How far is Waukegan, IL from Upper Alton, IL?
The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Upper Alton, IL is about 313.5 miles (504.5 km), with a travel time of about 06h 03m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 267.4 miles (430.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 06m 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 06h 03m.
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.
Township in McLean County, Illinois
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Waukegan and Upper Alton.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukegan and Upper Alton.
-
1
Start on North Jackson Street
2647 ft · 1 min · North Jackson Street
-
2
Turn right onto Glen Rock Avenue
2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue
-
3
Turn right onto Belvidere Street
1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street
-
4
Continue on Belvidere Road
2.2 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road
-
5
Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
1511 ft · 37 sec
-
6
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
13.9 mi · 16 min · Tri-State Tollway
-
7
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
22.7 mi · 29 min · Tri-State Tollway
-
8
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway
-
9
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway
-
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
1 km · 1 min
-
11
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
2295 ft · 56 sec
-
12
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
119.4 mi · 2 hr 13 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
-
13
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min
-
14
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
62.6 mi · 1 hr 7 min
-
15
Take the exit slight right toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
1756 ft · 43 sec
-
16
Turn right onto East State Street
1 km · 1 min · East State Street
-
17
Continue on State Route 140
9.6 mi · 13 min · State Route 140
-
18
Continue on East Bethalto Drive
1.8 mi · 4 min · East Bethalto Drive
-
19
Continue on East MacArthur Drive
1.4 mi · 3 min · East MacArthur Drive
-
20
Continue on West Macarthur Drive
1.3 mi · 2 min · West Macarthur Drive
-
21
Continue on College Avenue
2.4 mi · 4 min · College Avenue
-
22
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
2989 ft · 60 sec · Washington Avenue
-
23
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Washington Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Waukegan and Upper Alton.
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.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Waukegan and Sunny near Upper Alton.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Waukegan to Upper Alton?
The road trip is about 313.5 miles (504.5 km) and usually takes 06h 03m 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?
Towanda is a useful midpoint, sitting about 156.8 miles from Waukegan and 156.7 miles from Upper Alton.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 267.4 miles (430.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.1 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 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 $41.71 one way or $83.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 98.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Waukegan and Sunny near Upper Alton.
Stop Ideas Near Towanda
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City Hall - Town of Normal
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington Finance Department
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Towanda.
Uptown Station
Pontiac station
Lincoln
Peoria, Illinois
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Upper Alton. Straight-line distance: 267.39 mi (430.32 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 Upper Alton
City in Madison County, Illinois, United States of America
| Population | 29,251 |
| Coordinates | 38.9114400, -90.1506600 |
| Altitude | 166 |
| Country | United States |
End: Upper Alton (-90.15066, 38.91144)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 504 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 26m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 50m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 16m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 13m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 28m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 54m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $41.71 | $83.41 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $47.04 | $94.08 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $51.47 | $102.95 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $58.66 | $117.32 |
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 12, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.