Evanston, IL to Mount Carmel, IL is 298.7 miles and takes about 6h 18m via I 57, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Illinois for its entirety. The route is primarily a highway drive, making it a straightforward trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently. With a single recommended stop and a longest stretch of 168.9 miles, it’s designed for a single-day transit.
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
149.4 miles from Evanston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
168.9 mi
3h 6m
County Road 1150
24 mi
32m
North 1250th Street
13.3 mi
19m
South Van Buren Street
11 mi
15m
State Route 15
10.6 mi
15m
Route 130
10 mi
14m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.8 mi
11m
County Road 1100 East
6.7 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 168.9 mi, about 3h 6m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~928 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,278
Quietest
2 AM
~107 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Mount Carmel, 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 right at fork onto I 57
169 mi·3 hr 6 min·I 57
Exit 63Toward I 57 South: MemphisUse the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 190AToward IL 16 East: Charleston
15
Turn straight onto IL 16
0.7 mi·1 min·Charleston Avenue East
16
Continue on IL 16
6.0 mi·8 min·Illinois Route 16
17
Continue on IL 16
1.8 mi·2 min·West Lincoln Avenue
18
Turn right onto IL 130
1.6 mi·2 min·18th Street
19
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi·1 min·Illinois Route 130
20
Continue on IL 130
10.0 mi·14 min·Route 130
21
Continue on IL 130
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 1825 East
22
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi·1 min·County Road 1775 E
23
Continue on IL 130
0.4 mi·32 sec·North Haughton Highway
24
Continue on IL 130
1.3 mi·1 min·1700E
25
Continue on IL 130
4.0 mi·5 min·North Haughton Highway
26
Continue on IL 130
2.1 mi·3 min·County Road 1700E
27
Continue on IL 130
13 mi·19 min·North 1250th Street
28
Turn left onto IL 130
11 mi·15 min·South Van Buren Street
29
Continue on IL 130
6.7 mi·9 min·County Road 1100 East
30
Continue on IL 130
2.5 mi·4 min·North West Street
31
Continue on IL 130
24 mi·32 min·County Road 1150
Use the straight lane.
32
Turn left onto IL 15
0.4 mi·38 sec·East Elm Street
33
Continue on IL 15
2.6 mi·3 min·900N
34
Continue on IL 15
0.2 mi·19 sec·910N
35
Continue on IL 15
0.6 mi·49 sec·920N
36
Continue on IL 15
0.6 mi·57 sec·Main Street
37
Continue on IL 15
11 mi·15 min·State Route 15
38
Continue on IL 15
1.3 mi·2 min·West 9th Street
39
Turn right onto North Market Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·North Market Street
40
Turn left onto East 5th Street
74 ft·3 sec·East 5th Street
41
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, departing in the morning is recommended to ensure you have ample daylight for the latter half of your trip, especially as you transition to county roads. While the total duration suggests a single day, consider a brief stop around the halfway point to stretch and refuel, though the longest stretch is a considerable 168.9 miles on I 57. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services may be more spread out once you leave the main interstate corridor. The $46 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to have a little extra on hand.
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 149.4 miles from Evanston, IL, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 168.9 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 66 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.4 miles or 2h 56m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Carmel, 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 298.7 miles and 6h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 168.9 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 23.7 — 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
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Dempster Street
At end of road, turn left onto Dempster Street
Navigation decision point
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
8
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.31 one way
$92.62 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$50.78
$101.56
premium
$4.93
$57.95
$115.91
diesel
$5.60
$65.84
$131.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.6
1
$31.36
$14.34
Efficient EV
74.7
0
$26.14
$11.95
EV Truck/SUV
119.5
1
$41.82
$19.12
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Evanston, IL
Afternoon
in Evanston on Friday
Local time
3:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 5 to 10 mph54% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 15 at 11:15AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 15 at 12:11PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Mount Carmel, IL
Afternoon
in Mount Carmel on Friday
Local time
3:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny
WSW 5 to 8 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 15 at 11:15AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 15 at 12:11PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis 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
18 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 18m 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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 20.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 71% of your 298.7 miles on the highway, specifically I 57 for the longest stretch of 168.9 miles. After leaving the interstate, you'll transition to county roads, such as County Road 1150 and North 1250th Street, for the remaining portion of the drive. Expect a noticeable change in surroundings as you move from the faster interstate speeds to more rural road conditions.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 168.9 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and County Road 1150. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 298.7 miles you will encounter 16 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 (Dempster Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Asbury Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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 6h 18m. Total distance: 298.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 18m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 168.9 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 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 Mount Carmel, 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 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Dempster Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Asbury Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Mount Carmel, IL before the return drive.
