Evanston, IL to Momence, IL is 66.9 miles and takes about 1h 41m via Calumet Expressway, Dixie Highway, and Bishop Ford Freeway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving through the Midwest region. It's a fairly direct drive, mostly on expressways, making it a straightforward option for getting between these two points. You'll likely find it a practical choice for a quick journey, especially if you're looking for a no-fuss drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.5 miles from Evanston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Calumet Expressway
15.4 mi
21m
Dixie Highway
12 mi
18m
Bishop Ford Freeway
10.8 mi
14m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.8 mi
11m
North Western Avenue
5.5 mi
11m
County Road East 1241 North
3.9 mi
5m
Kennedy Expressway
3.6 mi
5m
Dan Ryan Expressway
2.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Calumet Expressway
— 15.4 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston, IL and Momence, 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 ExpressUse 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: IndianaUse the slight left lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 394
0.5 mi·48 sec·Calumet Expressway
Exit 74A-BToward I 80 West, I 294 North, IL 394 South: Danville, Iowa, WisconsinUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 394
15 mi·20 min·Calumet Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on IL 1
6.2 mi·9 min·Dixie Highway
17
Continue on IL 1
3.9 mi·5 min·County Road East 1241 North
18
Turn right onto IL 1; IL 17
0.9 mi·1 min·East Taylor Street
19
Turn left onto IL 1; IL 17
0.3 mi·38 sec·South Main Street
20
Turn right onto IL 1; IL 17
5.8 mi·8 min·Dixie Highway
21
Arrive at destination
IL 1; IL 17
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just over an hour and a half, this trip offers a lot of flexibility for when you decide to depart. You can easily make this a same-day trip, leaving in the morning and arriving with plenty of daylight remaining. Since there are no specific stops noted, you can plan to refuel before leaving Evanston or upon arrival in Momence, keeping the $10 fuel cost in mind. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 15.4 miles, so you won't need to worry about frequent stops for breaks unless desired.
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 33.5 miles from Evanston, IL, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.4 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 15 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.5 miles or 51m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Momence, 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 66.9 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Evanston, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Calumet Expressway for about 15.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 34.5 — 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.
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
9
34.5 mi into trip|~53m in|IL 394 / Calumet Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 394 / Calumet Expressway toward I 80 West, I 294 North, IL 394 South: Danville, Iowa, Wisconsin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 74A-B
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North, IL 394 South: Da...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.46 one way
$20.92 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$11.48
$22.97
premium
$4.89
$12.87
$25.75
diesel
$5.61
$14.77
$29.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.1
0
$7.02
$3.21
Efficient EV
16.7
0
$5.85
$2.68
EV Truck/SUV
26.8
0
$9.37
$4.28
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Evanston, IL
Late night
in Evanston on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Momence, IL
Late night
in Momence on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
13 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 41m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 61% of the drive utilizing expressways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 15.4 miles on the Calumet Expressway, offering a period of consistent speed. The journey begins with a highway feel, transitioning through various main roads including Dixie Highway and Bishop Ford Freeway. Expect a driving experience characterized by steady progress, characteristic of an expressway-heavy trip.
61% 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: 15.4 mi on Calumet Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Calumet Expressway and Dixie Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.9 miles you will encounter 14 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 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
733 ft580 ft
Total Climb
160 ft
Total Descent
147 ft
Highest Point
733 ft
~52.6 mi in
Elevation Range
153 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 Momence, IL, road signs point toward Iowa and Wisconsin.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 66.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.4 miles on Calumet Expressway. 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 Momence, 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 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.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Momence, IL before heading back.
