How far is Waukegan, IL from Marengo, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Marengo, IL is about 47 miles (75.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 39.8 miles (64.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 31m 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
47.06 mi
01h 15m
Flight
39.82 mi
64.09 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
39.82 mi
Kilometers
64.09 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
47.06 mi
Kilometers
75.73 km
Drive Time
01h 15m

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 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Marengo
Thu, Apr 23, 3:55 AM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Thu, Apr 23, 5:11 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-04-23T02:39
Arrive Marengo
Thu, Apr 23, 3:55 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:16 AM to 11:16 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:58 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
McHenry
IL

City in Illinois

From Waukegan
23.5 mi
00h 37m
To Marengo
23.5 mi
00h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
79°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    6.3 mi · 9 min · Belvidere Road

  5. 5

    Continue on East Belvidere Road

    10.5 mi · 16 min · East Belvidere Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Rand Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Rand Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Elm Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Elm Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Chapel Hill Road

  9. 9

    Continue on North River Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · North River Road

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Charles J Miller Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Charles J Miller Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Bull Valley Road

    1863 ft · 37 sec · Bull Valley Road

  12. 12

    Turn left onto South Front Street

    5.1 mi · 8 min · South Front Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto East Terra Cotta Avenue

    7 mi · 12 min · East Terra Cotta Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right

    1.4 km · 1 min

  15. 15

    Turn left

    9 mi · 13 min

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North State Street

    2365 ft · 40 sec · North State Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South State Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
17 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
36.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
East Belvidere Road
10.5 mi · 22%
East Terra Cotta Avenue
7.05 mi · 15%
Belvidere Road
6.29 mi · 13%
South Front Street
5.12 mi · 11%
Belvidere Street
1.65 mi · 3%
Elm Street
1.14 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

East Belvidere Road

Continue on East Belvidere Road

10.5 mi · 00h 16m

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 15m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.2 mi
39.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
McHenry
00h 37m from Waukegan
Leave By
3:58 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Waukegan and Mostly Sunny near Marengo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 47 miles (75.7 km) and usually takes 01h 15m 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?

McHenry is a useful midpoint, sitting about 23.5 miles from Waukegan and 23.5 miles from Marengo.

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

The direct path is about 39.8 miles (64.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.2 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 3:58 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.26 one way or $12.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Waukegan and Mostly Sunny near Marengo.

Stop Ideas Near McHenry

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

48 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Sturtevant station

52 mi away
9900 East Exploration Court
BUS

Rockford, Illinois

59 mi away
7559 Walton St.
BUS

South Beloit, Illinois

62 mi away
15766 Manchester Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Marengo. Straight-line distance: 39.82 mi (64.09 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

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

#2 Marengo

City in McHenry County, Illinois, United States

Population7,377
Coordinates42.2486300, -88.6084300
Altitude254
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: Marengo (-88.60843, 42.24863)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 76 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.66 gal
6.29 L · about $6.26
Round trip
$12.52
3.32 gal · 12.58 L
Estimated CO2
14.8 kg one way
Round trip: 29.5 kg / 65 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.26 $12.52
Mid-grade $4.25 $7.06 $14.12
Premium $4.65 $7.73 $15.45
Diesel $5.30 $8.80 $17.61

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Waukegan and Marengo. The current time is 02:39:47.

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.