How far is Grant Park, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Grant Park, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 88.9 miles (143.1 km), with a travel time of about 02h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 78.2 miles (125.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 08m 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
88.9 mi
02h 04m
Flight
78.23 mi
125.9 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Grant Park.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
78.23 mi
Kilometers
125.9 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
88.9 mi
Kilometers
143.07 km
Drive Time
02h 04m

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 02h 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Thu, Apr 23, 9:33 AM CDT
Return by in Grant Park
Thu, Apr 23, 11:37 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Grant Park
2026-04-23T07:29
Arrive Waukegan
Thu, Apr 23, 9:33 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:04 AM to 12:04 PM CDT

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

Leave by
2:22 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Grant Park
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
Chicago
IL

The third most populous city in the United States and the center of the Chicago metropolitan area.

From Grant Park
44.5 mi
01h 02m
To Waukegan
44.4 mi
01h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 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 Grant Park and Waukegan.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Grant Park and Waukegan.

  1. 1

    Start on Maple Street

    8 m · 7 sec · Maple Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Taylor Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · West Taylor Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto County Road East 1241 North

    3.9 mi · 5 min · County Road East 1241 North

  4. 4

    Continue on South Dixie Highway

    6.2 mi · 10 min · South Dixie Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Calumet Expressway

    15.5 mi · 21 min · Calumet Expressway

  6. 6

    Continue on Bishop Ford Freeway

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Bishop Ford Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Bishop Ford Freeway

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Bishop Ford Freeway

  8. 8

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  9. 9

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

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

  10. 10

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    8.2 mi · 12 min · Kennedy Expressway

  11. 11

    Continue on Edens Expressway

    13.5 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Skokie Valley Road

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Skokie Valley Road

  14. 14

    Continue on South Skokie Highway

    8.2 mi · 10 min · South Skokie Highway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East

    1323 ft · 36 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

    1830 ft · 33 sec · 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 Grant Park and Waukegan.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
20 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Calumet Expressway
15.5 mi · 17%
Edens Expressway
13.5 mi · 15%
Bishop Ford Freeway
10.7 mi · 12%
South Skokie Highway
8.22 mi · 9%
Kennedy Expressway
8.16 mi · 9%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi · 9%
Longest Stretch

Calumet Expressway

Continue on Calumet Expressway

15.5 mi · 00h 21m

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
02h 04m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.7 mi
78.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chicago
01h 02m from Grant Park
Leave By
2:22 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Grant Park 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 Grant Park to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 88.9 miles (143.1 km) and usually takes 02h 04m 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?

Chicago is a useful midpoint, sitting about 44.5 miles from Grant Park and 44.4 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 78.2 miles (125.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.7 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:22 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.84 one way or $23.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 27.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Chicago

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

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

RAIL

Chicago Union Station

3 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

Summit

15 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.
RAIL

La Grange Road

19 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Hammond–Whiting station

21 mi away
1135 South Calumet Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Grant Park and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 78.23 mi (125.9 km).

Grant Park

#1 Grant Park

Village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States

Population1,231
Coordinates41.2411400, -87.6461500
Altitude213
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: Grant Park (-87.64615, 41.24114)
End: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 143 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.14 gal
11.87 L · about $11.84
Round trip
$23.68
6.28 gal · 23.74 L
Estimated CO2
27.9 kg one way
Round trip: 55.8 kg / 123 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $11.84 $23.68
Mid-grade $4.25 $13.35 $26.71
Premium $4.65 $14.61 $29.23
Diesel $5.30 $16.65 $33.31

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Grant Park and Waukegan. The current time is 07:29:21.

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.