Origin
Fox Lake, IL
Late night in Fox Lake on Friday
Local time
5:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fox Lake, IL to Evanston, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
41.8 mi
67 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 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fox Lake, IL
John Baker
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fox Lake to Evanston is 41.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 2 minutes via West Belvidere Road/Olde Half Day Road/West Half Day Road, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It’s a straightforward drive, primarily on surface roads, making it a good option for a quick local excursion. Consider this route if you're looking for a simple, direct connection between these two points without the complexities of highway navigation.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IL 60 | 10.6 mi | 17m |
| Edens Expressway | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| US 12 | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| Edens Spur | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| US 45 | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| West Half Day Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Central Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
IL 60
— 10.6 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fox Lake, IL and Evanston, IL.
1
Start on this road
67 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
58 ft
·
8 sec
3
Turn left onto US 12
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 12
4
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
6
Turn left onto IL 120
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Belvidere Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto IL 60
11 mi
·
17 min
·
IL 60
8
Continue on US 45
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US 45
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on Olde Half Day Road
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Olde Half Day Road
Use the left lane.
10
At end of road, turn left onto IL 22
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Half Day Road
Use the left lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 94 East Toll: Indiana
12
Merge onto I 94
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Edens Spur
Toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
Use the slight left lane.
14
Continue on I 94; US 41
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 35
Toward Old Orchard Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Old Orchard Road
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Orchard Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Gross Point Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Gross Point Road
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Central Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right onto Green Bay Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Green Bay Road
20
Turn right onto Asbury Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Asbury Avenue
21
Turn left onto Dempster Street
213 ft
·
9 sec
·
Dempster Street
Use the left lane.
22
Turn uturn
213 ft
·
17 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.9 miles from Fox Lake, 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 21 and 41.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
21 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
IL 22 / West Half Day Road
At end of road, turn left onto IL 22 / West Half Day Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
26.2 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 94 / Edens Spur
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Edens Spur toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
7
36.5 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward Old Orchard Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35
Toward Old Orchard Road
6
41.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
Dempster Street
Turn left onto Dempster Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
41.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.48 one way
$12.96 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $7.11 | $14.21 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.11 | $16.22 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $9.21 | $18.43 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.18
Tri-state Tollway
(2.9 mi)
$0.18
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$0
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.39 | $2.01 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.66 | $1.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.85 | $2.68 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Evanston, IL
Late night in Evanston on Friday
Local time
5:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 2m 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?
This drive is entirely on surface roads, meaning you'll encounter traffic signals and intersections for the full 41.8 miles. There are no highway stretches, so expect a consistent pace dictated by local traffic flow. You'll likely notice frequent changes in speed limits and potentially some congestion as you approach Evanston. The longest stretch without a significant traffic control point is not specified, so plan for regular stops.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.6 mi on IL 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 60 and Edens Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 21 miles in near IL 22 / West Half Day Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 41.8 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: at 21 miles (IL 22 / West Half Day Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.2 miles (I 94 / Edens Spur): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Fox Lake, IL
Full guide →Founded 1907
Fox Lake is a city in the Chain O' Lakes region of Chicagoland, Illinois.
Top landmarks
- • Mineola Hotel — old hotel building in Fox Lake, Illinois, USA
Arriving 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 1h 2m. Total distance: 41.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.6 miles on IL 60. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.18 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state 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.
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 Evanston, 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 miles (IL 22 / West Half Day Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.2 miles (I 94 / Edens Spur): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Evanston, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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