How far is Waukegan, IL from Aledo, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Aledo, IL is about 225.8 miles (363.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 169.9 miles (273.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 00m 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
225.82 mi
04h 30m
Flight
169.87 mi
273.38 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waukegan.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
169.87 mi
Kilometers
273.38 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
225.82 mi
Kilometers
363.42 km
Drive Time
04h 30m

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 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Aledo
Thu, Apr 23, 10:13 AM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Thu, Apr 23, 2:43 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-04-23T05:43
Arrive Aledo
Thu, Apr 23, 10:13 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:30 AM to 12:30 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
8:00 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waukegan
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
Ashton
IL

Village in Lee County, Illinois, United States

From Waukegan
112.8 mi
02h 15m
To Aledo
113 mi
02h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

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

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · North Jackson Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Belvidere Road

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago

    1511 ft · 37 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    13.9 mi · 16 min · Tri-State Tollway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    20.1 mi · 25 min · Tri-State Tollway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana

    1.5 km · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1251 ft · 31 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1937 ft · 47 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 88 West Toll: Aurora

    2633 ft · 50 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    1.2 km · 60 sec · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    25.1 mi · 30 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    69.5 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  15. 15

    Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

    37.8 mi · 40 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    5.4 mi · 6 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80: Peoria

    7.1 mi · 8 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    9.6 mi · 10 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 81: Kewanee, Cambridge

    1884 ft · 46 sec

  21. 21

    Turn right onto IL 81

    1.5 km · 1 min · IL 81

  22. 22

    Continue on South Street

    2263 ft · 38 sec · South Street

  23. 23

    Continue on IL 81

    1.2 km · 1 min · IL 81

  24. 24

    Turn left

    6.4 mi · 10 min

  25. 25

    Turn right

    19.4 mi · 30 min

  26. 26

    Turn left onto South College Avenue

    22 m · 1 sec · South College Avenue

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South College Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
27 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
95.3 mi · 42%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
38.9 mi · 17%
Tri-State Tollway
35 mi · 16%
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
15 mi · 7%
I 80
7.13 mi · 3%
Belvidere Road
2.15 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

69.5 mi · 01h 14m

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 30m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+55.9 mi
169.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ashton
02h 15m from Waukegan
Leave By
8:00 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Waukegan and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Aledo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Waukegan to Aledo?

The road trip is about 225.8 miles (363.4 km) and usually takes 04h 30m 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?

Ashton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 112.8 miles from Waukegan and 113 miles from Aledo.

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

The direct path is about 169.9 miles (273.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 55.9 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 8:00 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.05 one way or $60.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 70.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Ashton

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

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

RAIL

Mendota station

36 mi away
783 Main Street
BUS

Rockford, Illinois

49 mi away
7559 Walton St.
RAIL

Princeton

57 mi away
107 Bicentennial Dr.
RAIL

Plano

61 mi away
101 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Aledo. Straight-line distance: 169.87 mi (273.38 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Aledo

#2 Aledo

City in Mercer County, Illinois, United States

Population3,383
Coordinates41.1997600, -90.7493100
Altitude224
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: Aledo (-90.74931, 41.19976)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 363 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.97 gal
30.16 L · about $30.05
Round trip
$60.11
15.94 gal · 60.32 L
Estimated CO2
70.8 kg one way
Round trip: 141.7 kg / 312 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $30.05 $60.11
Mid-grade $4.25 $33.90 $67.79
Premium $4.65 $37.09 $74.18
Diesel $5.30 $42.27 $84.55

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 Waukegan and Aledo. The current time is 05:43:57.

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.