How far is Waukegan, IL from Maroa, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Maroa, IL is about 199.7 miles (321.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 170.9 miles (275 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 54m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
199.72 mi
03h 57m
Flight
170.87 mi
274.99 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
170.87 mi
Kilometers
274.99 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
199.72 mi
Kilometers
321.42 km
Drive Time
03h 57m

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 03h 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Maroa
Thu, Apr 23, 5:09 PM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Thu, Apr 23, 9:06 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-04-23T13:12
Arrive Maroa
Thu, Apr 23, 5:09 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:57 AM to 11:57 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:06 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waukegan
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Gardner
IL

Village in Illinois, United States

From Waukegan
99.9 mi
01h 58m
To Maroa
99.9 mi
01h 58m

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
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 24 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    22.7 mi · 29 min · Tri-State Tollway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis

    1 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    2295 ft · 56 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

    119.4 mi · 2 hr 13 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Decatur, Bloomington

    1616 ft · 40 sec

  15. 15

    Continue on North 1450 East Road

    14.7 mi · 18 min · North 1450 East Road

  16. 16

    Continue on North Walnut Street

    14.1 mi · 18 min · North Walnut Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto West Washington Street Road

    572 ft · 16 sec · West Washington Street Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Washington Street

    1562 ft · 45 sec · Washington Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto North Maple Street

    106 m · 21 sec · North Maple Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    58 m · 8 sec · West Main Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Main Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
21 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
119 mi · 60%
Tri-State Tollway
42.6 mi · 21%
North 1450 East Road
14.7 mi · 7%
North Walnut Street
14.1 mi · 7%
Belvidere Road
2.15 mi · 1%
I 74 East
2.08 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

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.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 57m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.8 mi
170.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gardner
01h 58m from Waukegan
Leave By
9:06 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Waukegan and Mostly Sunny near Maroa.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 199.7 miles (321.4 km) and usually takes 03h 57m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Gardner is a useful midpoint, sitting about 99.9 miles from Waukegan and 99.9 miles from Maroa.

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

The direct path is about 170.9 miles (275 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.8 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:06 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.59 one way or $53.17 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 62.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Gardner

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

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

RAIL

Dwight station

14 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Kankakee

38 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

42 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street
RAIL

Pontiac station

44 mi away
721 West Washington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Maroa. Straight-line distance: 170.87 mi (274.99 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

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

#2 Maroa

City in Illinois, USA

Population1,700
Coordinates40.0364300, -88.9570300
Altitude221
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: Maroa (-88.95703, 40.03643)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 321 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.05 gal
26.68 L · about $26.59
Round trip
$53.17
14.1 gal · 53.36 L
Estimated CO2
62.7 kg one way
Round trip: 125.3 kg / 276 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $26.59 $53.17
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.98 $59.97
Premium $4.65 $32.81 $65.62
Diesel $5.30 $37.39 $74.79

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 Maroa. The current time is 13:12:23.

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.