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Trip from Chicago, 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

27m

Distance

14.4 mi

23 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 25m ★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown chicago-il

Chicago, IL

Otoniel Alvarado

suburban city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Evanston, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick transition from the heart of Chicago to Evanston, this 14.4-mile trip is a straightforward journey that easily fits into a single day. You can expect to spend about 27 minutes on the road, making it a highly efficient connection within the Midwest. With a fuel budget of just $2, it is an incredibly economical route to navigate. Since the entire drive stays within Illinois, you will experience a seamless transition between the urban environment and the northern suburbs. This trip is perfect for those who need to reach their destination quickly without the need for an overnight stay. Ultimately, it is a practical, no-fuss commute that gets you from point A to point B with minimal planning required.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Western Avenue 5.5 mi 11m
Kennedy Expressway 3.7 mi 5m
Asbury Avenue 1.5 mi 2m
Dan Ryan Expressway 0.9 mi 1m
North Clybourn Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
North Damen Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
West Cermak Road 0.2 mi <1m
South Canalport Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: North Western Avenue — 5.5 mi, about 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Evanston, IL.

1

Start on this road

0.2 mi · 1 min · this road
2

At end of road, turn right onto West Cermak Road

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Cermak Road
3

Turn left onto South Halsted Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · South Halsted Street
Use the left lane.
4

Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue

0.2 mi · 22 sec · South Canalport Avenue
5

Turn left onto South Ruble Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · South Ruble Street
Use the left lane.
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward I 90 West, I 94 West
7

Merge onto I 90; I 94

0.9 mi · 1 min · Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 90; I 94

3.7 mi · 5 min · Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 47B Toward Damen Avenue Use the slight right lane.
10

Turn right onto North Damen Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Damen Avenue
Use the right lane.
11

Turn slight left onto North Clybourn Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue
12

Turn right onto North Western Avenue

5.5 mi · 11 min · North Western Avenue
13

Continue on Asbury Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · Asbury Avenue
14

Turn right onto Dempster Street

213 ft · 9 sec · Dempster Street
15

Turn uturn

213 ft · 17 sec
16

Arrive at destination

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 14.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~1m in | West Cermak Road

At end of road, turn right onto West Cermak Road

Navigation decision point

6
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | South Halsted Street

Turn left onto South Halsted Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
0.7 mi into trip | ~2m in | South Ruble Street

Turn left onto South Ruble Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
5.7 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward Damen Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 47B Toward Damen Avenue
7
14.3 mi into trip | ~27m in

Turn uturn

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.25 one way

$4.50 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 5 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $2.47 $4.94
premium $4.89 $2.77 $5.54
diesel $5.61 $3.18 $6.36

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$2

Estimated CO2 emission: 5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 4.3 0 $1.51 $0.69
Efficient EV 3.6 0 $1.26 $0.58
EV Truck/SUV 5.8 0 $2.02 $0.92

Gas CO2

5 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (60% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Chicago, IL

Morning in Chicago on Sunday

Local time

9:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

WSW 15 mph 98% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:54AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:33AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Destination

Evanston, IL

Morning in Evanston on Sunday

Local time

9:16 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

21 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

27m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This 14.4-mile path offers a mixed driving experience, balancing high-speed transit with local navigation. You will spend roughly 32% of your time on highways, specifically utilizing the Kennedy Expressway, before transitioning to local streets. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 5.5 miles spent on North Western Avenue, which provides a steady rhythm to the middle of your journey. As you move toward Evanston, the environment shifts from the dense urban grid of Chicago to the local feel of Asbury Avenue. Expect a blend of fast-paced expressway maneuvering and slower, more deliberate city driving as you complete the full 27-minute trip.

32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.5 mi on North Western Avenue.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West Cermak Road.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 14.4 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West Cermak Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (South Halsted Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (South Ruble Street): Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Chicago, IL

Full guide →

Chicago is the home of the blues and the truth of jazz, the heart of comedy and the idea of the skyscraper. Here, the age of railroads found its center, and airplanes followed suit. "Stormy, Husky, Brawling / City of Big Shoulders," Chicago is a Heartland boomtown, its ethos defined by urban planner Daniel Burnham's immortal vision: "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood." It is one of the world's great cities and the third largest city in the United States, behind only New York City and Los Angeles. As the hub of the Midwest, Chicago is easy to find — its picturesque skyline calls across the waters of Lake Michigan, a first impression that soon reveals world-class museums of art and science, miles of sandy beaches, huge parks and public art, and perhaps the finest downtown collection of modern architecture in the world.

Top landmarks

  • • Willis Tower — skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois
  • • Art Institute of Chicago — art museum and school in Chicago, United States
  • • Wrigley Field — baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, USA; home venue of the Chicago Cubs

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 27m. Total distance: 14.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 5.5 miles on North Western Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 0.2 miles (West Cermak Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (South Halsted Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (South Ruble Street): Lane positioning matters here.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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