Origin
Burr Ridge, IL
Late night in Burr Ridge on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burr Ridge, IL to Evanston, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
31.4 mi
51 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burr Ridge, IL
Choco Kitty
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 31.6 miles between Burr Ridge and Evanston, this journey is a straightforward trek across the Midwest that typically takes about 46 minutes. Because of the modest distance, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Your travel budget will remain minimal, as fuel costs for the route hover around $5. Navigating this path involves transitioning from the suburban landscapes of Burr Ridge toward the northern reaches of the Chicago area. It is a highly practical drive for those looking to traverse the region efficiently. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of exploration, the simplicity of this short drive makes it a stress-free option.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 16.6 mi | 20m |
| Oakton Street | 4 mi | 7m |
| East Touhy Avenue | 3 mi | 5m |
| West Howard Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Asbury Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Harlem Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Gross Point Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South County Line Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 16.6 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burr Ridge, IL and Evanston, IL.
1
Start on 77th Street
0.1 mi
·
40 sec
·
77th Street
2
Turn left onto South County Line Road
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
South County Line Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 55 North
4
Merge onto I 55
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Take the exit
1.6 mi
·
3 min
Exit 277A
Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
7
Merge onto I 294
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 42A
Toward Touhy Avenue East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
East Touhy Avenue
13
Turn left onto IL 43
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Harlem Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto West Howard Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
West Howard Street
15
Turn left onto New Gross Point Road
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
New Gross Point Road
16
Continue on Gross Point Road
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Gross Point Road
17
Turn right onto Oakton Street
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Oakton Street
18
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Asbury Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Dempster Street
213 ft
·
9 sec
·
Dempster Street
20
Turn uturn
213 ft
·
17 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.7 miles from Burr Ridge, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 31.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South County Line Road
Turn left onto South County Line Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the exit toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 277A
Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
7
19.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward Touhy Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
8
20.2 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Touhy Avenue East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 42A
Toward Touhy Avenue East
7
31.3 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.91 one way
$9.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.39 | $10.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.04 | $12.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.93 | $13.87 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.99
Tri-state Tollway
(16.6 mi)
$0.99
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Evanston, IL
Late night in Evanston on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
15 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
50m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul, as this route relies on a mix of local roads and expressways. You will navigate via South County Line Road, I-55 North, and the Adlai Stevenson Expressway to reach your destination. Interestingly, the highway share is 0%, meaning you will spend your time navigating surface streets and arterial roads rather than cruising on long, uninterrupted stretches. In fact, the longest stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on South County Line Road, indicating a frequent need for attention to turns and intersections. Staying alert is key, as the character of the road demands active engagement behind the wheel throughout the entire 31.6-mile duration.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.6 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South County Line Road.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 31.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South County Line Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Burr Ridge, IL to Evanston, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Touhy Avenue East along the way.
Touhy Avenue East
20.2 mi in
|
~28m
About the Cities
Starting in Burr Ridge, IL
Full guide →Founded 1956
Arriving in Evanston, IL
Full guide →Founded 1836
Evanston is a city in the North Shore region of Illinois along the shores of Lake Michigan. Evanston has many identities: college town, dining destination, cultural center and gateway to the wealthy North Shore, although the city itself is anything but homogeneous in regards to economic status, culture and race. Evanston is named after John Evans, one of the founders of Northwestern University, which ranks among the most prestigious universities in the United States.
Top landmarks
- • Grosse Point Light — lighthouse in Illinois, United States
- • Shakespeare Garden — garden on the campus of Northwestern University
- • Frederick B. Carter, Jr. House — historic house in Illinois, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 31.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.6 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.99 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Evanston, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South County Line Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Evanston, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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