How far is Posen, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Posen, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 349.1 miles (561.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 294.3 miles (473.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 59m 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
349.09 mi
05h 29m
Flight
294.31 mi
473.64 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Posen.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
294.31 mi
Kilometers
473.64 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
349.09 mi
Kilometers
561.81 km
Drive Time
05h 29m

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 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Wed, May 13, 1:47 AM CDT
Return by in Posen
Wed, May 13, 7:17 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Posen
2026-05-12T20:18
Arrive Waukegan
Wed, May 13, 1:47 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:30 AM to 1:30 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
6:00 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Posen
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
Champaign
IL

The most populous city in Champaign County, Illinois.

From Posen
171.4 mi
02h 44m
To Waukegan
177.6 mi
02h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 13 mph S
Destination
74°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 25 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Posen and Waukegan.

  1. 1

    Start on Posen Road

    2.9 mi · 11 min · Posen Road

  2. 2

    Turn right

    9.7 mi · 11 min

  3. 3

    Take the exit right

    1855 ft · 45 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    10.3 mi · 11 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward US 51: Centralia, Ashley

    1557 ft · 39 sec

  6. 6

    Turn left onto United States Route 51

    8.8 mi · 11 min · United States Route 51

  7. 7

    Continue on Elm Street

    2.6 mi · 6 min · Elm Street

  8. 8

    Continue on South Broadway

    1.4 km · 1 min · South Broadway

  9. 9

    Continue on County Road 180 East

    4.3 mi · 6 min · County Road 180 East

  10. 10

    Continue on South Mine Street

    3231 ft · 54 sec · South Mine Street

  11. 11

    Continue on N Mine St

    990 ft · 13 sec · N Mine St

  12. 12

    Continue on North Mine Street

    106 m · 5 sec · North Mine Street

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right

    41 m · 4 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right

    7.8 mi · 9 min

  15. 15

    Turn left

    2149 ft · 54 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    46.6 mi · 50 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    195.2 mi · 3 hr 34 min

  18. 18

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  19. 19

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

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

  20. 20

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    8.2 mi · 12 min · Kennedy Expressway

  21. 21

    Continue on Edens Expressway

    13.5 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on Skokie Valley Road

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Skokie Valley Road

  24. 24

    Continue on South Skokie Highway

    8.2 mi · 10 min · South Skokie Highway

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East

    1323 ft · 36 sec

  26. 26

    Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

    1830 ft · 33 sec · Belvidere Road

  27. 27

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  29. 29

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Posen 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
30 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
195 mi · 56%
North Mine Street
46.7 mi · 13%
Posen Road
13.6 mi · 4%
Edens Expressway
13.5 mi · 4%
United States Route 51
8.76 mi · 3%
South Skokie Highway
8.22 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 57 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

195 mi · 03h 34m

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 29m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+54.8 mi
294.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Champaign
02h 44m from Posen
Leave By
6:00 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Posen 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 Posen to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 349.1 miles (561.8 km) and usually takes 05h 29m 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?

Champaign is a useful midpoint, sitting about 171.4 miles from Posen and 177.6 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 294.3 miles (473.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 54.8 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 6:00 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.46 one way or $92.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 109.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Posen and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Waukegan.

Stop Ideas Near Champaign

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

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

RAIL

Illinois Terminal

45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

23 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

52 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Mattoon station

71 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Posen and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 294.31 mi (473.64 km).

Posen

#1 Posen

Village in United States of America

Population5,794
Coordinates38.2583800, -89.3356400
Altitude149
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: Posen Road (-89.335635, 38.258101)
End: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 562 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.32 gal
46.63 L · about $46.46
Round trip
$92.92
24.64 gal · 93.26 L
Estimated CO2
109.5 kg one way
Round trip: 219 kg / 483 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $46.46 $92.92
Mid-grade $4.25 $52.40 $104.79
Premium $4.65 $57.34 $114.67
Diesel $5.30 $65.35 $130.69

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 · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Posen and Waukegan. The current time is 20:18:00.

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.