How far is Waukegan, IL from East Saint Louis, IL?
The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to East Saint Louis, IL is about 323.8 miles (521.1 km), with a travel time of about 06h 07m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 285.3 miles (459.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 15m 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 07m.
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.
Town in McLean County, Illinois, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Waukegan and East Saint Louis.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan and East Saint Louis.
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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 left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
89.3 mi · 1 hr 37 min
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15
Keep slight right to continue on I 70 West: Kansas City
76 m · 6 sec
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16
Take the exit slight right toward Exchange Avenue
1104 ft · 33 sec
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17
Turn left onto Exchange Avenue
1024 ft · 30 sec · Exchange Avenue
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18
Turn right onto North 9th Street
802 ft · 15 sec · North 9th Street
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19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North 9th Street
36 m · 2 sec · North 9th Street
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20
Exit the roundabout onto North 9th Street
594 ft · 11 sec · North 9th Street
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21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North 9th Street
39 m · 2 sec · North 9th Street
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22
Exit the roundabout onto North 9th Street
1.1 km · 1 min · North 9th Street
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23
Turn left onto Saint Louis Avenue
112 m · 16 sec · Saint Louis Avenue
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24
Turn left onto North 10th Street
585 ft · 10 sec · North 10th Street
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North 10th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Waukegan and East Saint Louis.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Waukegan and Sunny near East Saint Louis.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Waukegan to East Saint Louis?
The road trip is about 323.8 miles (521.1 km) and usually takes 06h 07m 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?
Normal is a useful midpoint, sitting about 161.9 miles from Waukegan and 161.9 miles from East Saint Louis.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 285.3 miles (459.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.5 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 $43.10 one way or $86.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Waukegan and Sunny near East Saint Louis.
Stop Ideas Near Normal
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 Normal.
Uptown Station
Pontiac station
Lincoln
Peoria, Illinois
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and East Saint Louis. Straight-line distance: 285.32 mi (459.18 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 East Saint Louis
City in St.
| Population | 25,776 |
| Coordinates | 38.6245000, -90.1509400 |
| Altitude | 127 |
| Country | United States |
End: East Saint Louis (-90.15094, 38.6245)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 521 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 47m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 05m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 28m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 23m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 37m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 02m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $43.10 | $86.21 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $48.61 | $97.22 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $53.20 | $106.39 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $60.62 | $121.25 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.