How far is Waukegan, IL from Little Rock, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Little Rock, IL is about 79.5 miles (128 km), with a travel time of about 01h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 58.3 miles (93.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 32m 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
79.54 mi
01h 46m
Flight
58.32 mi
93.86 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
58.32 mi
Kilometers
93.86 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
79.54 mi
Kilometers
128.01 km
Drive Time
01h 46m

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 01h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Little Rock
Sat, May 30, 9:23 AM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Sat, May 30, 11:10 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-05-30T07:37
Arrive Little Rock
Sat, May 30, 9:23 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:46 AM to 11:46 AM CDT

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

Leave by
2:58 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
Berkeley
IL

Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States of America

From Waukegan
39.8 mi
00h 53m
To Little Rock
39.8 mi
00h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph ENE
Destination
83°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan and Little Rock.

  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 right to continue on IL 56 West: Sugar Grove

    4.2 mi · 6 min

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    2.4 mi · 3 min

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Dugan Road

    637 ft · 22 sec · Dugan Road

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Granart Road

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Granart Road

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Granart Road

    3.4 mi · 5 min · Granart Road

  19. 19

    Continue on Little Rock Road

    562 ft · 19 sec · Little Rock Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Galena Road

    1482 ft · 36 sec · Galena Road

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Galena Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
21 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
26.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
35 mi · 44%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
25.8 mi · 32%
IL 56 West
6.61 mi · 8%
Granart Road
5.51 mi · 7%
Belvidere Road
2.15 mi · 3%
Belvidere Street
1.65 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

25.1 mi · 00h 30m

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
01h 46m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.2 mi
58.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Berkeley
00h 53m from Waukegan
Leave By
2:58 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Waukegan and Sunny near Little Rock.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Waukegan to Little Rock?

The road trip is about 79.5 miles (128 km) and usually takes 01h 46m 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?

Berkeley is a useful midpoint, sitting about 39.8 miles from Waukegan and 39.8 miles from Little Rock.

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

The direct path is about 58.3 miles (93.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.2 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 2:58 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.60 one way or $21.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 25 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Waukegan and Sunny near Little Rock.

Stop Ideas Near Berkeley

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

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

RAIL

La Grange Road

9 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

13 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.
RAIL

Glenview station

22 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

22 mi away
225 South Canal Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Little Rock. Straight-line distance: 58.32 mi (93.86 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Little Rock

#2 Little Rock

Township in Kendall County, Illinois

Population14,260
Coordinates41.7175300, -88.5761900
Altitude216
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: Little Rock (-88.57619, 41.71753)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 128 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 08m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.81 gal
10.62 L · about $10.60
Round trip
$21.19
5.62 gal · 21.24 L
Estimated CO2
25 kg one way
Round trip: 49.9 kg / 110 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $10.60 $21.19
Mid-grade $4.25 $11.95 $23.90
Premium $4.65 $13.08 $26.16
Diesel $5.30 $14.90 $29.81

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Waukegan and Little Rock. The current time is 07:37:39.

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.