How far is Waukegan, IL from Paris, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Paris, IL is about 216.2 miles (348 km), with a travel time of about 04h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 190.3 miles (306.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 52m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
216.26 mi
04h 56m
Flight
190.34 mi
306.32 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waukegan.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
190.34 mi
Kilometers
306.32 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
216.26 mi
Kilometers
348.03 km
Drive Time
04h 56m

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 04h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Paris
Wed, Apr 15, 10:10 PM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Thu, Apr 16, 3:07 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-04-15T17:14
Arrive Paris
Wed, Apr 15, 10:10 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:56 AM to 12:56 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:08 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waukegan
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Hopkins Park
IL

Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

From Waukegan
108.2 mi
02h 28m
To Paris
108.1 mi
02h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Overnight

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SW
Destination
68°F
Overnight

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 3:00 AM CDT
Wind
16 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    8.1 mi · 12 min · Kennedy Expressway

  11. 11

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

    8.8 mi · 12 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Bishop Ford Freeway

    10.8 mi · 15 min · Bishop Ford Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East, I 94 East: Indiana

    1.1 mi · 1 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on US 6 West, IL 83: Torrence Avenue

    2791 ft · 43 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on US 6 West, IL 83 West: Torrence Avenue

    997 ft · 24 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on IL 83 South

    153 m · 12 sec

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Torrence Avenue

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Torrence Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Glenwood Dyer Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Glenwood Dyer Road

  20. 20

    Continue on Lincoln Highway

    1.6 km · 2 min · Lincoln Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on Joliet Street

    2.7 mi · 5 min · Joliet Street

  22. 22

    Continue on West Lincoln Highway

    656 ft · 20 sec · West Lincoln Highway

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Wicker Avenue

    58.8 mi · 1 hr 18 min · Wicker Avenue

  24. 24

    Keep slight left

    21.6 mi · 27 min

  25. 25

    Continue straight

    18.1 mi · 23 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit right toward I 74 West

    1563 ft · 38 sec

  27. 27

    Merge slight left

    9.3 mi · 10 min

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right toward US 150, IL 1

    877 ft · 19 sec

  29. 29

    Keep slight left to continue on US 150 East, IL 1 South

    856 ft · 18 sec

  30. 30

    Keep slight right to continue on US 150 East, IL 1 South: Georgetown Road

    1186 ft · 41 sec

  31. 31

    Continue on Georgetown Road

    13.7 mi · 21 min · Georgetown Road

  32. 32

    Continue on North State Street

    1.9 mi · 3 min · North State Street

  33. 33

    Continue on Georgetown Road

    6.1 mi · 9 min · Georgetown Road

  34. 34

    Continue on 1575 E US 36

    1700 ft · 29 sec · 1575 E US 36

  35. 35

    Continue on Georgetown Road

    10 mi · 15 min · Georgetown Road

  36. 36

    Continue on IL Route 1

    1.4 mi · 4 min · IL Route 1

  37. 37

    Turn right onto West Elliot Street

    156 m · 9 sec · West Elliot Street

  38. 38

    Turn left onto North Central Avenue

    1.6 km · 2 min · North Central Avenue

  39. 39

    Turn left onto West Court Street

    11 m · 2 sec · West Court Street

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Court Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
40 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Wicker Avenue
98.4 mi · 46%
Georgetown Road
29.8 mi · 14%
Edens Expressway
13.7 mi · 6%
Bishop Ford Freeway
10.8 mi · 5%
I 74 West
9.64 mi · 4%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.83 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Wicker Avenue

Turn right onto Wicker Avenue

58.8 mi · 01h 18m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 56m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.9 mi
190.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hopkins Park
02h 28m from Waukegan
Leave By
7:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Waukegan and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Paris.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 216.2 miles (348 km) and usually takes 04h 56m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Hopkins Park is a useful midpoint, sitting about 108.2 miles from Waukegan and 108.1 miles from Paris.

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

The direct path is about 190.3 miles (306.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.9 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.77 one way or $57.55 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 67.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Waukegan and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Paris.

Stop Ideas Near Hopkins Park

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

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

RAIL

Kankakee

21 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Rensselaer

42 mi away
619 North Cullen Street
RAIL

Gilman

46 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.
RAIL

Dyer station

49 mi away
913 Sheffield Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Paris. Straight-line distance: 190.34 mi (306.32 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

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

#2 Paris

City in Illinois

Population8,144
Coordinates39.6111500, -87.6961400
Altitude220
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: Paris (-87.69614, 39.61115)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 348 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.63 gal
28.89 L · about $28.77
Round trip
$57.55
15.26 gal · 57.78 L
Estimated CO2
67.8 kg one way
Round trip: 135.6 kg / 299 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $28.77 $57.55
Mid-grade $4.25 $32.45 $64.90
Premium $4.65 $35.51 $71.02
Diesel $5.30 $40.47 $80.94

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Waukegan and Paris. The current time is 17:14:21.

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.