How far is Mount Carmel, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Mount Carmel, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 331.7 miles (533.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 273.2 miles (439.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 25m 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
331.71 mi
05h 42m
Flight
273.14 mi
439.58 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Mount Carmel.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
273.14 mi
Kilometers
439.58 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
331.71 mi
Kilometers
533.83 km
Drive Time
05h 42m

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 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Thu, Apr 16, 3:27 AM CDT
Return by in Mount Carmel
Thu, Apr 16, 9:10 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Mount Carmel
2026-04-15T21:44
Arrive Waukegan
Thu, Apr 16, 3:27 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:43 AM to 1:43 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
5:34 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Mount Carmel
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
Thomasboro
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Mount Carmel
163.2 mi
02h 51m
To Waukegan
168.5 mi
02h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 3:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 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 Mount Carmel and Waukegan.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mount Carmel and Waukegan.

  1. 1

    Start on East 5th Street

    23 m · 5 sec · East 5th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Market Street

    1988 ft · 60 sec · North Market Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East 9th Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · East 9th Street

  4. 4

    Continue on State Route 15

    10.6 mi · 16 min · State Route 15

  5. 5

    Continue on Main Street

    1 km · 57 sec · Main Street

  6. 6

    Continue on 920N

    2938 ft · 50 sec · 920N

  7. 7

    Continue on 910N

    1162 ft · 20 sec · 910N

  8. 8

    Continue on 900N

    2.6 mi · 4 min · 900N

  9. 9

    Continue on East Elm Street

    2290 ft · 41 sec · East Elm Street

  10. 10

    Turn right onto 500E

    24 mi · 33 min · 500E

  11. 11

    Continue on South West Street

    2.5 mi · 5 min · South West Street

  12. 12

    Continue on County Road 1100 East

    6.7 mi · 9 min · County Road 1100 East

  13. 13

    Continue on South Van Buren Street

    11 mi · 15 min · South Van Buren Street

  14. 14

    Turn right

    36.3 mi · 54 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Lincoln Avenue

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Lincoln Avenue

  16. 16

    Continue on Illinois Route 16

    5.3 mi · 7 min · Illinois Route 16

  17. 17

    Continue on Charleston Avenue East

    2035 ft · 39 sec · Charleston Avenue East

  18. 18

    Take the ramp slight right toward I-57 North: Champaign

    2575 ft · 1 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    168.6 mi · 3 hr 6 min

  20. 20

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  21. 21

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

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

  22. 22

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    8.2 mi · 12 min · Kennedy Expressway

  23. 23

    Continue on Edens Expressway

    13.5 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

  24. 24

    Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

  25. 25

    Continue on Skokie Valley Road

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Skokie Valley Road

  26. 26

    Continue on South Skokie Highway

    8.2 mi · 10 min · South Skokie Highway

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East

    1323 ft · 36 sec

  28. 28

    Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

    1830 ft · 33 sec · Belvidere Road

  29. 29

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  30. 30

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  31. 31

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Mount Carmel 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
32 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-57 North
169 mi · 51%
500E
24 mi · 7%
Edens Expressway
13.5 mi · 4%
South Van Buren Street
11 mi · 3%
State Route 15
10.6 mi · 3%
South Skokie Highway
8.22 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I-57 North

Merge slight left

169 mi · 03h 06m

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 42m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+58.5 mi
273.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thomasboro
02h 51m from Mount Carmel
Leave By
5:34 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Mount Carmel 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 Mount Carmel to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 331.7 miles (533.8 km) and usually takes 05h 42m 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?

Thomasboro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 163.2 miles from Mount Carmel and 168.5 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 273.2 miles (439.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.5 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 5:34 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.16 one way or $88.32 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 104.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Mount Carmel and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Waukegan.

Stop Ideas Near Thomasboro

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

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

RAIL

Rantoul

8 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

15 mi away
45 East University Ave.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

49 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Gilman

60 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Mount Carmel and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 273.14 mi (439.58 km).

Mount Carmel

#1 Mount Carmel

City in and county seat of Wasbash County, Illinois, United States

Population6,813
Coordinates38.4108800, -87.7614200
Altitude137
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: East 5th Street (-87.761419, 38.410879)
End: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 534 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.71 gal
44.31 L · about $44.16
Round trip
$88.32
23.42 gal · 88.62 L
Estimated CO2
104.1 kg one way
Round trip: 208.1 kg / 459 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $44.16 $88.32
Mid-grade $4.25 $49.80 $99.61
Premium $4.65 $54.50 $109.00
Diesel $5.30 $62.11 $124.22

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 · Apr 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Mount Carmel and Waukegan. The current time is 21:44:33.

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.