How far is La Salle, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from La Salle, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 126.5 miles (203.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 95.8 miles (154.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 22m 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
126.54 mi
02h 11m
Flight
95.84 mi
154.24 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from La Salle.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
95.84 mi
Kilometers
154.24 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
126.54 mi
Kilometers
203.64 km
Drive Time
02h 11m

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 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Sun, Apr 19, 4:32 AM CDT
Return by in La Salle
Sun, Apr 19, 6:44 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave La Salle
2026-04-19T02:21
Arrive Waukegan
Sun, Apr 19, 4:32 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:11 AM to 12:11 PM CDT

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

Leave by
2:08 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in La Salle
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
Romeoville
IL

Town

From La Salle
63.2 mi
01h 05m
To Waukegan
63.4 mi
01h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
53°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph WNW
Destination
49°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between La Salle and Waukegan.

  1. 1

    Start on Tonti Street

    52 m · 13 sec · Tonti Street

  2. 2

    Turn left

    1.3 mi · 2 min

  3. 3

    Take the ramp left toward US 6: LaSalle, Peru, Ottowa

    936 ft · 23 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Chicago

    1 km · 57 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    47.3 mi · 51 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55 North: Chicago

    1892 ft · 54 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    26.6 mi · 33 min

  9. 9

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

    1.6 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin

    1694 ft · 41 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    37 mi · 45 min · Tri-State Tollway

  13. 13

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

    1923 ft · 47 sec

  14. 14

    Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between La Salle 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
18 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 East
47.9 mi · 38%
Tri-State Tollway
41.8 mi · 33%
I 55 North
26.9 mi · 21%
Belvidere Road
1.87 mi · 1%
US 6
1.71 mi · 1%
Belvidere Street
1.65 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 80 East

Merge slight left

47.3 mi · 00h 51m

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 11m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.7 mi
95.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Romeoville
01h 05m from La Salle
Leave By
2:08 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving La Salle 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 La Salle to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 126.5 miles (203.6 km) and usually takes 02h 11m 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?

Romeoville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 63.2 miles from La Salle and 63.4 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 95.8 miles (154.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.7 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 2:08 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.82 one way or $33.64 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 39.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around La Salle and Mostly Sunny near Waukegan.

Stop Ideas Near Romeoville

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

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

RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

14 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street
RAIL

Naperville

15 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

La Grange Road

26 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

28 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between La Salle and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 95.84 mi (154.24 km).

La Salle

#1 La Salle

City in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States

Population9,609
Coordinates41.3333700, -89.0917500
Altitude174
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: Tonti Street (-89.092058, 41.333341)
End: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 204 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.46 gal
16.9 L · about $16.82
Round trip
$33.64
8.92 gal · 33.8 L
Estimated CO2
39.6 kg one way
Round trip: 79.3 kg / 175 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $16.82 $33.64
Mid-grade $4.25 $18.97 $37.94
Premium $4.65 $20.76 $41.51
Diesel $5.30 $23.66 $47.31

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between La Salle and Waukegan. The current time is 02:21:38.

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.