How far is Godfrey, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Godfrey, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 313 miles (503.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 265.5 miles (427.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 19m 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
313.05 mi
05h 09m
Flight
265.52 mi
427.31 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Godfrey.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
265.52 mi
Kilometers
427.31 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
313.05 mi
Kilometers
503.8 km
Drive Time
05h 09m

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 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Tue, May 12, 10:26 PM CDT
Return by in Godfrey
Wed, May 13, 3:36 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Godfrey
2026-05-12T17:17
Arrive Waukegan
Tue, May 12, 10:26 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:10 AM to 1:10 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
6:40 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Godfrey
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 Godfrey
158.8 mi
02h 34m
To Waukegan
154.2 mi
02h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
16 mph W
Destination
74°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 25 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Isabel Street

    95 m · 14 sec · Isabel Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Isabel Drive

    988 ft · 45 sec · Isabel Drive

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Pearl Street

    1365 ft · 43 sec · Pearl Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Humbert Road

    1729 ft · 35 sec · Humbert Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 255 South

    1576 ft · 39 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    7.9 mi · 9 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 111, IL 140: Alton, Bethalto

    1345 ft · 29 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on IL 111, IL 140: Bethalto

    63 m · 6 sec

  9. 9

    Turn slight left onto East MacArthur Drive

    1699 ft · 36 sec · East MacArthur Drive

  10. 10

    Continue on West Bethalto Drive

    1.8 mi · 4 min · West Bethalto Drive

  11. 11

    Continue on State Route 140

    9.6 mi · 13 min · State Route 140

  12. 12

    Continue on West State Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · West State Street

  13. 13

    Continue on State Route 140

    135 m · 14 sec · State Route 140

  14. 14

    Take the ramp left

    1515 ft · 38 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    96.7 mi · 1 hr 44 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

    29.4 mi · 31 min

  17. 17

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

    120.8 mi · 2 hr 14 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin

    1.6 mi · 3 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin

    1694 ft · 41 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    37 mi · 45 min · Tri-State Tollway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road

    1923 ft · 47 sec

  23. 23

    Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road

  24. 24

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  26. 26

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Godfrey 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
27 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
150 mi · 48%
State Route 140
107 mi · 34%
Tri-State Tollway
41.8 mi · 13%
I 255 South
8.24 mi · 3%
Belvidere Road
1.87 mi · 1%
West Bethalto Drive
1.75 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 09m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+47.5 mi
265.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Normal
02h 34m from Godfrey
Leave By
6:40 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Godfrey and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Waukegan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 313 miles (503.8 km) and usually takes 05h 09m 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 158.8 miles from Godfrey and 154.2 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 265.5 miles (427.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 47.5 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 6:40 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.67 one way or $83.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 98.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Godfrey and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 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 2.4 mi away

City Hall - Town of Normal

Normal , IL
11 Uptown Circle, Normal, IL 61761
Parking lot
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Meeting point 4.6 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 4.6 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 Godfrey and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 265.52 mi (427.31 km).

Godfrey

#1 Godfrey

Village in Madison County, Illinois, United States

Population17,393
Coordinates38.9556000, -90.1867800
Altitude186
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: Isabel Street (-90.186777, 38.954916)
End: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 504 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.05 gal
41.82 L · about $41.67
Round trip
$83.34
22.1 gal · 83.64 L
Estimated CO2
98.2 kg one way
Round trip: 196.4 kg / 433 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $41.67 $83.34
Mid-grade $4.25 $47.00 $93.99
Premium $4.65 $51.43 $102.85
Diesel $5.30 $58.61 $117.22

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 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Godfrey and Waukegan. The current time is 17:17:02.

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.