How far is Waukegan, IL from Bradley, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Bradley, IL is about 96.3 miles (155 km), with a travel time of about 02h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 84.4 miles (135.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 09m 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
96.33 mi
02h 04m
Flight
84.41 mi
135.85 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waukegan.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
84.41 mi
Kilometers
135.85 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
96.33 mi
Kilometers
155.03 km
Drive Time
02h 04m

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 02h 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bradley
Tue, May 12, 8:37 PM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Tue, May 12, 10:42 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-05-12T18:33
Arrive Bradley
Tue, May 12, 8:37 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:05 AM to 12:05 PM CDT

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

Leave by
2:20 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waukegan
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
South Chicago
IL

Former township in Cook County, Illinois

From Waukegan
48.2 mi
01h 02m
To Bradley
48.2 mi
01h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 25 mph SSW
Destination
79°F
Today

Partly Sunny then Patchy Blowing Dust

Starts
Tue, May 12 9:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 25 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1368 ft · 34 sec · Belvidere Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto South Lewis Avenue

    2.9 mi · 5 min · South Lewis Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Buckley Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Buckley Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto North Skokie Highway

    5.6 mi · 7 min · North Skokie Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Skokie Valley Road

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Skokie Valley Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Skokie Highway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on Edens Expressway

    13.7 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

  10. 10

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    8.1 mi · 12 min · Kennedy Expressway

  11. 11

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

    8.8 mi · 12 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

    42.7 mi · 51 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 50: Bradley, Bourbonnais

    2119 ft · 52 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Kinzie Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Kinzie Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right onto East Broadway Street

    2280 ft · 47 sec · East Broadway Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto South Schuyler Avenue

    984 ft · 24 sec · South Schuyler Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto East Broadway Street

    110 m · 7 sec · East Broadway Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Broadway Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
19 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
19.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
42.7 mi · 44%
Edens Expressway
13.7 mi · 14%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.83 mi · 9%
Kennedy Expressway
8.12 mi · 8%
North Skokie Highway
5.61 mi · 6%
Skokie Highway
3.76 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

42.7 mi · 00h 51m

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
02h 04m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11.9 mi
84.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
South Chicago
01h 02m from Waukegan
Leave By
2:20 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Waukegan and Partly Sunny then Patchy Blowing Dust near Bradley.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 96.3 miles (155 km) and usually takes 02h 04m 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?

South Chicago is a useful midpoint, sitting about 48.2 miles from Waukegan and 48.2 miles from Bradley.

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

The direct path is about 84.4 miles (135.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:20 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.82 one way or $25.64 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Waukegan and Partly Sunny then Patchy Blowing Dust near Bradley.

Stop Ideas Near South Chicago

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

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

RAIL

Hammond–Whiting station

6 mi away
1135 South Calumet Ave.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

17 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

Homewood

22 mi away
18015 Park Ave.
RAIL

Summit

22 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Bradley. Straight-line distance: 84.41 mi (135.85 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

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

#2 Bradley

Village in Illinois, United States

Population15,132
Coordinates41.1419800, -87.8611500
Altitude194
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: Bradley (-87.86115, 41.14198)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 155 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.4 gal
12.87 L · about $12.82
Round trip
$25.64
6.8 gal · 25.74 L
Estimated CO2
30.2 kg one way
Round trip: 60.4 kg / 133 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $12.82 $25.64
Mid-grade $4.25 $14.46 $28.92
Premium $4.65 $15.82 $31.65
Diesel $5.30 $18.03 $36.07

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 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Waukegan and Bradley. The current time is 18:33:13.

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.