Origin
Franklin Park, IL
Late night in Franklin Park on Tuesday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Franklin Park, IL to Evanston, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
15.4 mi
25 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Franklin Park, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Franklin Park to Evanston is 15.4 miles and takes about 29 minutes via West Forest Preserve Drive and Edens Expressway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Illinois, making it a convenient local drive. Expect a route with frequent turns, characteristic of navigating through suburban and local road networks. The drive is best suited for a single day, offering a straightforward journey between these two Midwest locations without requiring an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Forest Preserve Drive | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| West Howard Street | 3 mi | 5m |
| Edens Expressway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| West Montrose Avenue | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| Asbury Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| West Belmont Avenue | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Cicero Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Skokie Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Forest Preserve Drive
— 3.1 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin Park, IL and Evanston, IL.
1
Start on Franklin Avenue
45 ft
·
9 sec
·
Franklin Avenue
2
Turn left onto 25th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
25th Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto West Belmont Avenue
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Belmont Avenue
4
Turn left onto West Forest Preserve Drive
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
West Forest Preserve Drive
Use the left lane.
5
Turn slight right onto West Montrose Avenue
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
West Montrose Avenue
6
Turn left onto IL 50
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Cicero Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto West Wilson Avenue
449 ft
·
23 sec
·
West Wilson Avenue
Use the right lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 94 West
9
Merge onto I 94
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 39B
Toward Touhy Avenue East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
At end of road, turn left onto IL 50
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Cicero Avenue
12
Continue on IL 50
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Skokie Boulevard
13
Turn right onto West Howard Street
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West Howard Street
14
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Asbury Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto Dempster Street
213 ft
·
9 sec
·
Dempster Street
16
Turn uturn
213 ft
·
17 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 15.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
25th Avenue
Turn left onto 25th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
6.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue
Turn left onto IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
6.9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
West Wilson Avenue
Turn right onto West Wilson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
10 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward Touhy Avenue East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 39B
Toward Touhy Avenue East
7
15.4 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.41 one way
$4.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.64 | $5.29 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.96 | $5.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.40 | $6.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.62 | $0.74 |
| Efficient EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.35 | $0.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.16 | $0.99 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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 Tuesday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
W 15 mph
57% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 4:02AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 3:59AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
17 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
29m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized by frequent turns, indicated by its 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile. While only 18% of the route is on the Edens Expressway, the majority consists of local streets. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 3.1 miles on West Forest Preserve Drive. This means you'll be managing a mix of faster highway segments and more deliberate navigation through residential and commercial areas, requiring your attention to be consistently on the road and upcoming turns.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.1 mi on West Forest Preserve Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 25th Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 15.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 (25th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles (IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles (West Wilson Avenue): 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Franklin Park, IL to Evanston, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Touhy Avenue East along the way.
Touhy Avenue East
10 mi in
|
~18m
About the Cities
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 29m. Total distance: 15.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 3.1 miles on West Forest Preserve Drive. 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 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: near the start (25th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles (IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles (West Wilson Avenue): 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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