Origin
Evanston, IL
Late night in Evanston on Tuesday
Local time
5:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Evanston, IL to Lakewood Shores, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 47m
Distance
73.6 mi
118 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Lakewood Shores, IL
Vash Project
Trip Overview
Evanston, IL to Lakewood Shores, IL is 73.6 miles and takes about 1h 47m via Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Tri-State Tollway, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest metro area toward the Midwest's northern reaches. The route is mostly highway, making for efficient travel between these two points. It's a straightforward drive, suitable for a quick getaway or a functional transit day. You'll find it easy to manage given its moderate distance and clear path.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.8 miles from Evanston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 35.4 mi | 43m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 17.5 mi | 22m |
| West Touhy Avenue | 4 mi | 7m |
| Oakton Street | 4 mi | 7m |
| New River Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| North River Road | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| South Chicago Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Asbury Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
— 35.4 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston, IL and Lakewood Shores, IL.
1
Start on this road
197 ft
·
21 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn left
139 ft
·
15 sec
3
At end of road, turn left onto Dempster Street
213 ft
·
14 sec
·
Dempster Street
4
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Asbury Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto Oakton Street
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Oakton Street
6
Turn slight left onto Gross Point Road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Gross Point Road
7
Turn straight onto New Gross Point Road
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
New Gross Point Road
8
Turn right onto Howard Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Howard Street
9
Turn left onto North Lehigh Avenue
120 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Lehigh Avenue
10
Turn right onto West Gross Point Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Gross Point Road
11
Turn slight right onto West Touhy Avenue
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
West Touhy Avenue
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto South Des Plaines River Road
184 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Des Plaines River Road
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 294 South: Indiana
14
Merge onto I 294
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 23
Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Use the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto I 55
35 mi
·
43 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward North River Road
21
Turn left onto CH 44
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
County Highway 44
22
Continue on CH 44
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North River Road
23
Continue on CH 44
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
New River Road
24
At end of road, turn right onto IL 53
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Chicago Road
25
Continue on IL 53
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Baltimore Street
26
Turn left onto IL 102
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Water Street
27
Turn right onto West Kahler Road
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
West Kahler Road
28
Turn left onto Sunset Drive
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Sunset Drive
29
Continue on Robert Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Robert Street
30
Arrive at destination
Robert Street
Trip Plan
For this relatively short, single-day trip, leaving Evanston any time in the morning should work well, allowing you to reach Lakewood Shores with plenty of daylight. Since the drive is under two hours, you won't need to plan for extensive stops, but a quick break around the halfway mark might be comfortable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; at an estimated $12 for fuel, it's an economical trip, but it's always wise to refuel before embarking on a drive of this length. Pay attention to the transition from the Tri-State Tollway onto West Touhy Avenue, as this is where the driving environment shifts from high-speed to more local conditions.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.8 miles from Evanston, IL, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.4 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 16 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.8 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakewood Shores, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Evanston, IL
This is one driving day of about 73.6 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Evanston, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Adlai Stevenson Expressway for about 35.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.8 miles from Evanston, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 29.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
At end of road, turn left
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Asbury Avenue
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
27.6 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
28.9 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 23
Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
7
29.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.51 one way
$23.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.63 | $25.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.16 | $28.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.25 | $32.50 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.05
Tri-state Tollway
(17.5 mi)
$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
$12
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.73 | $3.53 |
| Efficient EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.44 | $2.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.30 | $4.71 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Lakewood Shores, IL
Late night in Lakewood Shores on Tuesday
Local time
5:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°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
1h 47m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is a mixed highway and surface road experience, with 48% of it on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, including a continuous stretch of 35.4 miles. Expect to navigate a dense network of exits and interchanges as you transition from the Tri-State Tollway onto surface streets. The highway portion offers straightforward cruising, while the latter part will involve more local traffic and varied speed limits.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.4 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.6 miles you will encounter 20 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: 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Evanston, IL to Lakewood Shores, IL, road signs begin pointing toward St. Louis along the way.
St. Louis
28.9 mi in
|
~44m
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
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 1h 47m. Total distance: 73.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.4 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.05 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Lakewood Shores, 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: 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lakewood Shores, 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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