How far is Sugar Grove, IL from Waukegan, IL?

The driving distance from Sugar Grove, IL to Waukegan, IL is about 71.1 miles (114.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 51.7 miles (83.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 34m 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
71.06 mi
01h 17m
Flight
51.72 mi
83.24 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sugar Grove.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
51.72 mi
Kilometers
83.24 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
71.06 mi
Kilometers
114.36 km
Drive Time
01h 17m

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 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukegan
Sat, Apr 11, 12:40 AM CDT
Return by in Sugar Grove
Sat, Apr 11, 1:58 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sugar Grove
2026-04-10T23:23
Arrive Waukegan
Sat, Apr 11, 12:40 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:17 AM to 11:17 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:56 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sugar Grove
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
Northlake
IL

City in Cook County, Illinois, United States

From Sugar Grove
35.5 mi
00h 38m
To Waukegan
35.6 mi
00h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Friday

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph N
Destination
49°F
Friday

Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph NNE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sugar Grove and Waukegan.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    23 m · 11 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left

    21 m · 7 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Cross Street

    82 m · 14 sec · Cross Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto United States Route 30

    582 ft · 14 sec · United States Route 30

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 56 East: Chicago

    2171 ft · 53 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    24.8 mi · 31 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford

    3128 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee

    1156 ft · 28 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    35.2 mi · 43 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 Sugar Grove and Waukegan.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
16 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
35.2 mi · 50%
IL 56 East
25.2 mi · 35%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
4.74 mi · 7%
Belvidere Road
1.87 mi · 3%
Belvidere Street
1.65 mi · 2%
I 294 North
0.59 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Tri-State Tollway

Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

35.2 mi · 00h 43m

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 17m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.4 mi
51.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Northlake
00h 38m from Sugar Grove
Leave By
3:56 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy leaving Sugar Grove and Rain Showers near Waukegan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Sugar Grove to Waukegan?

The road trip is about 71.1 miles (114.4 km) and usually takes 01h 17m 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?

Northlake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 35.5 miles from Sugar Grove and 35.6 miles from Waukegan.

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

The direct path is about 51.7 miles (83.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.4 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 3:56 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.47 one way or $18.93 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 22.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy around Sugar Grove and Rain Showers near Waukegan.

Stop Ideas Near Northlake

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

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

RAIL

La Grange Road

11 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

15 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.
RAIL

Glenview station

19 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

22 mi away
225 South Canal Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sugar Grove and Waukegan. Straight-line distance: 51.72 mi (83.24 km).

Sugar Grove

#1 Sugar Grove

City in Kane County, Illinois, United States of America

Population9,884
Coordinates41.7614200, -88.4436900
Altitude219
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 Main Street (-88.443808, 41.761421)
End: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 114 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 53m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.51 gal
9.49 L · about $9.47
Round trip
$18.93
5.02 gal · 18.98 L
Estimated CO2
22.3 kg one way
Round trip: 44.6 kg / 98 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $9.47 $18.93
Mid-grade $4.25 $10.68 $21.35
Premium $4.65 $11.68 $23.36
Diesel $5.30 $13.31 $26.63

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 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Sugar Grove and Waukegan. The current time is 23:23:40.

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.