How far is Waukegan, IL from Woodridge, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Woodridge, IL is about 55.1 miles (88.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 43.9 miles (70.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 27m 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
55.1 mi
01h 13m
Flight
43.89 mi
70.64 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
43.89 mi
Kilometers
70.64 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
55.1 mi
Kilometers
88.67 km
Drive Time
01h 13m

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 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Woodridge
Sat, Apr 18, 6:37 AM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Sat, Apr 18, 7:50 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-04-18T05:23
Arrive Woodridge
Sat, Apr 18, 6:37 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:14 AM to 11:14 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:02 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
Des Plaines
IL

The most populous city in Cook County, Illinois.

From Waukegan
27.5 mi
00h 36m
To Woodridge
27.5 mi
00h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph SW
Destination
65°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    5.8 mi · 7 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 355 South: Joliet

    1.2 km · 56 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Tollway

    5.3 mi · 7 min · Veterans Memorial Tollway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward 75th Street

    2158 ft · 53 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right onto 75th Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · 75th Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Woodridge Drive

    1376 ft · 49 sec · Woodridge Drive

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Woodridge Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
34.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
35 mi · 64%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
6.51 mi · 12%
Veterans Memorial Tollway
5.25 mi · 10%
Belvidere Road
2.15 mi · 4%
Belvidere Street
1.65 mi · 3%
75th Street
1.25 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

20.1 mi · 00h 25m

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 13m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11.2 mi
43.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Des Plaines
00h 36m from Waukegan
Leave By
4:02 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Waukegan and Showers And Thunderstorms near Woodridge.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 55.1 miles (88.7 km) and usually takes 01h 13m 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?

Des Plaines is a useful midpoint, sitting about 27.5 miles from Waukegan and 27.5 miles from Woodridge.

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

The direct path is about 43.9 miles (70.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.2 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 4:02 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.32 one way or $14.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Waukegan and Showers And Thunderstorms near Woodridge.

Stop Ideas Near Des Plaines

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

8 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

La Grange Road

24 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

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

Chicago Union Station

27 mi away
225 South Canal Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Woodridge. Straight-line distance: 43.89 mi (70.64 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

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

#2 Woodridge

Suburb of Chicago in Illinois, USA

Population33,329
Coordinates41.7469700, -88.0503400
Altitude223
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: Woodridge (-88.05034, 41.74697)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 89 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 50m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.94 gal
7.36 L · about $7.32
Round trip
$14.63
3.88 gal · 14.72 L
Estimated CO2
17.2 kg one way
Round trip: 34.5 kg / 76 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $7.32 $14.63
Mid-grade $4.25 $8.25 $16.50
Premium $4.65 $9.03 $18.06
Diesel $5.30 $10.29 $20.58

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Waukegan and Woodridge. The current time is 05:23:32.

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.