Origin
Evanston, IL
Morning in Evanston on Monday
Local time
9:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Evanston, IL to Lansing, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 7, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
38.2 mi
62 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Lansing, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Evanston, IL to Lansing, IL covers 38.2 miles and takes about 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Bishop Ford Freeway, Dan Ryan Expressway (Express), North Western Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 10.8 miles on Bishop Ford Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.92 one way before food or hotel costs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bishop Ford Freeway | 10.8 mi | 14m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 8.8 mi | 11m |
| North Western Avenue | 5.5 mi | 11m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Asbury Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| I 94 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Ridge Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Bishop Ford Freeway
— 10.8 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston, IL and Lansing, 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
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Asbury Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on North Western Avenue
5.5 mi
·
11 min
·
North Western Avenue
6
Turn left onto North Clybourn Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Clybourn Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto North Damen Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Damen Avenue
8
Turn left onto West Webster Avenue
139 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Webster Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East
10
Merge onto I 90; I 94
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 90; I 94
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Bishop Ford Freeway
Toward I 94 East: Indiana
Use the slight left lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 94
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East: Indiana
Use the slight left lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 161
Toward US 6 West, IL 83: Torrence Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 161
Toward US 6 West, IL 83 West: Torrence Avenue
Use the slight left lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
502 ft
·
12 sec
Toward IL 83 South
18
Turn straight onto IL 83
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Torrence Avenue
19
Turn left onto Ridge Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right
24 ft
·
1 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.1 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 14.8 and 36.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
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
7
23.7 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway toward I 94 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 94 East: Indiana
8
34.5 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 80 East, I 94 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East: Indiana
9
35.6 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 6 West, IL 83: Torrence Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161
Toward US 6 West, IL 83: Torrence Avenue
9
36.1 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 6 West, IL 83 West: Torrence Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 161
Toward US 6 West, IL 83 West: Torrence Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.92 one way
$11.85 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $6.49 | $12.99 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.41 | $14.82 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $8.42 | $16.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.01 | $1.83 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.34 | $1.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.35 | $2.44 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Lansing, IL
Morning in Lansing on Monday
Local time
9:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
59m 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?
38.2 mi in 59m, mostly highway — 10.8 mi of that is on Bishop Ford Freeway.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.8 mi on Bishop Ford Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bishop Ford Freeway and Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.8 miles in near I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express).
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 38.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 23.7 miles (I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.5 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
634 ft
574 ft
Total Climb
89 ft
Total Descent
73 ft
Highest Point
634 ft
~35.5 mi in
Elevation Range
59 ft
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 59m. Total distance: 38.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.8 miles on Bishop Ford Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Lansing, 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: 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; at 23.7 miles (I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.5 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lansing, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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