13.5 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on Skokie Valley Road

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Skokie Valley Road

  25. 25

    Continue on South Skokie Highway

    8.2 mi · 10 min · South Skokie Highway

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East

    1323 ft · 36 sec

  27. 27

    Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

    1830 ft · 33 sec · Belvidere Road

  28. 28

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  30. 30

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Germantown 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
31 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
195 mi · 59%
North Mine Street
46.7 mi · 14%
Franklin Street
14.1 mi · 4%
Edens Expressway
13.5 mi · 4%
Jamestown Road
8.47 mi · 3%
South Skokie Highway
8.22 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 57 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

195 mi · 03h 34m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
06h 23m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52.9 mi
277.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thomasboro
03h 11m from Germantown
Leave By
11:14 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Germantown 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 Germantown to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 330.8 miles (532.3 km) and usually takes 06h 23m 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?

Thomasboro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 165.5 miles from Germantown and 165.3 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 277.9 miles (447.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.9 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 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 $44.01 one way or $88.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 103.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Thomasboro

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

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

RAIL

Rantoul

8 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

15 mi away
45 East University Ave.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

49 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Gilman

60 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Germantown and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 277.88 mi (447.2 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Germantown

Village in Clinton County, Illinois, United States

Population1,273
Coordinates38.5536600, -89.5384200
Altitude131
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: Germantown (-89.53842, 38.55366)
End: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 532 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 07m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.67 gal
44.18 L · about $44.01
Round trip
$88.02
23.34 gal · 88.36 L
Estimated CO2
103.7 kg one way
Round trip: 207.4 kg / 457 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $44.01 $88.02
Mid-grade $4.25 $49.63 $99.27
Premium $4.65 $54.31 $108.62
Diesel $5.30 $61.90 $123.80

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Germantown and Waukegan. The current time is 18:10:53.

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.