How far is Sangamon, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Sangamon, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 218.4 miles (351.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 180.4 miles (290.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 50m 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
218.43 mi
04h 25m
Flight
180.37 mi
290.27 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sangamon.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
180.37 mi
Kilometers
290.27 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
218.43 mi
Kilometers
351.53 km
Drive Time
04h 25m

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 04h 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Wed, Apr 22, 10:36 PM CDT
Return by in Sangamon
Thu, Apr 23, 3:01 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sangamon
2026-04-22T18:11
Arrive Waukegan
Wed, Apr 22, 10:36 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:25 AM to 12:25 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
8:10 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sangamon
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
Chebanse
IL

Village in United States of America

From Sangamon
109.2 mi
02h 12m
To Waukegan
109.2 mi
02h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 mph SW
Destination
64°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    57 m · 21 sec

  2. 2

    Turn sharp left onto North Sangamon Road

    1.5 km · 4 min · North Sangamon Road

  3. 3

    Continue on North Sangamon Road

    2615 ft · 2 min · North Sangamon Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Reas Bridge Road

    2.1 mi · 5 min · Reas Bridge Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto North Brush College Road

    1.1 mi · 3 min · North Brush College Road

  6. 6

    Continue on North Brush College Road

    2922 ft · 1 min · North Brush College Road

  7. 7

    Turn right

    1399 ft · 25 sec

  8. 8

    Take the ramp right toward I-72 East: Champaign

    1 km · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    36.9 mi · 40 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 57 North: Chicago

    1520 ft · 43 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    123.5 mi · 2 hr 17 min

  12. 12

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  13. 13

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

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

  14. 14

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    8.2 mi · 12 min · Kennedy Expressway

  15. 15

    Continue on Edens Expressway

    13.5 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Skokie Valley Road

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Skokie Valley Road

  18. 18

    Continue on South Skokie Highway

    8.2 mi · 10 min · South Skokie Highway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 120 East

    1323 ft · 36 sec

  20. 20

    Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

    1830 ft · 33 sec · Belvidere Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
24 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
124 mi · 57%
I-72 East
37.6 mi · 17%
Edens Expressway
13.5 mi · 6%
South Skokie Highway
8.22 mi · 4%
Kennedy Expressway
8.16 mi · 4%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 57 North

Merge slight left

124 mi · 02h 17m

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
04h 25m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38 mi
180.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chebanse
02h 12m from Sangamon
Leave By
8:10 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny leaving Sangamon 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 Sangamon to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 218.4 miles (351.5 km) and usually takes 04h 25m 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?

Chebanse is a useful midpoint, sitting about 109.2 miles from Sangamon and 109.2 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 180.4 miles (290.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 38 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 8:10 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.07 one way or $58.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny around Sangamon and Mostly Sunny near Waukegan.

Stop Ideas Near Chebanse

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

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

RAIL

Kankakee

13 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Gilman

28 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.
RAIL

Dwight station

45 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

60 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sangamon and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 180.37 mi (290.27 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Sangamon

Unincorporated community in Illinois

Population2,173
Coordinates39.8667000, -88.8559100
Altitude208
CountryUnited States
Waukegan

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: Sangamon (-88.85591, 39.8667)
End: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 352 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 22m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.71 gal
29.18 L · about $29.07
Round trip
$58.15
15.42 gal · 58.36 L
Estimated CO2
68.5 kg one way
Round trip: 137 kg / 302 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $29.07 $58.15
Mid-grade $4.25 $32.79 $65.58
Premium $4.65 $35.88 $71.76
Diesel $5.30 $40.89 $81.79

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Sangamon and Waukegan. The current time is 18:11:09.

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.