How far is Waukegan, IL from Madison, IL?
The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Madison, IL is about 322.7 miles (519.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 09m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 281.8 miles (453.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 18m 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 09m.
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.
Mostly Sunny
Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Waukegan and Madison.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan and Madison.
-
1
Start on North Jackson Street
2647 ft · 1 min · North Jackson Street
-
2
Turn right onto Glen Rock Avenue
2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue
-
3
Turn right onto Belvidere Street
1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street
-
4
Continue on Belvidere Road
2.2 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road
-
5
Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
1511 ft · 37 sec
-
6
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
13.9 mi · 16 min · Tri-State Tollway
-
7
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
22.7 mi · 29 min · Tri-State Tollway
-
8
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway
-
9
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway
-
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
1 km · 1 min
-
11
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
2295 ft · 56 sec
-
12
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
119.4 mi · 2 hr 13 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
-
13
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min
-
14
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
72.8 mi · 1 hr 18 min
-
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 270 West: Kansas City
2058 ft · 32 sec
-
16
Merge slight left
8.1 mi · 9 min
-
17
Take the exit slight right toward IL 111 North: Wood River
1580 ft · 34 sec
-
18
Keep slight left
48 m · 4 sec
-
19
Turn left
2.6 mi · 4 min
-
20
Turn right onto State Route 162
2.7 mi · 4 min · State Route 162
-
21
Continue on Edwardsville Road
2.2 mi · 3 min · Edwardsville Road
-
22
Turn left onto Mc Cambridge Avenue
122 m · 7 sec · Mc Cambridge Avenue
-
23
Turn right onto Rhodes Street
1247 ft · 55 sec · Rhodes Street
-
24
Turn right onto 6th Street
1560 ft · 1 min · 6th Street
-
25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 6th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Waukegan and Madison.
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 Chance Rain Showers near Madison.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Waukegan to Madison?
The road trip is about 322.7 miles (519.4 km) and usually takes 06h 09m 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 161.4 miles from Waukegan and 161.4 miles from Madison.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 281.8 miles (453.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.9 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 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 $42.95 one way or $85.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Waukegan and Chance Rain Showers near Madison.
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 Madison. Straight-line distance: 281.82 mi (453.54 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 Madison
City in Madison County, Florida, United States
| Population | 3,735 |
| Coordinates | 38.6825500, -90.1570500 |
| Altitude | 126 |
| Country | United States |
End: Madison (-90.15705, 38.68255)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 519 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 45m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 04m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 27m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 22m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 36m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 01m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $42.95 | $85.90 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $48.44 | $96.88 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $53.01 | $106.02 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $60.41 | $120.83 |
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 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.