How far is Waukegan, IL from Sugar Grove, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Sugar Grove, IL is about 71.8 miles (115.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 51.7 miles (83.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 07m 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
71.79 mi
01h 33m
Flight
51.72 mi
83.24 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
51.72 mi
Kilometers
83.24 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
71.79 mi
Kilometers
115.54 km
Drive Time
01h 33m

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 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sugar Grove
Tue, May 26, 9:04 AM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Tue, May 26, 10:38 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-05-26T07:30
Arrive Sugar Grove
Tue, May 26, 9:04 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:34 AM to 11:34 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:22 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
Northlake
IL

City in Cook County, Illinois, United States

From Waukegan
35.9 mi
00h 46m
To Sugar Grove
35.9 mi
00h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SE
Destination
85°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan and Sugar Grove.

  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

    20.1 mi · 25 min · Tri-State Tollway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana

    1.5 km · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1251 ft · 31 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1937 ft · 47 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 88 West Toll: Aurora

    2633 ft · 50 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    1.2 km · 60 sec · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    25.1 mi · 30 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on IL 56 West: Sugar Grove

    4.2 mi · 6 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 30 East, IL 47: Sugar Grove, Elburn

    956 ft · 33 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on IL 47 South, US 30 East: Sugar Grove

    667 ft · 14 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Illinois Route 47

    983 ft · 19 sec · Illinois Route 47

  18. 18

    Continue on United States Route 30

    106 m · 9 sec · United States Route 30

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Cross Street

    82 m · 17 sec · Cross Street

  20. 20

    Turn left

    21 m · 7 sec

  21. 21

    Turn right

    23 m · 6 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
30.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
35 mi · 49%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
25.8 mi · 36%
IL 56 West
4.24 mi · 6%
Belvidere Road
2.15 mi · 3%
Belvidere Street
1.65 mi · 2%
North Jackson Street
0.5 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

25.1 mi · 00h 30m

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 33m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.1 mi
51.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Northlake
00h 46m from Waukegan
Leave By
3:22 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Waukegan and Mostly Sunny near Sugar Grove.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Waukegan to Sugar Grove?

The road trip is about 71.8 miles (115.5 km) and usually takes 01h 33m 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?

Northlake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 35.9 miles from Waukegan and 35.9 miles from Sugar Grove.

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

The direct path is about 51.7 miles (83.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.1 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 3:22 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.54 one way or $19.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 22.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Northlake

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

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

RAIL

La Grange Road

11 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

15 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.
RAIL

Glenview station

19 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

22 mi away
225 South Canal Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Sugar Grove. Straight-line distance: 51.72 mi (83.24 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Sugar Grove

#2 Sugar Grove

City in Kane County, Illinois, United States of America

Population9,884
Coordinates41.7614200, -88.4436900
Altitude219
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: Sugar Grove (-88.44369, 41.76142)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 116 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 01m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 53m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.53 gal
9.59 L · about $9.54
Round trip
$19.08
5.06 gal · 19.18 L
Estimated CO2
22.5 kg one way
Round trip: 45 kg / 99 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $9.54 $19.08
Mid-grade $4.25 $10.76 $21.52
Premium $4.65 $11.77 $23.55
Diesel $5.30 $13.42 $26.84

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 · May 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Waukegan and Sugar Grove. The current time is 07:30:16.

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.