How far is Waukegan, IL from Marion, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Marion, IL is about 300.4 miles (483.5 km), with a travel time of about 06h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 263.8 miles (424.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 38m 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
300.45 mi
06h 19m
Flight
263.78 mi
424.51 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
263.78 mi
Kilometers
424.51 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
300.45 mi
Kilometers
483.52 km
Drive Time
06h 19m

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 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Marion
Sun, Apr 19, 12:56 PM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Sun, Apr 19, 7:16 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-04-19T06:37
Arrive Marion
Sun, Apr 19, 12:56 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:19 PM to 1:49 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
11:22 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

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Paxton
IL

City in Ford County, Illinois

From Waukegan
150.3 mi
03h 09m
To Marion
150.1 mi
03h 09m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
49°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph WNW
Destination
60°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    12.3 mi · 17 min · County Road 1150

  32. 32

    Turn right onto 2050N

    2.9 mi · 11 min · 2050N

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 2050N

Car Route Details

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

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
33 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
169 mi · 56%
Edens Expressway
13.7 mi · 5%
North 1250th Street
13.3 mi · 4%
County Road 1150
12.3 mi · 4%
South Van Buren Street
11 mi · 4%
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
06h 19m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.6 mi
263.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Paxton
03h 09m from Waukegan
Leave By
11:22 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Waukegan and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Marion.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 300.4 miles (483.5 km) and usually takes 06h 19m 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?

Paxton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 150.3 miles from Waukegan and 150.1 miles from Marion.

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

The direct path is about 263.8 miles (424.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.6 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 $39.97 one way or $79.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 94.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Waukegan and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Marion.

Stop Ideas Near Paxton

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

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

RAIL

Rantoul

18 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Gilman

35 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

40 mi away
45 East University Ave.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

54 mi away
379 Lynch Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Marion. Straight-line distance: 263.78 mi (424.51 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

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

#2 Marion

City in and the county seat of Williamson County, Illinois, United States

Population17,417
Coordinates38.5511600, -88.1083700
Altitude127
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: Marion (-88.10837, 38.55116)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 484 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 30m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 00m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 44m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.6 gal
40.13 L · about $39.97
Round trip
$79.95
21.2 gal · 80.26 L
Estimated CO2
94.2 kg one way
Round trip: 188.4 kg / 415 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $39.97 $79.95
Mid-grade $4.25 $45.08 $90.16
Premium $4.65 $49.33 $98.66
Diesel $5.30 $56.22 $112.44

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

There is no time difference between Waukegan and Marion. The current time is 06:37:50.

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.