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

The driving distance from Palos Park, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 58.6 miles (94.3 km), with a travel time of about 01h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 48.1 miles (77.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 18m 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
58.59 mi
01h 09m
Flight
48.12 mi
77.44 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Palos Park.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
48.12 mi
Kilometers
77.44 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
58.59 mi
Kilometers
94.29 km
Drive Time
01h 09m

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 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Sun, Apr 19, 10:51 AM CDT
Return by in Palos Park
Sun, Apr 19, 12:00 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Palos Park
2026-04-19T09:41
Arrive Waukegan
Sun, Apr 19, 10:51 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:09 AM to 11:09 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:12 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Palos Park
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Park Ridge
IL

City in Cook County, Illinois, United States

From Palos Park
29.5 mi
00h 34m
To Waukegan
29.1 mi
00h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
52°F
Sunday

Mostly 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 Palos Park and Waukegan.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South 86th Avenue

    9 m · 5 sec · South 86th Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West 123rd Street

    761 ft · 18 sec · West 123rd Street

  3. 3

    Turn left

    781 ft · 29 sec

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto Southwest Highway

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Southwest Highway

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Harlem Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Harlem Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn right

    960 ft · 35 sec

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto West 95th Street

    1958 ft · 50 sec · West 95th Street

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin

    2386 ft · 58 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    11.7 mi · 14 min · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    37 mi · 45 min · Tri-State Tollway

  11. 11

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

    1923 ft · 47 sec

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Palos Park and Waukegan.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
16 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
27.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
48.7 mi · 83%
Southwest Highway
2.69 mi · 5%
Belvidere Road
1.87 mi · 3%
Belvidere Street
1.65 mi · 3%
Harlem Avenue
1.53 mi · 3%
South Jackson Street
0.5 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

37 mi · 00h 45m

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 09m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.5 mi
48.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Park Ridge
00h 34m from Palos Park
Leave By
4:12 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Palos Park 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 Palos Park to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 58.6 miles (94.3 km) and usually takes 01h 09m 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?

Park Ridge is a useful midpoint, sitting about 29.5 miles from Palos Park and 29.1 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 48.1 miles (77.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.5 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 4:12 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.81 one way or $15.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 18.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Palos Park and Mostly Sunny near Waukegan.

Stop Ideas Near Park Ridge

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

8 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

La Grange Road

22 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

22 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

Summit

24 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Palos Park and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 48.12 mi (77.44 km).

Palos Park

#1 Palos Park

Village in Illinois, United States of America

Population4,718
Coordinates41.6672500, -87.8303300
Altitude210
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 86th Avenue (-87.830433, 41.667246)
End: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 94 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.07 gal
7.83 L · about $7.81
Round trip
$15.61
4.14 gal · 15.66 L
Estimated CO2
18.4 kg one way
Round trip: 36.8 kg / 81 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $7.81 $15.61
Mid-grade $4.25 $8.80 $17.61
Premium $4.65 $9.63 $19.27
Diesel $5.30 $10.98 $21.96

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 Palos Park and Waukegan. The current time is 09:41:55.

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.