How far is Schaumburg, IL from Waterloo, IL?

The driving distance from Schaumburg, IL to Waterloo, IL is about 316.6 miles (509.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 277.8 miles (447 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 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
316.61 mi
05h 59m
Flight
277.76 mi
447.01 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Schaumburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
277.76 mi
Kilometers
447.01 km
Flight Time
00h 33m

Driving Distance

Road route
316.61 mi
Kilometers
509.53 km
Drive Time
05h 59m

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 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waterloo
Thu, Apr 23, 1:02 PM CDT
Return by in Schaumburg
Thu, Apr 23, 7:02 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Schaumburg
2026-04-23T07:02
Arrive Waterloo
Thu, Apr 23, 1:02 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:00 PM to 2:00 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
5:00 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Schaumburg
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Atlanta
IL

City in Logan County, Illinois, United States

From Schaumburg
158.3 mi
02h 59m
To Waterloo
158.3 mi
02h 59m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 17 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Schaumburg and Waterloo.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Schaumburg and Waterloo.

  1. 1

    Start on North Pleasant Drive

    130 m · 20 sec · North Pleasant Drive

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Thacker Street

    723 ft · 36 sec · West Thacker Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Roselle Road

    2653 ft · 1 min · North Roselle Road

  4. 4

    Continue on South Roselle Road

    2.3 mi · 5 min · South Roselle Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto IL 390 East Toll

    1522 ft · 39 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Elgin-O'Hare Tollway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Elgin-O'Hare Tollway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 290: Chicago, Rockford

    1.2 km · 1 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 290 East: Chicago

    2708 ft · 42 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    3064 ft · 44 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 355 South Tollway: Joliet

    20.1 mi · 25 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis

    1453 ft · 36 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Joliet Road South

    1965 ft · 48 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    706 ft · 17 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

    111.5 mi · 2 hr 3 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

    64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    82 mi · 1 hr 29 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 255: Memphis, Interstate 270

    1386 ft · 34 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on I 255 South: Memphis

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    17.2 mi · 20 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight left toward IL 3 South: Columbia

    10.4 mi · 13 min

  21. 21

    Turn left onto North Market Street

    1.4 mi · 4 min · North Market Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto West Mill Street

    79 m · 11 sec · West Mill Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Mill Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Schaumburg and Waterloo.

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
23 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 South
147 mi · 47%
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
112 mi · 35%
I 355 South Tollway
20.1 mi · 6%
I 255 South
18.3 mi · 6%
IL 3 South
10.4 mi · 3%
South Roselle Road
2.32 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

112 mi · 02h 03m

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 59m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
12h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.8 mi
277.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Atlanta
02h 59m from Schaumburg
Leave By
5:00 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Schaumburg and Mostly Sunny near Waterloo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Schaumburg to Waterloo?

The road trip is about 316.6 miles (509.5 km) and usually takes 05h 59m 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?

Atlanta is a useful midpoint, sitting about 158.3 miles from Schaumburg and 158.3 miles from Waterloo.

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

The direct path is about 277.8 miles (447 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.8 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 5:00 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.12 one way or $84.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Schaumburg and Mostly Sunny near Waterloo.

Stop Ideas Near Atlanta

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Atlanta and the surrounding midpoint area.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
Scenic stop 1.7 mi away

Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!

Atlanta , IL
865 SW Arch St, Atlanta, IL 61723, United States
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Tourist attraction
City of Lincoln
Meeting point 9.4 mi away

City of Lincoln

Lincoln , IL
700 Broadway St, Lincoln, IL 62656
Rating 3.8/5 4 reviews City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Atlanta.

RAIL

Lincoln

17 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Uptown Station

35 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

60 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway
RAIL

Springfield station

62 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Schaumburg and Waterloo. Straight-line distance: 277.76 mi (447.01 km).

Schaumburg

#1 Schaumburg

Large village located in Cook County in Illinois, USA

Population72,049
Coordinates42.0333600, -88.0834100
Altitude242
CountryUnited States
Waterloo

#2 Waterloo

City in Illinois

Population10,536
Coordinates38.3358900, -90.1498300
Altitude216
CountryUnited States
Start: Schaumburg (-88.08341, 42.03336)
End: Waterloo (-90.14983, 38.33589)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 510 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.17 gal
42.29 L · about $42.12
Round trip
$84.24
22.34 gal · 84.58 L
Estimated CO2
99.3 kg one way
Round trip: 198.5 kg / 438 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $42.12 $84.24
Mid-grade $4.25 $47.51 $95.01
Premium $4.65 $51.99 $103.97
Diesel $5.30 $59.25 $118.49

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Schaumburg and Waterloo. The current time is 07:02:37.

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.