Origin
Cortland, IL
Night in Cortland on Wednesday
Local time
10:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cortland, IL to Evanston, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
65.4 mi
105 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cortland, IL
Mike Tyurin
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cortland, IL to Evanston, IL covers 65.4 miles and takes about 1h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, West Lincoln Highway, Randall Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.6 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.22 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
32.7 miles from Cortland, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 37m drive with frequent turns across 65.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 20.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 21 miles in near CR 34 / Randall Road.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 21 miles (CR 34 / Randall Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 50.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 51 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
21 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
CR 34 / Randall Road
Turn left onto CR 34 / Randall Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
50.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward Elmhurst Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 73
Toward Elmhurst Road
7
51 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Elmhurst Road North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Elmhurst Road North
6
51.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
West Oakton Street
Turn right onto West Oakton Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
65.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
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 Cortland, IL to Evanston, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Elmhurst Road North along the way.
Elmhurst Road North
51 mi in
|
~1h 8m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 20.6 mi | 22m |
| West Lincoln Highway | 14.7 mi | 20m |
| Randall Road | 8.6 mi | 13m |
| East Oakton Street | 6.1 mi | 12m |
| Oakton Street | 5.8 mi | 11m |
| Bolcum Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| LaFox Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Asbury Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 20.6 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cortland, IL and Evanston, IL.
1
Start on East Chestnut Avenue
20 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Chestnut Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Somonauk Road
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Somonauk Road
3
Turn left onto IL 38
15 mi
·
20 min
·
West Lincoln Highway
4
Turn left onto CR 81
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
LaFox Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on CR 2
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Burlington Road
6
Enter roundabout onto Bolcum Road
22 ft
·
0 sec
·
Bolcum Road
7
Continue on Bolcum Road
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Bolcum Road
8
Turn left onto CR 34
8.6 mi
·
13 min
·
Randall Road
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 90 East: Chicago
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 90
21 mi
·
22 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 73
Toward Elmhurst Road
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
288 ft
·
9 sec
Toward Elmhurst Road North
Use the slight left lane.
13
Turn straight onto South Elmhurst Road
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Elmhurst Road
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Turn right onto West Oakton Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
West Oakton Street
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on West Oakton Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Oakton Street
16
Continue on East Oakton Street
6.1 mi
·
12 min
·
East Oakton Street
17
Continue on Oakton Street
5.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Oakton Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Asbury Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Dempster Street
213 ft
·
9 sec
·
Dempster Street
20
Turn uturn
213 ft
·
17 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 32.7 miles from Cortland, IL, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.6 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 14 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.7 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 17m
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 Cortland, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cortland, IL
This is one driving day of about 65.4 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Cortland, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 20.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.7 mi from Cortland, IL · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 32.7 miles from Cortland, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.22 one way
$20.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.23 | $22.45 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.59 | $25.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.44 | $28.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.44
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(20.6 mi)
$1.44
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
$10
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.87 | $3.14 |
| Efficient EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.72 | $2.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.16 | $4.19 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Night in Evanston on Wednesday
Local time
10:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 mph
34% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 2:54PM EDT until April 14 at 4:46AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:50AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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
24 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 37m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cortland, IL to Evanston, IL covers 65.4 miles and takes about 1h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, West Lincoln Highway, Randall Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.7 miles from Cortland, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.22 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 21 miles (CR 34 / Randall Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 50.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 51 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Cortland, IL to Evanston, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Elmhurst Road North along the way.
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