How far is Waukegan, IL from North Riverside, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to North Riverside, IL is about 47.2 miles (76 km), with a travel time of about 01h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 36 miles (57.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 10m 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
47.24 mi
01h 05m
Flight
36 mi
57.94 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
36 mi
Kilometers
57.94 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
47.24 mi
Kilometers
76.02 km
Drive Time
01h 05m

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 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in North Riverside
Sun, Apr 19, 12:06 PM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Sun, Apr 19, 1:12 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-04-19T11:01
Arrive North Riverside
Sun, Apr 19, 12:06 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:05 AM to 11:05 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:20 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
Ridgeland
IL

Township in Iroquois County, Illinois

From Waukegan
23.6 mi
00h 32m
To North Riverside
23.6 mi
00h 32m

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
52°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan and North Riverside.

  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 left to continue on I 290 East: Chicago

    1992 ft · 49 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    4.2 mi · 6 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 171: 1st Avenue

    802 ft · 20 sec

  12. 12

    Turn slight left onto Bataan Drive

    116 m · 14 sec · Bataan Drive

  13. 13

    Turn right onto South 1st Avenue

    1.4 mi · 3 min · South 1st Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left onto 1st Avenue Cutoff

    1274 ft · 32 sec · 1st Avenue Cutoff

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto Cermak Road

    1563 ft · 32 sec · Cermak Road

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Des Plaines Avenue

    2621 ft · 1 min · Des Plaines Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto West 26th Street

    21 m · 2 sec · West 26th Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 26th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
38.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
34.4 mi · 73%
I 290 East
4.62 mi · 10%
Belvidere Road
2.15 mi · 5%
Belvidere Street
1.65 mi · 3%
South 1st Avenue
1.37 mi · 3%
North Jackson Street
0.5 mi · 1%
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 05m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11.2 mi
36 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ridgeland
00h 32m from Waukegan
Leave By
4:20 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Waukegan and Mostly Sunny near North Riverside.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Waukegan to North Riverside?

The road trip is about 47.2 miles (76 km) and usually takes 01h 05m 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?

Ridgeland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 23.6 miles from Waukegan and 23.6 miles from North Riverside.

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

The direct path is about 36 miles (57.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.2 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 4:20 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.30 one way or $12.60 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Ridgeland

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

8 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

La Grange Road

34 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

34 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

Summit

37 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and North Riverside. Straight-line distance: 36 mi (57.94 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
North Riverside

#2 North Riverside

Village in United States of America

Population6,346
Coordinates41.8428100, -87.8231100
Altitude188
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: North Riverside (-87.82311, 41.84281)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 76 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.67 gal
6.31 L · about $6.30
Round trip
$12.60
3.34 gal · 12.62 L
Estimated CO2
14.8 kg one way
Round trip: 29.7 kg / 65 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.30 $12.60
Mid-grade $4.25 $7.10 $14.21
Premium $4.65 $7.77 $15.54
Diesel $5.30 $8.86 $17.72

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 North Riverside. The current time is 11:01:45.

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.