Origin
Markham, IL
Late night in Markham on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Markham, 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
55m
Distance
35.2 mi
57 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Markham, IL
Armando Ascorve
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 36.8-mile drive from Markham, IL to Evanston, IL is a straightforward, one-day trip with a projected duration of 55 minutes. You'll navigate primarily local roads, including Kedzie Avenue and West 159th Street, with a brief stint on I-57 North. Given its short distance and moderate travel time, this route is perfect for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $6, making it an economical option. This drive stays within the Midwest region and the state of Illinois, offering a familiar local experience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 10.1 mi | 13m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| North Western Avenue | 5.5 mi | 11m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Asbury Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North Clybourn Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Damen Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 10.1 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Evanston, IL.
1
Start on 163rd Street
64 ft
·
10 sec
·
163rd Street
2
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Kedzie Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 6
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West 159th Street
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 57 North: Chicago, I-294 North
5
Merge onto I 57
10 mi
·
13 min
·
I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 90; I 94
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 47B
Toward Damen Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto North Damen Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Damen Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Turn slight left onto North Clybourn Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Clybourn Avenue
12
Turn right onto North Western Avenue
5.5 mi
·
11 min
·
North Western Avenue
13
Continue on Asbury Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Asbury Avenue
14
Turn right onto Dempster Street
213 ft
·
9 sec
·
Dempster Street
15
Turn uturn
213 ft
·
17 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from Markham, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 35.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
15 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
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: Pershing Roa...
7
26.6 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward Damen Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 47B
Toward Damen Avenue
5
26.7 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
North Damen Avenue
Turn right onto North Damen Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
35.2 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.50 one way
$11.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.04 | $12.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.77 | $13.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.77 | $15.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.93 | $2.25 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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 Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°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
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
55m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share. The entire 36.8 miles will be on surface streets, meaning you'll be interacting with traffic signals and intersections frequently. There isn't a 'longest stretch' of uninterrupted driving, as the nature of local roads involves constant engagement. This drive will feel like a typical urban and suburban commute, characterized by city streets and neighborhood roads rather than open highway cruising.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.1 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near I 57.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 35.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Markham, IL
Full guide →Founded 1925
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 55m. Total distance: 35.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.1 miles on I 57. 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: at 1.6 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.6 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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