How far is Kirkland, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Kirkland, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 67.3 miles (108.3 km), with a travel time of about 01h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 54.8 miles (88.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 33m 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
67.28 mi
01h 46m
Flight
54.79 mi
88.18 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Kirkland.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
54.79 mi
Kilometers
88.18 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
67.28 mi
Kilometers
108.27 km
Drive Time
01h 46m

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 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Wed, Apr 15, 11:04 PM CDT
Return by in Kirkland
Thu, Apr 16, 12:51 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Kirkland
2026-04-15T21:18
Arrive Waukegan
Wed, Apr 15, 11:04 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:47 AM to 11:47 AM CDT

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

Leave by
2:56 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Kirkland
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
Carpentersville
IL

Village in Kane County, Illinois

From Kirkland
33.6 mi
00h 53m
To Waukegan
33.7 mi
00h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
This Afternoon

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 PM CDT
Wind
15 mph SW
Destination
62°F
Overnight

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South 6th Street

    16 m · 4 sec · South 6th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    6.9 mi · 10 min · West Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn straight onto Park Avenue

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Park Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on West Main Street

    12.8 mi · 19 min · West Main Street

  5. 5

    Turn left

    2507 ft · 53 sec

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Higgins Road

    8.5 mi · 14 min · Higgins Road

  7. 7

    Continue on West Main Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Penny Avenue

    5 mi · 8 min · Penny Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on Dundee Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Dundee Road

  10. 10

    Continue on New Sutton Road

    1.7 mi · 2 min · New Sutton Road

  11. 11

    Continue on South Hough Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · South Hough Street

  12. 12

    Continue on North Hough Road

    6.4 mi · 10 min · North Hough Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Barrington Road

    2852 ft · 1 min · Barrington Road

  14. 14

    Turn right onto West Liberty Street

    3.4 mi · 6 min · West Liberty Street

  15. 15

    Turn right

    1.9 mi · 3 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    46 m · 4 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Schank Avenue

    797 ft · 24 sec · Schank Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on Ivanhoe Road

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Ivanhoe Road

  19. 19

    Continue on South Atkinson Road

    2863 ft · 60 sec · South Atkinson Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto East Belvidere Road

    1 mi · 2 min · East Belvidere Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Belvidere Road

    6.3 mi · 9 min · Belvidere Road

  22. 22

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Kirkland 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
25 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
37.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Main Street
21 mi · 31%
Higgins Road
8.53 mi · 13%
North Hough Road
6.35 mi · 9%
Belvidere Road
6.3 mi · 9%
Penny Avenue
5.04 mi · 7%
Ivanhoe Road
3.74 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

West Main Street

Continue on West Main Street

12.8 mi · 00h 19m

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 46m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.5 mi
54.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Carpentersville
00h 53m from Kirkland
Leave By
2:56 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Kirkland 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 Kirkland to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 67.3 miles (108.3 km) and usually takes 01h 46m 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?

Carpentersville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 33.6 miles from Kirkland and 33.7 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 54.8 miles (88.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:56 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.84 one way or $19.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 23.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Kirkland and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Waukegan.

Stop Ideas Near Carpentersville

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

38 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Naperville

39 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

La Grange Road

47 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

52 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Kirkland and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 54.79 mi (88.18 km).

Kirkland

#1 Kirkland

Village in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States

Population1,717
Coordinates42.0925300, -88.8512100
Altitude234
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: Kirkland (-88.85121, 42.09253)
End: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 108 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.61 gal
9.88 L · about $9.84
Round trip
$19.68
5.22 gal · 19.76 L
Estimated CO2
23.2 kg one way
Round trip: 46.4 kg / 102 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $9.84 $19.68
Mid-grade $4.25 $11.10 $22.20
Premium $4.65 $12.15 $24.29
Diesel $5.30 $13.84 $27.69

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Kirkland and Waukegan. The current time is 21:18:11.

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.