How far is Schaumburg, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Schaumburg, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 45.5 miles (73.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 25.9 miles (41.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 47m 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
45.58 mi
00h 53m
Flight
25.88 mi
41.65 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Schaumburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
25.88 mi
Kilometers
41.65 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
45.58 mi
Kilometers
73.35 km
Drive Time
00h 53m

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 00h 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Wed, May 6, 9:00 PM CDT
Return by in Schaumburg
Wed, May 6, 9:53 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Schaumburg
2026-05-06T20:06
Arrive Waukegan
Wed, May 6, 9:00 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:54 AM to 10:54 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:42 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Schaumburg
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
Ridgeland
IL

Township in Iroquois County, Illinois

From Schaumburg
19.4 mi
00h 26m
To Waukegan
26.1 mi
00h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 6 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW
Destination
55°F
This Afternoon

Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 6 5:00 PM CDT
Wind
15 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Pleasant Drive

    130 m · 20 sec · North Pleasant Drive

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Thacker Street

    723 ft · 32 sec · West Thacker Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Roselle Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Roselle Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Higgins Road

    2.7 mi · 5 min · West Higgins Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto East Frontage Road

    153 m · 11 sec · East Frontage Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight left toward IL 53 North, I 290 West

    1149 ft · 28 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    1559 ft · 22 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    4.9 mi · 7 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward East Palatine Road

    2489 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Palatine Road

    6 mi · 9 min · Palatine Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Willow Road

    1.3 km · 2 min · Willow Road

  12. 12

    Turn sharp left onto I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin

    117 m · 11 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin

    2066 ft · 50 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    17.3 mi · 20 min · Tri-State Tollway

  15. 15

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

    1923 ft · 47 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Belvidere Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Jackson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Schaumburg 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
20 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
43.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
17.3 mi · 38%
Palatine Road
5.96 mi · 13%
IL 53 North
5.44 mi · 12%
West Higgins Road
2.67 mi · 6%
Belvidere Road
1.87 mi · 4%
Belvidere Street
1.65 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Tri-State Tollway

Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

17.3 mi · 00h 20m

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
00h 53m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.6 mi
25.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ridgeland
00h 26m from Schaumburg
Leave By
4:42 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Schaumburg 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 Schaumburg to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 45.5 miles (73.3 km) and usually takes 00h 53m 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?

Ridgeland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 19.4 miles from Schaumburg and 26.1 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 25.9 miles (41.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.6 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 4:42 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.07 one way or $12.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Schaumburg and Partly Sunny near Waukegan.

Stop Ideas Near Ridgeland

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

8 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

La Grange Road

34 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

34 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

Summit

37 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Schaumburg and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 25.88 mi (41.65 km).

Schaumburg

#1 Schaumburg

Large village located in Cook County in Illinois, USA

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

#2 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: North Pleasant Drive (-88.082588, 42.03336)
End: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 73 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.61 gal
6.09 L · about $6.07
Round trip
$12.14
3.22 gal · 12.18 L
Estimated CO2
14.3 kg one way
Round trip: 28.6 kg / 63 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.07 $12.14
Mid-grade $4.25 $6.85 $13.69
Premium $4.65 $7.49 $14.99
Diesel $5.30 $8.54 $17.08

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 07, 2026

There is no time difference between Schaumburg and Waukegan. The current time is 20:06:45.

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.