How far is Waukegan, IL from Oak Brook, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Oak Brook, IL is about 43.9 miles (70.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 36.9 miles (59.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 57m 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
43.94 mi
00h 58m
Flight
36.93 mi
59.43 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
36.93 mi
Kilometers
59.43 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
43.94 mi
Kilometers
70.71 km
Drive Time
00h 58m

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 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Oak Brook
Sat, Apr 18, 2:56 AM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Sat, Apr 18, 3:55 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-04-18T01:58
Arrive Oak Brook
Sat, Apr 18, 2:56 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:59 AM to 10:59 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:32 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
22 mi
00h 29m
To Oak Brook
21.9 mi
00h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph SW
Destination
65°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan and Oak Brook.

  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

    2452 ft · 30 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right

    143 m · 12 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight right onto Tri-State Tollway

    620 ft · 35 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Cermak Road

    901 ft · 22 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    69 m · 8 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto 22nd Street

    2270 ft · 48 sec · 22nd Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto York Road

    1 mi · 2 min · York Road

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Oak Brook Road

    22 m · 1 sec · Oak Brook Road

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Oak Brook Road

Car Route Details

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

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
16 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
36.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
37.2 mi · 85%
Belvidere Road
2.15 mi · 5%
Belvidere Street
1.65 mi · 4%
York Road
1.02 mi · 2%
North Jackson Street
0.5 mi · 1%
Glen Rock Avenue
0.47 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

22.7 mi · 00h 29m

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 58m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7 mi
36.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ridgeland
00h 29m from Waukegan
Leave By
4:32 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Waukegan and Showers And Thunderstorms near Oak Brook.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Waukegan to Oak Brook?

The road trip is about 43.9 miles (70.7 km) and usually takes 00h 58m 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 22 miles from Waukegan and 21.9 miles from Oak Brook.

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

The direct path is about 36.9 miles (59.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 7 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 4:32 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.85 one way or $11.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 13.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Waukegan and Showers And Thunderstorms near Oak Brook.

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 Oak Brook. Straight-line distance: 36.93 mi (59.43 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Oak Brook

#2 Oak Brook

Village in DuPage County in Illinois

Population8,046
Coordinates41.8328100, -87.9289500
Altitude202
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: Oak Brook (-87.92895, 41.83281)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 71 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.55 gal
5.87 L · about $5.85
Round trip
$11.69
3.1 gal · 11.74 L
Estimated CO2
13.8 kg one way
Round trip: 27.5 kg / 61 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $5.85 $11.69
Mid-grade $4.25 $6.59 $13.18
Premium $4.65 $7.21 $14.43
Diesel $5.30 $8.22 $16.44

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Waukegan and Oak Brook. The current time is 01:58:01.

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.