How far is New Athens, IL from Waukegan, IL?
The driving distance from New Athens, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 342.1 miles (550.6 km), with a travel time of about 06h 43m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 298.8 miles (480.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 06h 43m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Township in Henry County, Illinois
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between New Athens and Waukegan.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Athens and Waukegan.
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1
Start on Chester Street
19 m · 8 sec · Chester Street
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2
Turn left onto North Benton Street
2721 ft · 2 min · North Benton Street
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3
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Van Buren Street
709 ft · 19 sec · South Van Buren Street
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4
Turn right
1743 ft · 44 sec
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5
Turn straight
15.2 mi · 24 min
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6
Take the exit slight right
1491 ft · 38 sec
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7
Turn right onto South Illinois Street
1.6 km · 2 min · South Illinois Street
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8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Illinois Street
54 m · 4 sec · North Illinois Street
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9
Exit the rotary onto North Illinois Street
9.8 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street
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10
Continue on South Morrison Avenue
1.3 mi · 2 min · South Morrison Avenue
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11
Continue on Vandalia Street
2.8 mi · 5 min · Vandalia Street
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12
Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North, I 70 East
2235 ft · 55 sec
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13
Merge slight left
3.8 mi · 4 min
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14
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
107.9 mi · 1 hr 57 min
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15
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago
29.4 mi · 31 min
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16
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
120.8 mi · 2 hr 14 min
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17
Take the exit slight right toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
1.6 mi · 3 min
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18
Keep slight left to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin
1694 ft · 41 sec
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19
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway
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20
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
37 mi · 45 min · Tri-State Tollway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
1923 ft · 47 sec
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22
Turn straight onto Belvidere Road
1.9 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road
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23
Continue on Belvidere Street
1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street
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24
Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue
2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue
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25
Turn left onto South Jackson Street
2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between New Athens and Waukegan.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 55 North
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
121 mi · 02h 14m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving New Athens 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 New Athens to Waukegan?
The road trip is about 342.1 miles (550.6 km) and usually takes 06h 43m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Burns is a useful midpoint, sitting about 171.1 miles from New Athens and 171 miles from Waukegan.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 298.8 miles (480.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.3 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $45.52 one way or $91.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 107.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around New Athens and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Waukegan.
Stop Ideas Near Burns
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington Finance Department
City Hall - Town of Normal
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Burns.
Uptown Station
Lincoln
Pontiac station
Peoria, Illinois
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between New Athens and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 298.74 mi (480.78 km).
#1 New Athens
Village in St.
| Population | 1,865 |
| Coordinates | 38.3264400, -89.8770500 |
| Altitude | 121 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Waukegan
The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.
| Population | 85,453 |
| Coordinates | 42.3636300, -87.8447900 |
| Altitude | 199 |
| Country | United States |
End: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 551 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 23m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 33m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 50m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 42m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 53m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 16m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $45.52 | $91.03 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $51.33 | $102.67 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $56.17 | $112.35 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $64.02 | $128.04 |
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 15, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.