How far is Waukegan, IL from Northlake, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Northlake, IL is about 37.1 miles (59.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 30.9 miles (49.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 45m 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
37.11 mi
00h 52m
Flight
30.95 mi
49.81 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
30.95 mi
Kilometers
49.81 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
37.11 mi
Kilometers
59.72 km
Drive Time
00h 52m

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 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Northlake
Sun, Apr 19, 10:56 AM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Sun, Apr 19, 11:49 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-04-19T10:03
Arrive Northlake
Sun, Apr 19, 10:56 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:53 AM to 10:53 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:44 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
Riverwoods
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Waukegan
18.6 mi
00h 26m
To Northlake
18.6 mi
00h 26m

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
15 to 20 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    13.7 mi · 17 min · Tri-State Tollway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 19: Irving Park Road, O'Hare Oasis

    1162 ft · 28 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    2715 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on IL 19 West: Irving Park Road

    1011 ft · 25 sec

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto Irving Park Road

    545 ft · 11 sec · Irving Park Road

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Mannheim Road

    2.8 mi · 6 min · Mannheim Road

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Dickens Avenue

    3137 ft · 2 min · Dickens Avenue

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Dickens Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
14 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
37.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
27.6 mi · 74%
Mannheim Road
2.83 mi · 8%
Belvidere Road
2.15 mi · 6%
Belvidere Street
1.65 mi · 4%
IL 19
0.73 mi · 2%
Dickens Avenue
0.59 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Tri-State Tollway

Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

13.9 mi · 00h 16m

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 52m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.2 mi
30.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Riverwoods
00h 26m from Waukegan
Leave By
4:44 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Waukegan and Mostly Sunny near Northlake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 37.1 miles (59.7 km) and usually takes 00h 52m 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?

Riverwoods is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.6 miles from Waukegan and 18.6 miles from Northlake.

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

The direct path is about 30.9 miles (49.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.2 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 4:44 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.94 one way or $9.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Riverwoods

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

13 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

39 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

La Grange Road

39 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

42 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Northlake. Straight-line distance: 30.95 mi (49.81 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

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

#2 Northlake

City in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Population12,025
Coordinates41.9172500, -87.8956200
Altitude197
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: Northlake (-87.89562, 41.91725)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 60 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.31 gal
4.96 L · about $4.94
Round trip
$9.88
2.62 gal · 9.92 L
Estimated CO2
11.6 kg one way
Round trip: 23.3 kg / 51 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.94 $9.88
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.57 $11.14
Premium $4.65 $6.10 $12.19
Diesel $5.30 $6.95 $13.90

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Waukegan and Northlake. The current time is 10:03:59.

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.