Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 9m
Distance
266.3 mi
429 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Benld, IL
Sebastian Luna
Evanston, IL to Benld, IL is 266.3 miles and takes about 5h 9m via Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 55, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of the trip, making it a straightforward journey. With just one recommended stop and a total duration under six hours, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing ample time for travel and arrival.
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
133.1 miles from Evanston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 42m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 119.4 mi | 2h 13m |
| I 55 | 112.9 mi | 2h 1m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 17.5 mi | 22m |
| West Touhy Avenue | 4 mi | 7m |
| Oakton Street | 4 mi | 7m |
| Lakeview Drive | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| Asbury Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Gross Point Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston, IL and Benld, IL.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn left
At end of road, turn left onto Dempster Street
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
Turn right onto Oakton Street
Turn slight left onto Gross Point Road
Turn straight onto New Gross Point Road
Turn right onto Howard Street
Turn left onto North Lehigh Avenue
Turn right onto West Gross Point Road
Turn slight right onto West Touhy Avenue
Turn left onto South Des Plaines River Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 294
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
Take the exit
Turn right onto IL 138
Turn left onto IL 138
Turn left onto South Main Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Given the 5h 9m estimated drive time, starting in the morning will comfortably get you to Benld, IL before evening. The route is efficient enough that you'll likely only need one stop for fuel or a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 119.4 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, to ensure you have enough before hitting a less populated section. The $42 fuel cost estimate provides a good baseline for budgeting your trip.
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 59 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.1 miles or 2h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benld, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Evanston, 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 Evanston, IL
This is one driving day of about 266.3 miles and 5h 9m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
133 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 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 133.1 miles from Evanston, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Adlai Stevenson Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 119.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 149.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$41.63 one way
$83.27 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $45.71 | $91.42 |
| premium | $4.89 | $51.25 | $102.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $58.80 | $117.59 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.05
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
$42
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 79.9 | 0 | $27.96 | $12.78 |
| Efficient EV | 66.6 | 0 | $23.30 | $10.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 106.5 | 1 | $37.28 | $17.04 |
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Late night in Evanston on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Benld on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
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 is largely a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the journey on major roadways like the Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 55. You'll encounter one significant stretch of uninterrupted driving: 119.4 miles along the Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The character of the road remains consistent, offering a steady pace for most of the 266.3 miles. Prepare for a driving experience dominated by interstate travel, minimizing time spent navigating local roads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 55. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 266.3 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: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Asbury Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Evanston, IL and Benld, IL, road signs point toward St. Louis and Springfield.
St. Louis
Springfield
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 5h 9m. Total distance: 266.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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