How far is Waukegan, IL from Salina, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Salina, IL is about 50.5 miles (81.3 km), with a travel time of about 01h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 39.8 miles (64.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 48m 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
50.53 mi
01h 24m
Flight
39.82 mi
64.08 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
39.82 mi
Kilometers
64.08 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
50.53 mi
Kilometers
81.32 km
Drive Time
01h 24m

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 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Salina
Sun, Apr 19, 3:06 AM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Sun, Apr 19, 4:30 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-04-19T01:41
Arrive Salina
Sun, Apr 19, 3:06 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:24 AM to 11:24 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:42 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
North Barrington
IL

Village in the United States

From Waukegan
25.2 mi
00h 42m
To Salina
25.3 mi
00h 42m

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
50°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 Salina.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    6.3 mi · 9 min · Belvidere Road

  5. 5

    Continue on East Belvidere Road

    1 mi · 2 min · East Belvidere Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto South Atkinson Road

    2824 ft · 58 sec · South Atkinson Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Ivanhoe Road

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Ivanhoe Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Schank Avenue

    797 ft · 24 sec · Schank Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn right

    5.4 mi · 9 min

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Barrington Road

    2852 ft · 1 min · Barrington Road

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    7.8 mi · 13 min

  12. 12

    Turn slight right

    87 m · 5 sec

  13. 13

    Continue on New Sutton Road

    1.6 mi · 2 min · New Sutton Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Dundee Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Dundee Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Dundee Road

    1407 ft · 27 sec · Dundee Road

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Dundee Road

    4.8 mi · 7 min · Dundee Road

  17. 17

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East Main Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · East Main Street

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Higgins Road

    3 mi · 5 min · Higgins Road

  19. 19

    Continue on East Higgins Road

    5.3 mi · 8 min · East Higgins Road

  20. 20

    Turn left

    2.9 mi · 4 min

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Bahr Road

    1.5 mi · 4 min · Bahr Road

  22. 22

    Turn left

    152 m · 37 sec

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
45.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Barrington Road
8.31 mi · 16%
Dundee Road
6.43 mi · 13%
Belvidere Road
6.29 mi · 12%
East Higgins Road
5.26 mi · 10%
Ivanhoe Road
3.74 mi · 7%
Higgins Road
2.97 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Barrington Road

Continue straight

7.77 mi · 00h 13m

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 24m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.7 mi
39.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
North Barrington
00h 42m from Waukegan
Leave By
3:42 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Waukegan and Mostly Sunny near Salina.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 50.5 miles (81.3 km) and usually takes 01h 24m 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?

North Barrington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 25.2 miles from Waukegan and 25.3 miles from Salina.

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

The direct path is about 39.8 miles (64.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.7 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 3:42 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.71 one way or $13.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near North Barrington

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

31 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Naperville

48 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

La Grange Road

49 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

54 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Salina. Straight-line distance: 39.82 mi (64.08 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

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

#2 Salina

Township of Illinois

Population1,306
Coordinates42.0469700, -88.4948100
Altitude292
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: Salina (-88.49481, 42.04697)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 81 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 00m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.78 gal
6.75 L · about $6.71
Round trip
$13.42
3.56 gal · 13.5 L
Estimated CO2
15.8 kg one way
Round trip: 31.6 kg / 70 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.71 $13.42
Mid-grade $4.25 $7.57 $15.14
Premium $4.65 $8.28 $16.57
Diesel $5.30 $9.44 $18.88

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 Salina. The current time is 01:41:55.

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.