How far is Waukegan, IL from Naperville, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Naperville, IL is about 55.9 miles (90 km), with a travel time of about 01h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 42.8 miles (68.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 02m 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
55.94 mi
01h 01m
Flight
42.83 mi
68.93 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
42.83 mi
Kilometers
68.93 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
55.94 mi
Kilometers
90.03 km
Drive Time
01h 01m

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 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Naperville
Thu, Apr 30, 5:37 AM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Thu, Apr 30, 6:38 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-04-30T04:35
Arrive Naperville
Thu, Apr 30, 5:37 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:01 AM to 11:01 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:28 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
Des Plaines
IL

The most populous city in Cook County, Illinois.

From Waukegan
28 mi
00h 30m
To Naperville
28 mi
00h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
52°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NNW
Destination
58°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Isolated Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    20.1 mi · 25 min · Tri-State Tollway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana

    1.5 km · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1251 ft · 31 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1937 ft · 47 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 88 West Toll: Aurora

    2633 ft · 50 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    1.2 km · 60 sec · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    11.2 mi · 14 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right

    1892 ft · 48 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Freedom Drive

    2151 ft · 57 sec · Freedom Drive

  16. 16

    Turn right onto East Diehl Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · East Diehl Road

  17. 17

    Turn left onto North Washington Street

    1.3 mi · 3 min · North Washington Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Washington Street

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
32.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
35 mi · 63%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
12.3 mi · 22%
Belvidere Road
2.15 mi · 4%
Belvidere Street
1.65 mi · 3%
North Washington Street
1.25 mi · 2%
East Diehl Road
0.88 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

20.1 mi · 00h 25m

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 01m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13.1 mi
42.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Des Plaines
00h 30m from Waukegan
Leave By
4:28 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Waukegan and Mostly Sunny then Isolated Rain Showers near Naperville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 55.9 miles (90 km) and usually takes 01h 01m 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?

Des Plaines is a useful midpoint, sitting about 28 miles from Waukegan and 28 miles from Naperville.

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

The direct path is about 42.8 miles (68.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.1 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 4:28 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.43 one way or $14.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Waukegan and Mostly Sunny then Isolated Rain Showers near Naperville.

Stop Ideas Near Des Plaines

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

8 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

La Grange Road

24 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

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

Chicago Union Station

27 mi away
225 South Canal Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Naperville. Straight-line distance: 42.83 mi (68.93 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

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

#2 Naperville

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population147,986
Coordinates41.7858600, -88.1472900
Altitude216
CountryUnited States
Start: North Jackson Street (-87.844706, 42.363629)
End: North Washington Street (-88.147302, 41.785837)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 90 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.97 gal
7.47 L · about $7.43
Round trip
$14.86
3.94 gal · 14.94 L
Estimated CO2
17.5 kg one way
Round trip: 35 kg / 77 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $7.43 $14.86
Mid-grade $4.25 $8.38 $16.76
Premium $4.65 $9.17 $18.34
Diesel $5.30 $10.45 $20.90

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Waukegan and Naperville. The current time is 04:35:54.

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.