How far is Waukegan, IL from Preston, IL?
The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Preston, IL is about 361.1 miles (581.1 km), with a travel time of about 07h 14m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 312.7 miles (503.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 29m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 07h 14m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Village in McLean County, Illinois, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Waukegan and Preston.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan and Preston.
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1
Start on North Jackson Street
2647 ft · 1 min · North Jackson Street
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2
Turn right onto Glen Rock Avenue
2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue
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3
Turn right onto Belvidere Street
1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street
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4
Continue on Belvidere Road
2.2 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road
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5
Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
1511 ft · 37 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
13.9 mi · 16 min · Tri-State Tollway
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7
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
22.7 mi · 29 min · Tri-State Tollway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
1 km · 1 min
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11
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
2295 ft · 56 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
119.4 mi · 2 hr 13 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min
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14
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
77.9 mi · 1 hr 24 min
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15
Take the exit slight right toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
1434 ft · 48 sec
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16
Continue on Vandalia Street
3 mi · 5 min · Vandalia Street
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17
Continue on South Morrison Avenue
1.3 mi · 2 min · South Morrison Avenue
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18
Continue on North Illinois Street
9.8 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street
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19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Illinois Street
55 m · 5 sec · South Illinois Street
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20
Exit the rotary onto South Illinois Street
8.3 mi · 13 min · South Illinois Street
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21
Continue on State Route 159
6.1 mi · 9 min · State Route 159
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22
Continue on North Main Street
1163 ft · 20 sec · North Main Street
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23
Continue on N Main St
810 ft · 14 sec · N Main St
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24
Continue on Main Street
6.4 mi · 10 min · Main Street
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25
Turn left onto East Market Street
8.7 mi · 13 min · East Market Street
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26
Turn right onto South 5th Street
2135 ft · 59 sec · South 5th Street
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27
Continue on Baldwin Road
5.2 mi · 12 min · Baldwin Road
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28
Turn right onto Preston Road
774 ft · 34 sec · Preston Road
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29
Keep slight right to continue on Preston Road
2070 ft · 2 min · Preston Road
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30
Turn left onto Pautler Road
47 m · 7 sec · Pautler Road
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31
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Pautler Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Waukegan and Preston.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
119 mi · 02h 13m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Sunny leaving Waukegan and Sunny near Preston.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Waukegan to Preston?
The road trip is about 361.1 miles (581.1 km) and usually takes 07h 14m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
McLean is a useful midpoint, sitting about 180.6 miles from Waukegan and 180.5 miles from Preston.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 312.7 miles (503.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.4 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $48.04 one way or $96.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 113.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Waukegan and Sunny near Preston.
Stop Ideas Near McLean
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington Finance Department
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to McLean.
Lincoln
Uptown Station
Peoria, Illinois
Springfield station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Preston. Straight-line distance: 312.75 mi (503.33 km).
#1 Waukegan
The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.
| Population | 85,453 |
| Coordinates | 42.3636300, -87.8447900 |
| Altitude | 199 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Preston
Unincorporated community in Illinois, United States
| Population | 1,203 |
| Coordinates | 38.1061600, -89.8601000 |
| Altitude | 143 |
| Country | United States |
End: Preston (-89.8601, 38.10616)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 581 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 01m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 01m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 13m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 01m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 09m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 30m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $48.04 | $96.09 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $54.18 | $108.37 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $59.29 | $118.58 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $67.57 | $135.15 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.