Traveling from Crestwood to Evanston is a 342.1-mile journey that spans approximately 6 hours and 34 minutes. Because this route is entirely within the Midwest, you will stay within Illinois for the duration of your trip. You should plan on setting aside a full day for this drive, as the travel time makes it a significant commitment for a single sitting. With a fuel budget of about $52, it is a straightforward trek that relies heavily on major expressways. While it is certainly feasible as a one-day trip, the length of the journey means you should be prepared for a solid block of time spent behind the wheel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
171 miles from Crestwood, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
195.2 mi
3h 34m
Ken Gray Expressway
117.9 mi
2h 7m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi
11m
North Western Avenue
5.5 mi
11m
Kennedy Expressway
3.7 mi
5m
Dan Ryan Expressway
3.3 mi
4m
Power Plant Road
2.7 mi
6m
Asbury Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 195.2 mi, about 3h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crestwood, IL and Evanston, IL.
1
Start on Pinewood Drive
385 ft·19 sec·Pinewood Drive
2
Turn right onto Ridgeway
283 ft·18 sec·Ridgeway
3
Turn left onto McKinney Chapel Road
255 ft·11 sec·McKinney Chapel Road
4
Continue on McKinney Chapel Road
0.5 mi·1 min·McKinney Chapel Road
5
Turn right onto Power Plant Road
2.7 mi·6 min·Power Plant Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto Lake Egypt Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Lake Egypt Road
7
Turn left onto IL 37
0.3 mi·31 sec·IL 37
8
At end of road, turn right onto IL 148
0.4 mi·41 sec·IL 148
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
10
Merge onto I 57
50 mi·54 min·Ken Gray Expressway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
195 mi·3 hr 34 min·I 57
Toward I 57 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi·4 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
7.9 mi·11 min·Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 90; I 94
3.7 mi·5 min·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 47BToward Damen AvenueUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto North Damen Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·North Damen Avenue
Use the right lane.
18
Turn slight left onto North Clybourn Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·North Clybourn Avenue
19
Turn right onto North Western Avenue
5.5 mi·11 min·North Western Avenue
20
Continue on Asbury Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·Asbury Avenue
21
Turn right onto Dempster Street
213 ft·9 sec·Dempster Street
22
Turn uturn
213 ft·17 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To keep your 6-hour and 34-minute drive manageable, factor in at least one planned stop to stretch your legs and reset. Since the route is heavily reliant on high-speed expressways, try to avoid peak rush hours to ensure your travel time stays close to the estimate. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that long 195.2-mile stretch on I-57, as you will want to time your refilling with your single designated break. Given the 342.1-mile distance, starting early in the morning is your best strategy to reach Evanston before evening traffic sets in. Use your flexibility to choose a rest stop location that allows you to refuel while away from the busiest interchanges.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 171 miles from Crestwood, IL, or about 3h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 195.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 75 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 171 miles or 3h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evanston, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Crestwood, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Crestwood, IL
This is one driving day of about 342.1 miles and 6h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Crestwood, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 195.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
$20 to $30
mile 122.2
Effingham, Illinois
Hours: 6–10 am
+12175407716
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 342.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Ridgeway
Turn right onto Ridgeway
Navigation decision point
7
123.3 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
8
321.8 mi into trip|~5h 59m in|I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Roa...
7
333.4 mi into trip|~6h 16m 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
342.1 mi into trip|~6h 33m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.48 one way
$106.97 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg120 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$58.72
$117.45
premium
$4.89
$65.83
$131.67
diesel
$5.61
$75.53
$151.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
102.6
1
$35.92
$16.42
Efficient EV
85.5
0
$29.93
$13.68
EV Truck/SUV
136.8
1
$47.89
$21.89
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Crestwood, IL
Late night
in Crestwood on Sunday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Evanston, IL
Late night
in Evanston on Sunday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
12 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 34m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 318.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 96% of your route consisting of major thoroughfares like I-57, the Ken Gray Expressway, and the Dan Ryan Expressway. You will spend the vast majority of your time cruising at highway speeds, including a long, uninterrupted stretch of 195.2 miles on I-57. Do not expect winding backroads here; the route is designed for efficiency and steady progress across the state. The experience is primarily an interstate grind, so settle in for a consistent rhythm as you transition between these primary arteries. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed over scenic detours.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 195.2 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. 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 Ridgeway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 342.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Ridgeway): Navigation decision point; at 123.3 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 321.8 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 34m. Total distance: 342.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 34m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 195.2 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Ridgeway): Navigation decision point; at 123.3 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 321.8 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Evanston, IL before the return drive.
