How far is Oak Park, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Oak Park, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 47.7 miles (76.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 33.2 miles (53.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 00m 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
47.67 mi
01h 00m
Flight
33.21 mi
53.45 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Oak Park.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
33.21 mi
Kilometers
53.45 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
47.67 mi
Kilometers
76.71 km
Drive Time
01h 00m

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 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Fri, Apr 17, 2:04 AM CDT
Return by in Oak Park
Fri, Apr 17, 3:04 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Oak Park
2026-04-17T01:04
Arrive Waukegan
Fri, Apr 17, 2:04 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:30 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Oak Park
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
Glencoe
IL

Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

From Oak Park
19.8 mi
00h 30m
To Waukegan
27.9 mi
00h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Friday

Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 20 mph SSE
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 Oak Park and Waukegan.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oak Park and Waukegan.

  1. 1

    Start on South Ridgeland Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · South Ridgeland Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Chicago Avenue

    1 mi · 3 min · Chicago Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Central Avenue

    4.5 mi · 10 min · North Central Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Montrose Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · West Montrose Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto North Cicero Avenue

    1422 ft · 30 sec · North Cicero Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn right onto West Wilson Avenue

    137 m · 23 sec · West Wilson Avenue

  7. 7

    Take the ramp left toward I 94 West

    1088 ft · 29 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Edens Expressway

    13 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Skokie Valley Road

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Skokie Valley Road

  11. 11

    Continue on South Skokie Highway

    8.2 mi · 10 min · South Skokie Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East

    1323 ft · 36 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

    1830 ft · 33 sec · Belvidere Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Oak Park 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
17 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
35.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Edens Expressway
13 mi · 27%
South Skokie Highway
8.22 mi · 17%
North Central Avenue
4.53 mi · 10%
Skokie Highway
3.84 mi · 8%
Skokie Valley Road
3.38 mi · 7%
Belvidere Street
1.65 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Edens Expressway

Merge slight left onto Edens Expressway

13 mi · 00h 17m

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 00m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.5 mi
33.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Glencoe
00h 30m from Oak Park
Leave By
4:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny leaving Oak Park 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 Oak Park to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 47.7 miles (76.7 km) and usually takes 01h 00m 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?

Glencoe is a useful midpoint, sitting about 19.8 miles from Oak Park and 27.9 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 33.2 miles (53.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.5 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 4:30 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.34 one way or $12.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny around Oak Park and Partly Sunny near Waukegan.

Stop Ideas Near Glencoe

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

8 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

30 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

La Grange Road

37 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

38 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Oak Park and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 33.21 mi (53.45 km).

Oak Park

#1 Oak Park

Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States; suburb of Chicago, Illinois

Population51,852
Coordinates41.8850300, -87.7845000
Altitude189
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: South Ridgeland Avenue (-87.784591, 41.885029)
End: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 77 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.68 gal
6.37 L · about $6.34
Round trip
$12.67
3.36 gal · 12.74 L
Estimated CO2
14.9 kg one way
Round trip: 29.9 kg / 66 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.34 $12.67
Mid-grade $4.25 $7.15 $14.29
Premium $4.65 $7.82 $15.64
Diesel $5.30 $8.91 $17.82

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 Oak Park and Waukegan. The current time is 01:04:07.

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.