How far is Gilberts, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Gilberts, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 60.3 miles (97.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 32.4 miles (52.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 12m 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
60.34 mi
01h 06m
Flight
32.45 mi
52.23 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Gilberts.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
32.45 mi
Kilometers
52.23 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
60.34 mi
Kilometers
97.11 km
Drive Time
01h 06m

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 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Sun, May 3, 7:15 AM CDT
Return by in Gilberts
Sun, May 3, 8:21 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gilberts
2026-05-03T06:09
Arrive Waukegan
Sun, May 3, 7:15 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:06 AM to 11:06 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:18 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Gilberts
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
Tower Lake
IL

Lake in Marquette County, Michigan, United States of America

From Gilberts
20.7 mi
00h 33m
To Waukegan
39.6 mi
00h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
40°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Sun, May 3 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SW
Destination
64°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, May 3 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Higgins Road

    4 mi · 7 min · East Higgins Road

  2. 2

    Continue on West Main Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Penny Avenue

    5 mi · 8 min · Penny Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Dundee Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Dundee Road

  5. 5

    Continue on New Sutton Road

    1.7 mi · 2 min · New Sutton Road

  6. 6

    Continue on South Hough Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · South Hough Street

  7. 7

    Continue on North Hough Road

    6.4 mi · 10 min · North Hough Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Barrington Road

    2852 ft · 1 min · Barrington Road

  9. 9

    Turn right onto West Liberty Street

    3.4 mi · 6 min · West Liberty Street

  10. 10

    Turn right

    1.9 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    46 m · 4 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Schank Avenue

    797 ft · 24 sec · Schank Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on Ivanhoe Road

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Ivanhoe Road

  14. 14

    Continue on South Atkinson Road

    2863 ft · 60 sec · South Atkinson Road

  15. 15

    Turn right onto East Belvidere Road

    1 mi · 2 min · East Belvidere Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Belvidere Road

    6.3 mi · 9 min · Belvidere Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Gilberts 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
20 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
33.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Hough Road
6.35 mi · 11%
Belvidere Road
6.3 mi · 10%
Penny Avenue
5.04 mi · 8%
East Higgins Road
3.96 mi · 7%
Ivanhoe Road
3.74 mi · 6%
West Liberty Street
3.43 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

North Hough Road

Continue on North Hough Road

6.35 mi · 00h 10m

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 06m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.9 mi
32.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tower Lake
00h 33m from Gilberts
Leave By
4:18 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Gilberts and Chance Rain Showers near Waukegan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Gilberts to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 60.3 miles (97.1 km) and usually takes 01h 06m 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?

Tower Lake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 20.7 miles from Gilberts and 39.6 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 32.4 miles (52.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.9 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 4:18 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.03 one way or $16.06 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 18.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Gilberts and Chance Rain Showers near Waukegan.

Stop Ideas Near Tower Lake

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

34 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Naperville

50 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

La Grange Road

52 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

56 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gilberts and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 32.45 mi (52.23 km).

Gilberts

#1 Gilberts

Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

Population8,071
Coordinates42.1033600, -88.3728600
Altitude274
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 Higgins Road (-88.372839, 42.103358)
End: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 97 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 30m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.13 gal
8.06 L · about $8.03
Round trip
$16.06
4.26 gal · 16.12 L
Estimated CO2
18.9 kg one way
Round trip: 37.9 kg / 84 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $8.03 $16.06
Mid-grade $4.25 $9.06 $18.12
Premium $4.65 $9.91 $19.83
Diesel $5.30 $11.30 $22.60

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 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Gilberts and Waukegan. The current time is 06:09:48.

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.