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Trip from Clear Lake, IL to Evanston, IL

Drive Time

4h 9m

Distance

211.4 mi

340 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 56m ★
6 AM
4h 9m
8 AM
4h 35m
10 AM
4h 18m
12 PM
4h 16m
3 PM
4h 20m
5 PM
4h 34m
8 PM
4h 1m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Clear Lake, IL, IL

Clear Lake, IL

Tommes Frites

Downtown Evanston, IL, IL

Evanston, IL

Stéphane Tendon

Trip Overview

The drive from Clear Lake, IL to Evanston, IL covers 211.4 miles and takes about 4h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 55, Tri-State Tollway, Oakton Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 179 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.11 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

105.7 miles from Clear Lake, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 4h 9m highway drive covering 211.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and Tri-State Tollway. The longest continuous stretch is about 179 miles on I 55.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 179 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

792 ft 577 ft

Total Climb

321 ft

Total Descent

284 ft

Highest Point

792 ft

~60.4 mi in

Elevation Range

216 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.9 miles in near I 55.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 211.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 30.9 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 22 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
30.9 mi into trip | ~35m in | I 55

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 North: Chicago
8
60.3 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | I 55

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
7
181.1 mi into trip | ~3h 21m 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
199.6 mi into trip | ~3h 45m 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
200.2 mi into trip | ~3h 47m 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

Towns Along This Route

Between Clear Lake, IL and Evanston, IL, road signs point toward Peoria and Touhy Avenue East.

Peoria

60.3 mi in | ~1h 6m | via I 55

Touhy Avenue East

200.2 mi in | ~3h 47m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 179 mi 3h 17m
Tri-State Tollway 16.6 mi 20m
Oakton Street 4 mi 7m
East Touhy Avenue 3 mi 5m
West Howard Street 1.7 mi 3m
Asbury Avenue 1 mi 1m
Old Route 36 0.7 mi 1m
North Harlem Avenue 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 179 mi, about 3h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clear Lake, IL and Evanston, IL.

1

Start on West Houston Street

491 ft · 18 sec · West Houston Street
2

Turn right onto South Dixon Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · South Dixon Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto Old Route 36

0.7 mi · 1 min · Old Route 36
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 51 sec
5

Merge onto I 72; US 36

0.3 mi · 19 sec · I 72; US 36
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
7

Merge onto I 55

29 mi · 31 min · I 55
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55

29 mi · 31 min · I 55
Toward I 55 North: Chicago Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55

121 mi · 2 hr 14 min · I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

1.6 mi · 3 min
Exit 277A Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin Use the right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
12

Merge onto I 294

4.8 mi · 5 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 294

12 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Exit 42 A-B Toward Touhy Avenue Use the slight right lane.
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 42 A-B Toward Touhy Avenue
16

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Exit 42A Toward Touhy Avenue East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue

3.0 mi · 5 min · East Touhy Avenue
18

Turn left onto IL 43

0.5 mi · 50 sec · North Harlem Avenue
Use the left lane.
19

Turn right onto West Howard Street

1.7 mi · 3 min · West Howard Street
20

Turn left onto New Gross Point Road

0.1 mi · 10 sec · New Gross Point Road
21

Continue on Gross Point Road

0.5 mi · 54 sec · Gross Point Road
22

Turn right onto Oakton Street

4.0 mi · 7 min · Oakton Street
23

Turn left onto Asbury Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · Asbury Avenue
Use the left lane.
24

Turn right onto Dempster Street

213 ft · 9 sec · Dempster Street
25

Turn uturn

213 ft · 17 sec
26

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 105.7 miles from Clear Lake, IL, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 179 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 105.7 miles or 1h 57m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 12m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evanston, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Clear Lake, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Clear Lake, IL

This is one driving day of about 211.4 miles and 4h 9m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Clear Lake, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 179 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 105.7 mi from Clear Lake, IL · 1h 57m into the drive

Downtown Normal, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Normal, IL

106 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

Normal, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Normal, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 105.7 miles from Clear Lake, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 179 miles.

Arriving in Evanston, IL

The final approach into Evanston, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Evanston, IL.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

National Monument

In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Pullman National Historical Park

Pullman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...

16 mi from route ~41 min detour Free near mile 182.3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$32.11 one way

$64.22 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 74 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $35.40 $70.79
premium $4.80 $39.91 $79.82
diesel $5.64 $46.97 $93.93

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.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 74 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 63.4 0 $22.20 $10.15
Efficient EV 52.9 0 $18.50 $8.46
EV Truck/SUV 84.6 1 $29.60 $13.53

Gas CO2

74 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 5 hours ago

Origin

Clear Lake, IL

Evening in Clear Lake on Sunday

Local time

7:51 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 23 mph 45% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 1:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:16PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Evanston, IL

Evening in Evanston on Sunday

Local time

7:51 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 25 mph 21% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 1:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:16PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

4h 9m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Clear Lake, IL to Evanston, IL covers 211.4 miles and takes about 4h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, Tri-State Tollway, Oakton Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 105.7 miles from Clear Lake, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.11 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 211.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 30.9 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Clear Lake, IL and Evanston, IL, road signs point toward Peoria and Touhy Avenue East.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Evanston, IL to Clear Lake, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

210.9 mi 4h 9m

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