Origin
Wheaton, IL
Late night in Wheaton on Tuesday
Local time
3:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wheaton, 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
Distance
31.7 mi
51 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wheaton, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 36.3-mile journey from Wheaton, IL to Evanston, IL is a short, straightforward drive that can easily be completed in about 55 minutes. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $6, it's an economical option for a single-day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads, so expect a more engaged driving experience rather than a highway cruise. Since it's a relatively quick trip, you won't need to worry about overnight stays. This route stays within the Midwest region, offering a familiar landscape as you travel from one Illinois community to another.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 7.8 mi | 10m |
| North Avenue | 7.2 mi | 14m |
| Oakton Street | 4 mi | 7m |
| East Touhy Avenue | 3 mi | 5m |
| North Main Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| West Howard Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| College Avenue | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Asbury Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 7.8 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wheaton, IL and Evanston, IL.
1
Start on West Wesley Street
334 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Wesley Street
2
Turn right onto North Hale Street
405 ft
·
19 sec
·
North Hale Street
3
Turn right onto West Seminary Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Seminary Avenue
4
Continue on College Avenue
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
College Avenue
5
Continue on Pennsylvania Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
6
Turn left onto North Main Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
7
Turn right onto IL 64
7.2 mi
·
14 min
·
North Avenue
Use the right lane.
8
Turn slight right onto US 20
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 20
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 294
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 42A
Toward Touhy Avenue East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
East Touhy Avenue
15
Turn left onto IL 43
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Harlem Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto West Howard Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
West Howard Street
17
Turn left onto New Gross Point Road
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
New Gross Point Road
18
Continue on Gross Point Road
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Gross Point Road
19
Turn right onto Oakton Street
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Oakton Street
20
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Asbury Avenue
Use the left lane.
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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.9 miles from Wheaton, 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 11.7 and 31.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
11.7 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
7
19.9 mi into trip
|
~37m 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
6
20 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Touhy Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
8
20.5 mi into trip
|
~38m 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
31.7 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.96 one way
$9.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.44 | $10.88 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.10 | $12.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.00 | $14.00 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.47
Tri-state Tollway
(7.8 mi)
$0.47
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$0
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
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.
Destination
Evanston, IL
Late night in Evanston on Tuesday
Local time
3:05 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
3 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 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?
Given its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile and 0% highway share, this route emphasizes navigating city streets and local thoroughfares. You won't encounter long stretches of uninterrupted driving; instead, anticipate frequent turns and traffic lights. The absence of a 'longest stretch' further indicates a continuous series of intersections and road changes. This means you'll be actively managing your route and speed throughout the entire 55-minute duration, making it a more hands-on driving experience.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.8 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 31.7 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 11.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Wheaton, IL to Evanston, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Touhy Avenue East along the way.
Touhy Avenue East
20.5 mi in
|
~38m
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 1h. Total distance: 31.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.8 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.47 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 11.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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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