Trip from Evanston, IL to Eldorado, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 42m

Distance

340.5 mi

548 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$53

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

6h 31m ★

6 AM

6h 43m

8 AM

7h 7m

10 AM

6h 51m

12 PM

6h 49m

3 PM

6h 52m

5 PM

7h 5m

8 PM

6h 36m

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

Best Time

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suburban city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Evanston, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Eldorado, IL

Mike Tyurin

Trip Overview

Evanston, IL to Eldorado, IL is 340.5 miles and takes about 6h 42m via I 57, I 64, and IL 142, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Illinois, moving you from the Midwest's northern edge down into its southern reaches. The majority of your travel will be on interstate highways, making for a straightforward trip. With a recommended one-day drive, you can expect a relatively quick transit between these two points.

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

170.2 miles from Evanston, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 19m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 57	266.5 mi	4h 51m
IL 142	11.5 mi	17m
I 64	10.7 mi	11m
County Road 1200 East	10.5 mi	15m
County Road 1165 East	9 mi	13m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)	8.8 mi	11m
North Western Avenue	5.5 mi	11m
County Road 6	3.8 mi	5m

Longest stretch: I 57 — 266.5 mi, about 4h 51m

Traffic on I-57

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~936 veh/hr typical · worst 1,252

Quietest

2 AM

~153 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 99 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on this road

197 ft · 21 sec · this road

At end of road, turn left

139 ft · 15 sec

At end of road, turn left onto Dempster Street

213 ft · 14 sec · Dempster Street

Turn left onto Asbury Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · Asbury Avenue

Use the left lane.

Continue on North Western Avenue

5.5 mi · 11 min · North Western Avenue

Turn left onto North Clybourn Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto North Damen Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Damen Avenue

Turn left onto West Webster Avenue

139 ft · 2 sec · West Webster Avenue

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Toward I 90 East, I 94 East

Merge onto I 90; I 94

3.6 mi · 5 min · Kennedy Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 90; I 94

2.4 mi · 2 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

8.8 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57

201 mi · 3 hr 40 min · I 57

Exit 63 Toward I 57 South: Memphis Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 57

66 mi · 1 hr 10 min · I 57

Toward I 57 South: Memphis

Keep slight left at fork onto I 64

11 mi · 11 min · I 64

Toward I 64 East: Louisville

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 35 sec

Exit 89 Toward Belle Rive, Bluford

Turn right onto County Highway 17

0.1 mi · 15 sec · County Highway 17

Continue on Brehm Lane

2.2 mi · 3 min · Brehm Lane

Continue on North Main Street

0.4 mi · 45 sec · North Main Street

Turn left onto IL 142

12 mi · 17 min · IL 142

Continue on IL 142

3.8 mi · 5 min · County Road 6

Turn right onto IL 142

0.3 mi · 33 sec · South Washington Street

Turn left onto IL 14

446 ft · 9 sec · East Randolph Street

Turn right onto IL 142

0.3 mi · 25 sec · South Jackson Street

Continue on IL 142

9.0 mi · 13 min · County Road 1165 East

Continue on IL 142

10 mi · 15 min · County Road 1200 East

Continue on IL 142

0.7 mi · 1 min · State Street

Turn left onto Locust Street

0.3 mi · 48 sec · Locust Street

Arrive at destination

Locust Street

Trip Plan

Given the 6-hour drive time, departing in the morning is advisable to ensure you arrive with ample daylight. You'll have one recommended stop, so plan to stretch your legs and refuel around the halfway point or when you feel the need. The longest stretch on I 57 is substantial, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the end of that segment. The $52 fuel cost estimate can help you budget for gas stops along the way. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility; however, consider an early start to maximize your time upon arrival.

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 170.2 miles from Evanston, IL, or about 3h 19m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 266.5 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 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 170.2 miles or 3h 19m 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 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eldorado, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

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 340.5 miles and 6h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Evanston, 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 266.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and the county seat of Coles County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charleston, IL

170 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

Schererville, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 75 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bruce, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 170.2 miles from Evanston, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2 mi from route

QuikTrip

2.2 mi from route

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 300.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in

At end of road, turn left

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Asbury Avenue

Turn left onto Asbury Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

14.8 mi into trip | ~26m in | I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express

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

23.7 mi into trip | ~38m in | I 57

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 63 Toward I 57 South: Memphis

300.9 mi into trip | ~5h 41m in

Take the exit toward Belle Rive, Bluford

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 89 Toward Belle Rive, Bluford

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$52.79 one way

$105.58 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 119 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.32	$57.89	$115.77
premium	$4.93	$66.06	$132.12
diesel	$5.60	$75.06	$150.11

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: 119.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	102.2	1	$35.75	$16.34
Efficient EV	85.1	0	$29.79	$13.62
EV Truck/SUV	136.2	1	$47.67	$21.79

Gas CO2

119 kg

EV CO2

40 kg (66% 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 Aug 31, 2026

Origin

Evanston, IL

Morning in Evanston on Friday

Local time

6:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 10 to 15 mph 18% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued August 31 at 2:51AM CDT until September 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued August 31 at 1:44AM CDT until September 3 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

Destination

Eldorado, IL

Morning in Eldorado on Friday

Local time

6:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Mostly Clear

S 3 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued August 31 at 2:51AM CDT until September 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued August 31 at 1:44AM CDT until September 3 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

90°F

Charleston, IL

170 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

6h 42m 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 23.5

Caution: Road Construction Near the Park

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This trip is predominantly highway driving, with 89% of the 340.5 miles spent on interstates. You'll encounter a long stretch of 266.5 miles on I 57 before transitioning to other roads. The bulk of the driving is on I 57, which typically means consistent cruising speeds and more frequent exits as you near populated areas. The remaining miles on IL 142 and I 64 will offer a change of pace before you reach your destination.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 266.5 mi on I 57.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and IL 142. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 340.5 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 14.8 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

787 ft 388 ft

Total Climb

421 ft

Total Descent

646 ft

Highest Point

787 ft

~48.6 mi in

Elevation Range

398 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Evanston, IL and Eldorado, IL, road signs point toward Belle Rive and Bluford.

Belle Rive

300.9 mi in | ~5h 41m

Bluford

300.9 mi in | ~5h 41m

About the Cities

Starting 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

Arriving in Eldorado, IL

Full guide →

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 6h 42m. Total distance: 340.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 42m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 266.5 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 41 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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 Eldorado, 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. There are 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Eldorado, IL before the return drive.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Explore more options from Evanston, IL or browse trips ending in Eldorado, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.

Trip from Evanston, IL to Eldorado, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-57

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Green Creek Rest Area - Southbound

Post Oak Rest Area - Northbound

Post Oak Rest Area - Southbound

Main Line Station Rest Area - Northbound

Illini Prairie Rest Area - Southbound

Flying J Travel Center

Illini Prairie Rest Area - Northbound

Green Creek Rest Area - Northbound

Goshen Road Rest Area

Goshen Road Rest Area - Eastbound

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Main Line Station Rest Area - Southbound

Petro Stopping Centers

Petro Stopping Centers

Pilot Travel Center

Prairie View Rest Area - Northbound

Prairie View Rest Area - Southbound

Truckomat Truck Wash - Effingham

TA

Road Ranger

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Pilot Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Flying J Travel Center

Service Plaza

Peotone Travel Center

Road Ranger

Pilot Travel Center

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

QuikTrip

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Evanston, IL

Eldorado, IL

Same local time

Very similar conditions

6h 42m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Pullman National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Evanston, IL

Arriving in Eldorado, IL

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More