How far is Guilford, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Guilford, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 148.6 miles (239.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 125.3 miles (201.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 13m 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
148.64 mi
03h 36m
Flight
125.36 mi
201.75 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Guilford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
125.36 mi
Kilometers
201.75 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
148.64 mi
Kilometers
239.21 km
Drive Time
03h 36m

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 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Fri, Apr 17, 10:59 AM CDT
Return by in Guilford
Fri, Apr 17, 2:36 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Guilford
2026-04-17T07:22
Arrive Waukegan
Fri, Apr 17, 10:59 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:37 AM to 11:37 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
9:46 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Guilford
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Rockford
IL

The second most populous city in Illinois.

From Guilford
74.2 mi
01h 48m
To Waukegan
74.4 mi
01h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Friday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S
Destination
66°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Guilford Road

    2046 ft · 56 sec · West Guilford Road

  2. 2

    Continue on West Rawlins Road

    1.9 mi · 5 min · West Rawlins Road

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Elizabeth Scales Mound Road

    8.1 mi · 14 min · North Elizabeth Scales Mound Road

  4. 4

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

    1.2 km · 2 min · Madison Street

  5. 5

    Continue on West Diagonal Street

    639 ft · 21 sec · West Diagonal Street

  6. 6

    Continue on North Main Street

    2099 ft · 1 min · North Main Street

  7. 7

    Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

    4.6 mi · 6 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on East Woodbine Street

    2853 ft · 1 min · East Woodbine Street

  9. 9

    Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

    6.4 mi · 9 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on West North Avenue

    2.1 mi · 4 min · West North Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

    33.2 mi · 42 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on West State Road

    9.8 mi · 11 min · West State Road

  13. 13

    Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

    14.5 mi · 17 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 20 East: Belvedere

    1251 ft · 31 sec · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

    13.5 mi · 20 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on West Grant Highway

    5 mi · 8 min · West Grant Highway

  17. 17

    Turn left onto South State Street

    2473 ft · 44 sec · South State Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Telegraph Street

    9 mi · 13 min · Telegraph Street

  19. 19

    Turn right

    1.4 km · 1 min

  20. 20

    Turn left

    7.1 mi · 12 min

  21. 21

    Turn left

    5.1 mi · 8 min

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Bull Valley Road

    910 ft · 17 sec · Bull Valley Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Charles J Miller Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Charles J Miller Road

  24. 24

    At the end of the road, turn left onto South River Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · South River Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Chapel Hill Road

    1.1 km · 58 sec · Chapel Hill Road

  26. 26

    Turn slight right

    63 m · 6 sec

  27. 27

    Turn straight onto West Elm Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West Elm Street

  28. 28

    Continue on Rand Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Rand Road

  29. 29

    Continue on West Belvidere Road

    10.5 mi · 16 min · West Belvidere Road

  30. 30

    Continue on Belvidere Road

    6.3 mi · 9 min · Belvidere Road

  31. 31

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  33. 33

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Guilford 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
34 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
72.3 mi · 49%
West Belvidere Road
10.5 mi · 7%
West State Road
9.85 mi · 7%
Telegraph Street
9 mi · 6%
North Elizabeth Scales Mound Road
8.1 mi · 5%
Belvidere Road
6.3 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

33.2 mi · 00h 42m

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 36m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.3 mi
125.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rockford
01h 48m from Guilford
Leave By
9:46 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Guilford and Partly Sunny near Waukegan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 148.6 miles (239.2 km) and usually takes 03h 36m 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?

Rockford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 74.2 miles from Guilford and 74.4 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 125.3 miles (201.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.3 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 9:46 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.76 one way or $39.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 46.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Guilford and Partly Sunny near Waukegan.

Stop Ideas Near Rockford

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

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

BUS

Rockford, Illinois

9 mi away
7559 Walton St.
BUS

South Beloit, Illinois

26 mi away
15766 Manchester Road
BUS

Janesville, Wisconsin

51 mi away
3120 North Pontiac Drive
RAIL

Mendota station

80 mi away
783 Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Guilford and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 125.36 mi (201.75 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Guilford

Unincorporated community in Illinois, United States

Population1,144
Coordinates42.4175100, -90.3004100
Altitude230
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: Guilford (-90.30041, 42.41751)
End: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 239 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 51m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.24 gal
19.85 L · about $19.76
Round trip
$39.52
10.48 gal · 39.7 L
Estimated CO2
46.6 kg one way
Round trip: 93.1 kg / 205 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $19.76 $39.52
Mid-grade $4.25 $22.29 $44.57
Premium $4.65 $24.39 $48.77
Diesel $5.30 $27.79 $55.59

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Guilford and Waukegan. The current time is 07:22:19.

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.