Rock Falls Candlelight
Early in the drive, right off the route
Rock Falls, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18156261897
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 23m
Distance
169.1 mi
272 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Moline, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
This 169.1-mile drive from East Moline, IL, to Evanston, IL, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 23 minutes. You'll primarily be on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) and the Tri-State Tollway, with about 29% of the journey on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $26 for this trip. The route is contained within the Midwest region, specifically within Illinois, making it a straightforward journey. With only one recommended stop, this drive offers a convenient option for a day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.5 miles from East Moline, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 95.7 mi | 1h 46m |
| I 88 | 43.8 mi | 46m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 9.9 mi | 13m |
| John Deere Expressway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Oakton Street | 4 mi | 7m |
| East Touhy Avenue | 3 mi | 5m |
| West Howard Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Crosstown Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between East Moline, IL and Evanston, IL.
Start on 7th Street
Turn left onto 30th Avenue
Continue on Crosstown Avenue
Turn left onto IL 5
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 5; IL 92
Continue on I 88; IL 92
Continue on I 88; IL 110
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 294
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue
Turn left onto IL 43
Turn right onto West Howard Street
Turn left onto New Gross Point Road
Continue on Gross Point Road
Turn right onto Oakton Street
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
Turn right onto Dempster Street
Turn uturn
Arrive at destination
Given the 3-hour and 23-minute duration, this drive is very manageable as a one-day trip. Leaving East Moline in the morning will allow you to reach Evanston with plenty of daylight. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 95.7 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps around the midpoint of that segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $26, it's an economical choice. Keep an eye on tollway signage for any specific lane directions as you approach the Chicago metropolitan area, especially on the Tri-State Tollway.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 37 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.5 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evanston, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving East Moline, 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 East Moline, IL
This is one driving day of about 169.1 miles and 3h 23m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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.
A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 84.5 miles from East Moline, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 95.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Rock Falls, Illinois
Early in the drive, right off the route
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18156261897
A2B Indian Veg Restaurant - Illinois
Warrenville, Illinois
Ditka's Oakbrook
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
Top Coffee Stop
Dixon, Illinois
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hours: 6 am–4 pm
+18153455909
Flip Side Coffee & Espresso Bar
Rock Falls, Illinois
Kick Serve Coffee
Moline, Illinois
Early in the drive, right off the route
Rock Falls, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18156261897
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Warrenville, Illinois
Hours: 11:30 am–3 pm
+16307918800
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+16305722200
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
East Moline, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm
+13092031986
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, right off the route
Rock Falls, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+18156256574
Near the end, right off the route
Oak Brook, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm
+16305738180
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
East Moline, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–8:45 pm
+13099127604
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
East Moline, Illinois
Hours: 8 am–8:30 pm
+13098652591
Around the midpoint, short detour
Dixon, Illinois
Hours: 6 am–4 pm
+18153455909
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Rock Falls, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–1 pm
+18157180022
Near the start, short detour
Moline, Illinois
Hours: 6 am–7 pm
+13095173221
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Sterling, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–4 pm
+18155854327
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Rock Falls, Illinois
Hours: 8 am–1 pm
+18157168318
Early in the drive, short detour
Rock Falls, Illinois
Hours: 11:30 am–9:30 pm
+18157168559
Near the start, ~9 min detour
Moline, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–5 pm
+13099078163
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Moline, Illinois
Hours: 6 am–2 pm
+13095197076
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Rochelle, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18155613664
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Franklin Grove, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–1 pm
+18154562590
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Sterling, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–1 pm
+18155905472
Near the start, ~9 min detour
Hampton, Illinois
Hours: 10 am–1 pm
+13097553077
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Willowbrook, Illinois
Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm
Visit websiteNear the start, ~12 min detour
Moline, Illinois
Hours: 4:30 am–6 pm
+13097649621
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 141.7 and 169 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Touhy Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward Touhy Avenue East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Regular Gas
$26.44 one way
$52.87 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.03 | $58.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.54 | $65.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.34 | $74.67 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.34
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.7 | 0 | $17.76 | $8.12 |
| Efficient EV | 42.3 | 0 | $14.80 | $6.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.6 | 0 | $23.67 | $10.82 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in East Moline on Sunday
Local time
7:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Evanston on Sunday
Local time
7:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
51°F
Aurora, IL
85 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route presents a "turn-heavy local drive" profile, despite a significant portion being on tollways. While you'll experience 95.7 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, the overall character suggests a mix of faster highway segments and more involved local road navigation. The 29% highway share indicates that you won't be exclusively on high-speed interstates. Be prepared for more frequent changes in direction and speed as you transition between different road types.
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 141.7 miles in near I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 169.1 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 141.7 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 146.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 157.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between East Moline, IL and Evanston, IL, road signs point toward Rockford, Milwaukee and Touhy Avenue East.
Rockford
Milwaukee
Touhy Avenue East
Founded 1903
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 23m. Total distance: 169.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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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