How far is Waukegan, IL from Near North Side, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Near North Side, IL is about 39.1 miles (62.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 33.8 miles (54.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 47m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST.
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
39.05 mi
00h 53m
Flight
33.8 mi
54.39 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
33.8 mi
Kilometers
54.39 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
39.05 mi
Kilometers
62.85 km
Drive Time
00h 53m

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 00h 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Near North Side
Fri, Nov 6, 1:02 PM CST
Return by in Waukegan
Fri, Nov 6, 1:56 PM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-11-06T12:08
Arrive Near North Side
Fri, Nov 6, 1:02 PM CST
Route Timing
00h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:54 AM to 10:54 AM CST

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

Leave by
4:42 PM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waukegan
9:30 PM CST
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
Northfield
IL

Village in Cook County, Illinois

From Waukegan
19.5 mi
00h 27m
To Near North Side
19.5 mi
00h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
47°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 6:00 AM CST
Wind
15 to 20 mph NNW
Destination
39°F
Overnight

Chance Drizzle

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 12:00 AM CST
Wind
15 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Waukegan and Near North Side.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan and Near North Side.

  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

    5.2 mi · 7 min · Kennedy Expressway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 64: North Avenue

    929 ft · 28 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto West North Avenue

    1.3 km · 1 min · West North Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn slight right onto North Clybourn Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left onto West Division Street

    1385 ft · 36 sec · West Division Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto North Wells Street

    1394 ft · 40 sec · North Wells Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Wells Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Waukegan and Near North Side.

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
16 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
40.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Edens Expressway
13.7 mi · 35%
North Skokie Highway
5.61 mi · 14%
Kennedy Expressway
5.17 mi · 13%
Skokie Highway
3.76 mi · 10%
Skokie Valley Road
3.38 mi · 9%
South Lewis Avenue
2.91 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Edens Expressway

Continue on Edens Expressway

13.7 mi · 00h 17m

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
00h 53m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.3 mi
33.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Northfield
00h 27m from Waukegan
Leave By
4:42 PM CST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Waukegan and Chance Drizzle near Near North Side.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Waukegan to Near North Side?

The road trip is about 39.1 miles (62.9 km) and usually takes 00h 53m 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?

Northfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 19.5 miles from Waukegan and 19.5 miles from Near North Side.

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

The direct path is about 33.8 miles (54.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.3 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 CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:42 PM CST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.36 one way or $12.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Waukegan and Chance Drizzle near Near North Side.

Stop Ideas Near Northfield

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

3 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

27 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

La Grange Road

32 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

34 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Near North Side. Straight-line distance: 33.8 mi (54.39 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Near North Side

Near North Side is a place in Illinois, United States.

Population0
Coordinates41.9000300, -87.6345000
Altitude179
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: Near North Side (-87.6345, 41.90003)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 63 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.38 gal
5.22 L · about $6.36
Round trip
$12.72
2.76 gal · 10.44 L
Estimated CO2
12.3 kg one way
Round trip: 24.5 kg / 54 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.61 $6.36 $12.72
Mid-grade $5.24 $7.23 $14.46
Premium $5.79 $8.00 $15.99
Diesel $6.59 $9.10 $18.19

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 · Nov 06, 2026

There is no time difference between Waukegan and Near North Side. The current time is 12:08:12.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.