How far is Waukegan, IL from Carmi, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Carmi, IL is about 334 miles (537.6 km), with a travel time of about 07h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 295.7 miles (475.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
334.06 mi
07h 00m
Flight
295.68 mi
475.85 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
295.68 mi
Kilometers
475.85 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
334.06 mi
Kilometers
537.61 km
Drive Time
07h 00m

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 07h 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Carmi
Mon, Apr 13, 8:37 PM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Tue, Apr 14, 3:38 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-04-13T13:36
Arrive Carmi
Mon, Apr 13, 8:37 PM CDT
Route Timing
07h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:01 PM to 2:31 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
9:58 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waukegan
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Thomasboro
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Waukegan
167.1 mi
03h 30m
To Carmi
166.9 mi
03h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Monday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Mon, Apr 13 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph SW
Destination
82°F
Monday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, Apr 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
16 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    168.9 mi · 3 hr 6 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 16 East: Charleston

    1676 ft · 47 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto Charleston Avenue East

    1.2 km · 1 min · Charleston Avenue East

  16. 16

    Continue on Illinois Route 16

    6 mi · 8 min · Illinois Route 16

  17. 17

    Continue on West Lincoln Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · West Lincoln Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto 18th Street

    1.6 mi · 2 min · 18th Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Illinois Route 130

    1.2 km · 1 min · Illinois Route 130

  20. 20

    Continue on Route 130

    10 mi · 15 min · Route 130

  21. 21

    Continue on County Road 1825 East

    2 mi · 3 min · County Road 1825 East

  22. 22

    Continue on County Road 1775 E

    1.3 km · 1 min · County Road 1775 E

  23. 23

    Continue on North Haughton Highway

    1945 ft · 33 sec · North Haughton Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on 1700E

    1.3 mi · 2 min · 1700E

  25. 25

    Continue on North Haughton Highway

    4 mi · 6 min · North Haughton Highway

  26. 26

    Continue on County Road 1700E

    2.1 mi · 3 min · County Road 1700E

  27. 27

    Continue on North 1250th Street

    13.3 mi · 20 min · North 1250th Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto South Van Buren Street

    11 mi · 15 min · South Van Buren Street

  29. 29

    Continue on County Road 1100 East

    6.7 mi · 9 min · County Road 1100 East

  30. 30

    Continue on North West Street

    2.5 mi · 4 min · North West Street

  31. 31

    Continue on County Road 1150

    24.3 mi · 33 min · County Road 1150

  32. 32

    Turn left onto East Walnut Street

    1742 ft · 32 sec · East Walnut Street

  33. 33

    Turn right onto South 1st Street

    2614 ft · 44 sec · South 1st Street

  34. 34

    Continue on 575E

    1.8 mi · 3 min · 575E

  35. 35

    Continue on 700E

    1.4 mi · 2 min · 700E

  36. 36

    Continue on 725E

    4.3 mi · 6 min · 725E

  37. 37

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Court Street

    3 mi · 4 min · North Court Street

  38. 38

    Continue on South Cross Street

    8.6 mi · 13 min · South Cross Street

  39. 39

    Continue on East Main Street

    4.5 mi · 7 min · East Main Street

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Main Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
40 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
169 mi · 51%
County Road 1150
24.3 mi · 7%
Edens Expressway
13.7 mi · 4%
North 1250th Street
13.3 mi · 4%
South Van Buren Street
11 mi · 3%
Route 130
9.97 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

169 mi · 03h 06m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
07h 00m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.3 mi
295.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thomasboro
03h 30m from Waukegan
Leave By
9:58 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Waukegan and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Carmi.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 334 miles (537.6 km) and usually takes 07h 00m 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?

Thomasboro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 167.1 miles from Waukegan and 166.9 miles from Carmi.

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

The direct path is about 295.7 miles (475.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.3 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 $44.46 one way or $88.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 104.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Waukegan and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Carmi.

Stop Ideas Near Thomasboro

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

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

RAIL

Rantoul

8 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

15 mi away
45 East University Ave.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

49 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Gilman

60 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Carmi. Straight-line distance: 295.68 mi (475.85 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

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

#2 Carmi

City in Illinois

Population4,740
Coordinates38.0908800, -88.1586500
Altitude120
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: Carmi (-88.15865, 38.09088)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 538 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 40m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.79 gal
44.62 L · about $44.46
Round trip
$88.92
23.58 gal · 89.24 L
Estimated CO2
104.8 kg one way
Round trip: 209.6 kg / 462 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $44.46 $88.92
Mid-grade $4.25 $50.14 $100.29
Premium $4.65 $54.87 $109.74
Diesel $5.30 $62.53 $125.07

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 · Apr 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Waukegan and Carmi. The current time is 13:36:18.

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.