How far is Waukegan, IL from Bedford, IL?
The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Bedford, IL is about 305.9 miles (492.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 03m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 242.5 miles (390.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 06m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 06h 03m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Township in McLean County, Illinois
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Waukegan and Bedford.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan and Bedford.
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1
Start on North Jackson Street
2647 ft · 1 min · North Jackson Street
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2
Turn right onto Glen Rock Avenue
2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue
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3
Turn right onto Belvidere Street
1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street
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4
Continue on Belvidere Road
2.2 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road
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5
Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
1511 ft · 37 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
13.9 mi · 16 min · Tri-State Tollway
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7
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
22.7 mi · 29 min · Tri-State Tollway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
1 km · 1 min
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11
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
2295 ft · 56 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
119.4 mi · 2 hr 13 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min
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14
Keep slight right to continue on I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
51.6 mi · 55 min
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15
Take the exit slight right toward IL 100: Bluffs, Detroit
1604 ft · 40 sec
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16
Turn left
27 m · 2 sec
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17
Turn left
4 mi · 6 min
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18
At the end of the road, turn right
5.6 mi · 8 min
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19
Turn left onto Illinois Route 100
7.8 mi · 11 min · Illinois Route 100
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20
Turn left onto 865 North
1.5 mi · 6 min · 865 North
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21
Continue on 874 North
1.3 km · 3 min · 874 North
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22
Continue on Road 4000 East
1.6 km · 4 min · Road 4000 East
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23
Continue on Road 886 North
2252 ft · 2 min · Road 886 North
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Bedford Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Waukegan and Bedford.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
119 mi · 02h 13m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Partly Sunny leaving Waukegan and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Bedford.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Waukegan to Bedford?
The road trip is about 305.9 miles (492.3 km) and usually takes 06h 03m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Towanda is a useful midpoint, sitting about 152.9 miles from Waukegan and 153 miles from Bedford.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 242.5 miles (390.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 63.4 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.69 one way or $81.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Waukegan and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Bedford.
Stop Ideas Near Towanda
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City Hall - Town of Normal
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington Finance Department
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Towanda.
Uptown Station
Pontiac station
Lincoln
Peoria, Illinois
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Bedford. Straight-line distance: 242.44 mi (390.17 km).
#1 Waukegan
The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.
| Population | 85,453 |
| Coordinates | 42.3636300, -87.8447900 |
| Altitude | 199 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Bedford
Township in Wayne County, Illinois
| Population | 1,021 |
| Coordinates | 39.5292100, -90.5842900 |
| Altitude | 134 |
| Country | United States |
End: Bedford (-90.58429, 39.52921)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 492 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 11m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 38m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 07m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 05m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 22m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 48m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $40.69 | $81.38 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $45.89 | $91.78 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $50.22 | $100.43 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $57.23 | $114.46 |
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 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.