Evanston, IL to Murphysboro, IL is 347.1 miles and takes about 6h 42m via I 57, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, making it a straightforward drive for those familiar with the region. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, so expect a relatively quick transit between these two points. It's a good option for a single-day trip if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
173.6 miles from Evanston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
266.5 mi
4h 51m
Ken Gray Expressway
32.7 mi
35m
Russell Street
11.3 mi
15m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.8 mi
11m
Herrin Road
6.6 mi
9m
North Western Avenue
5.5 mi
11m
Kennedy Expressway
3.6 mi
5m
East Herrin Street
3.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 266.5 mi, about 4h 51m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,073 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,461
Quietest
2 AM
~180 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Murphysboro, 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
201 mi·3 hr 40 min·I 57
Exit 63Toward I 57 South: MemphisUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
33 mi·35 min·Ken Gray Expressway
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward Johnston City, Herrin
17
Turn right onto Herrin Road
3.1 mi·4 min·Herrin Road
18
Continue on East Herrin Street
3.1 mi·5 min·East Herrin Street
19
Continue on Herrin Road
3.5 mi·5 min·Herrin Road
20
Enter roundabout onto Cambria Road
35 ft·0 sec·Cambria Road
21
Continue on Cambria Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Cambria Road
22
Turn left onto IL 149
11 mi·15 min·Russell Street
23
Turn left onto IL 13; IL 127; IL 149
0.9 mi·1 min·North 2nd Street
24
Turn right onto IL 127; IL 149
0.6 mi·1 min·Walnut Street
25
Turn right onto North 11th Street
65 ft·2 sec·North 11th Street
26
Arrive at destination
North 11th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour drive time, departing Evanston in the morning will allow you to reach Murphysboro with plenty of daylight. You'll have one primary highway, I 57, for most of the journey, so plan your stops accordingly, perhaps around the halfway mark or when you feel ready for a break. The longest stretch without significant deviation is over 260 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with extended highway cruising. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $55, and services can be more spread out on longer highway segments.
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 173.6 miles from Evanston, IL, or about 3h 23m 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 76 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.6 miles or 3h 23m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Murphysboro, 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 347.1 miles and 6h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
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
$57.90 one way
$115.80 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$62.93
$125.86
premium
$5.26
$71.87
$143.73
diesel
$6.18
$84.44
$168.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
104.1
1
$36.45
$16.66
Efficient EV
86.8
0
$30.37
$13.88
EV Truck/SUV
138.8
1
$48.59
$22.21
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
41 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Evanston, IL
Late night
in Evanston on Monday
Local time
12:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Clear
SSW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Murphysboro, IL
Late night
in Murphysboro on Monday
Local time
12:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Areas Of Frost
0 mph0% chanceLive 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
9 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
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...
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 driving, with 90% of your travel on major roads. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 266.5 miles on I 57, which means you'll be in a consistent cruising mode for a substantial portion of the trip. The highway portion will likely end around Russell Street, transitioning you onto surface roads for the final stretch into Murphysboro.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 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 Ken Gray Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 347.1 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 (Dempster Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Asbury Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
777 ft419 ft
Total Climb
428 ft
Total Descent
623 ft
Highest Point
777 ft
~49.6 mi in
Elevation Range
358 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 Murphysboro, IL, road signs point toward Johnston City and Herrin.
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 42m. Total distance: 347.1 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 43 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 Murphysboro, 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 43 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 6.7 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 Murphysboro, IL before the return drive.
