Origin
Minooka, IL
Late night in Minooka on Tuesday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Minooka, 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
1h 29m
Distance
62.8 mi
101 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Minooka, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 62.8-mile drive from Minooka, IL to Evanston, IL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 29 minutes. The route primarily utilizes I-55, the Tri-State Tollway, and I-80, offering a straightforward journey through the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of around $10, this trip is budget-friendly. The overall feel is that of a typical urban-to-suburban commute, with a significant portion on major highways. You'll be traversing familiar Illinois landscapes throughout. This route is ideal for a quick, direct journey with minimal planning required.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 26.6 mi | 32m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 16.6 mi | 20m |
| I 80 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| Oakton Street | 4 mi | 7m |
| East Touhy Avenue | 3 mi | 5m |
| West Howard Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Asbury Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Mondamin Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 26.6 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minooka, IL and Evanston, IL.
1
Start on Mondamin Street
60 ft
·
29 sec
·
Mondamin Street
2
Continue on Mondamin Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Mondamin Street
3
Turn right onto North Ridge Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Ridge Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 80 East: Joliet
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 126B
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 55
27 mi
·
32 min
·
I 55
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.6 mi
·
3 min
Exit 277A
Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Use the right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
10
Merge onto I 294
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 42A
Toward Touhy Avenue East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
East Touhy Avenue
16
Turn left onto IL 43
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Harlem Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto West Howard Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
West Howard Street
18
Turn left onto New Gross Point Road
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
New Gross Point Road
19
Continue on Gross Point Road
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Gross Point Road
20
Turn right onto Oakton Street
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Oakton Street
21
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Asbury Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto Dempster Street
213 ft
·
9 sec
·
Dempster Street
23
Turn uturn
213 ft
·
17 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.4 miles from Minooka, 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 5.5 and 62.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
5.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 126B
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
7
32.5 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 277A
Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
7
50.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward Touhy Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
8
51.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Touhy Avenue East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 42A
Toward Touhy Avenue East
7
62.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.82 one way
$19.64 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.78 | $21.56 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.09 | $24.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.87 | $27.73 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.99
Tri-state Tollway
(16.6 mi)
$0.99
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$1
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 22 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.59 | $3.01 |
| Efficient EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.49 | $2.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.1 | 0 | $8.79 | $4.02 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
5:17 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
7 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 29m 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 mixed drive on this route, with 49% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 26.6 miles on I-55, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. The character of the drive shifts as you transition from I-55 to the Tri-State Tollway and I-80, moving from more open highway to potentially busier toll road conditions closer to your destination. While not a scenic byway, it's a functional and efficient path.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.6 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.8 miles you will encounter 19 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 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Minooka, IL to Evanston, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Touhy Avenue East along the way.
Touhy Avenue East
51.6 mi in
|
~1h 8m
About the Cities
Starting in Minooka, IL
Full guide →Founded 1869
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 29m. Total distance: 62.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.6 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.99 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 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.9 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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