This 81.7-mile journey from Evanston, IL to Serena, IL takes approximately 1 hour and 59 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll navigate a mix of major expressways like the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and Tri-State Tollway, along with local roads such as Stagecoach Trail. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, this drive through the Midwest region of Illinois is quite budget-friendly. Given its relatively short duration and the absence of designated stops, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Plan for a day of focused driving rather than extensive sightseeing.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.9 miles from Evanston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
25.8 mi
31m
Stagecoach Trail
14.3 mi
20m
Tri-State Tollway
10.5 mi
14m
North Bridge Street
7.2 mi
12m
US 52
4.4 mi
6m
IL 56
4.2 mi
5m
West Touhy Avenue
4 mi
7m
Oakton Street
4 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 25.8 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston, IL and Serena, 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
8.9 mi·11 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto I 294
1.0 mi·1 min·Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, IndianaUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
0.2 mi·30 sec·Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, IndianaUse the slight right lane.
17
Continue on I 294
0.4 mi·47 sec·Tri-State Tollway
Exit 15AToward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·49 sec
Exit 31AToward I 88 West Toll: AuroraUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
0.8 mi·59 sec·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
25 mi·30 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 138Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 56
4.2 mi·5 min·IL 56
Exit 113Toward IL 56 West: Sugar GroveUse the slight right lane.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward US 30 East, IL 47: Sugar Grove, ElburnUse the right lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward IL 47 South, US 30 East: Sugar GroveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto IL 47
0.2 mi·18 sec·Illinois Route 47
25
Continue on US 30; IL 47
2.8 mi·3 min·United States Route 30
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on North Bridge Street
7.2 mi·12 min·North Bridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
27
Turn right onto IL 71
14 mi·20 min·Stagecoach Trail
Use the right lane.
28
Turn right onto US 52
4.4 mi·6 min·US 52
29
Turn right onto East 2282nd Road
360 ft·17 sec·East 2282nd Road
30
Turn right onto North 3806th Road
85 ft·3 sec·North 3806th Road
31
Arrive at destination
North 3806th Road
Trip Plan
Since this 1 hour and 59-minute drive is best suited for a single day, consider an early morning departure to maximize your time at your destination. With only 81.7 miles and a fuel cost around $13, flexibility is key. You won't need to plan for extensive rest stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto the longer stretches of the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. A practical tip for this route: pay close attention to signage when transitioning from the tollways to Stagecoach Trail, as the change in road type can be abrupt.
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 40.9 miles from Evanston, IL, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.8 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 18 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.9 miles or 1h 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Serena, 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 81.7 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Evanston, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 25.8 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 21.2 and 52.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
21.2 mi into trip|~35m in|I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
8
21.8 mi into trip|~37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31A
Toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
8
23.1 mi into trip|~39m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
8
48.1 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|IL 56
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 56 toward IL 56 West: Sugar Grove
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 113
Toward IL 56 West: Sugar Grove
9
52.6 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 47 South, US 30 East: Sugar Grove
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward IL 47 South, US 30 East: Sugar Grove
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.77 one way
$25.55 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.02
$28.05
premium
$4.89
$15.72
$31.44
diesel
$5.61
$18.04
$36.08
Estimated Tolls: $2.18
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(25.8 mi)$1.55
Tri-state Tollway
(10.5 mi)$0.63
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
$13
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.5
0
$8.58
$3.92
Efficient EV
20.4
0
$7.15
$3.27
EV Truck/SUV
32.7
0
$11.44
$5.23
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Evanston, IL
Late night
in Evanston on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
W 15 mph57% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:43AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:54AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Serena, IL
Late night
in Serena on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 15 mph39% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:43AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:54AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
4 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 59m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 22.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" with a 14% highway share. While you'll spend some time on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, including a 25.8-mile stretch, much of this route involves navigating local roads. This means you'll encounter more turns and a varied pace compared to a pure interstate experience. The transition from tollways to Stagecoach Trail will likely shift the driving feel, requiring attention to local traffic patterns and speed limits as you approach Serena.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.8 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 21.2 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.7 miles you will encounter 24 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: at 21.2 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial 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.
Between Evanston, IL and Serena, IL, road signs point toward Indiana, 22Nd Street (Cermak Road) and Elburn.
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 59m. Total distance: 81.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.8 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.18 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan Memorial 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.
Yes — we found about 2 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 Serena, 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 21.2 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Serena, IL before heading back.
