Phoenix, IL to Evanston, IL is 32.7 miles and takes about 56 minutes via Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) and Kennedy Expressway, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within Illinois and the Midwest region. You'll be navigating primarily urban and suburban environments. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day, making it a convenient option for local travel or a quick transfer between areas.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi
11m
North Western Avenue
5.5 mi
11m
Kennedy Expressway
3.7 mi
5m
South Michigan Avenue
3.5 mi
6m
Dan Ryan Expressway
3.3 mi
4m
South Indiana Avenue
2.8 mi
5m
Asbury Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
West Sibley Boulevard
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
— 7.9 mi, about 11m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 3 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~8,925 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,444 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Phoenix, IL and Evanston, IL.
1
Start on Vincennes Avenue
0.2 mi·22 sec·Vincennes Avenue
2
Continue on IL 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Halsted Street
3
Turn right onto IL 83
0.3 mi·25 sec·East 147th Street
4
Continue on IL 83
1.0 mi·1 min·West Sibley Boulevard
5
Turn left onto South Indiana Avenue
2.5 mi·4 min·South Indiana Avenue
Use the left lane.
6
At end of road, turn left onto East 130th Street
335 ft·6 sec·East 130th Street
7
Continue on South Indiana Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·South Indiana Avenue
8
Turn left onto East 127th Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·East 127th Street
9
Turn right onto South Michigan Avenue
3.5 mi·6 min·South Michigan Avenue
10
Turn left onto South Wabash Avenue
170 ft·4 sec·South Wabash Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 94 West
12
Merge onto I 94
0.2 mi·12 sec·Bishop Ford Freeway
13
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi·4 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
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 RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 90; I 94
3.7 mi·5 min·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 47BToward Damen AvenueUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto North Damen Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·North Damen Avenue
Use the right lane.
18
Turn slight left onto North Clybourn Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·North Clybourn Avenue
19
Turn right onto North Western Avenue
5.5 mi·11 min·North Western Avenue
20
Continue on Asbury Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·Asbury Avenue
21
Turn right onto Dempster Street
213 ft·9 sec·Dempster Street
22
Turn uturn
213 ft·17 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 16.4 miles from Phoenix, 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 32.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in|South Indiana Avenue
Turn left onto South Indiana Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
4.7 mi into trip|~9m in|East 130th Street
At end of road, turn left onto East 130th Street
Navigation decision point
8
12.5 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
24.1 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
7
32.7 mi into trip|~55m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.99 one way
$9.98 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg11 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$5.49
$10.99
premium
$4.81
$6.19
$12.37
diesel
$5.40
$6.96
$13.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
9.8
0
$3.43
$1.57
Efficient EV
8.2
0
$2.86
$1.31
EV Truck/SUV
13.1
0
$4.58
$2.09
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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 26, 2026
Origin
Phoenix, IL
Late night
in Phoenix on Sunday
Local time
2:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Patchy Fog
ENE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Evanston, IL
Late night
in Evanston on Sunday
Local time
2:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Mostly Cloudy then Areas Of Fog
ENE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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
56m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a mix of highway and surface roads, with 46% of the drive on expressways. You'll encounter your longest stretch of continuous highway at 7.9 miles on the Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). Expect urban merging and a higher density of exits as you transition from expressways to surface streets approaching your destination.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.9 mi on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express).
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 2.1 miles in near South Indiana Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 32.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (South Indiana Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles (East 130th Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.5 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Phoenix is the capital of the state of Arizona, the most populous city in the American Southwest. Warm and sunny winter weather have ensured a thriving tourism industry, and the city has become the region's primary political, cultural, economic, and transportation center. Phoenix is extremely hot and dry in the summertime, so always have sunscreen with you! It had about 1,625,000 residents in 2021, and is the fifth largest city in the United States.
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 56m. Total distance: 32.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.9 miles on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 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 2.1 miles (South Indiana Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles (East 130th Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.5 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
