How far is Waukegan, IL from Minooka, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Minooka, IL is about 80.6 miles (129.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 66.3 miles (106.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 29m 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
80.59 mi
01h 44m
Flight
66.32 mi
106.73 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
66.32 mi
Kilometers
106.73 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
80.59 mi
Kilometers
129.69 km
Drive Time
01h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Minooka
Sat, May 23, 10:38 PM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Sun, May 24, 12:23 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-05-23T20:53
Arrive Minooka
Sat, May 23, 10:38 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:45 AM to 11:45 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:00 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
Hillside
IL

Village in United States of America

From Waukegan
40.3 mi
00h 52m
To Minooka
40.3 mi
00h 52m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Saturday

Rain Showers Likely then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, May 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph N
Destination
74°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, May 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    25.9 mi · 32 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West: Iowa

    1.3 km · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    3.7 mi · 4 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Minooka

    1990 ft · 50 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Ridge Road

    3030 ft · 1 min · Ridge Road

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Mondamin Street

    2636 ft · 1 min · Mondamin Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Mondamin Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
18 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
42.6 mi · 53%
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
25.9 mi · 32%
I 80 West
4.89 mi · 6%
Belvidere Road
2.15 mi · 3%
Belvidere Street
1.65 mi · 2%
I 55
0.63 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

25.9 mi · 00h 32m

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 44m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.3 mi
66.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hillside
00h 52m from Waukegan
Leave By
3:00 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely then Mostly Cloudy leaving Waukegan and Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy near Minooka.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 80.6 miles (129.7 km) and usually takes 01h 44m 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?

Hillside is a useful midpoint, sitting about 40.3 miles from Waukegan and 40.3 miles from Minooka.

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

The direct path is about 66.3 miles (106.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.3 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 3:00 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.71 one way or $21.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 25.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely then Mostly Cloudy around Waukegan and Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy near Minooka.

Stop Ideas Near Hillside

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

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

RAIL

La Grange Road

7 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

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

Chicago Union Station

22 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

Glenview station

23 mi away
1116 Depot St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Minooka. Straight-line distance: 66.32 mi (106.73 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

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

#2 Minooka

City in Illinois, United States of America

Population11,456
Coordinates41.4553100, -88.2617300
Altitude186
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: Minooka (-88.26173, 41.45531)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 130 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.84 gal
10.76 L · about $10.71
Round trip
$21.42
5.68 gal · 21.52 L
Estimated CO2
25.2 kg one way
Round trip: 50.5 kg / 111 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $10.71 $21.42
Mid-grade $4.25 $12.08 $24.16
Premium $4.65 $13.22 $26.43
Diesel $5.30 $15.06 $30.13

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 24, 2026

There is no time difference between Waukegan and Minooka. The current time is 20:53:32.

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.