Origin
Evanston, IL
Night in Evanston on Wednesday
Local time
9:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Evanston, IL to Lanark, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 49m
Distance
127 mi
204 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 38m
★
6 AM
2h 49m
8 AM
3h 11m
10 AM
2h 57m
12 PM
2h 54m
3 PM
2h 58m
5 PM
3h 10m
8 PM
2h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Lanark, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Evanston, IL to Lanark, IL covers 127 miles and takes about 2h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dempster Street, Asbury Avenue, Oakton Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.86 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
63.5 miles from Evanston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 49m drive with frequent turns across 127 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dempster Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Evanston, IL to Lanark, IL is easy. At 2h 49m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Evanston, IL to Lanark, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dempster Street | — | — |
| Asbury Avenue | — | — |
| Oakton Street | — | — |
| Gross Point Road | — | — |
| New Gross Point Road | — | — |
| Howard Street | — | — |
| North Lehigh Avenue | — | — |
| West Gross Point Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Dempster Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston, IL and Lanark, IL.
1
Start on the route
197 ft
·
22 sec
·
the route
2
At the end of the road, turn left
141 ft
·
16 sec
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto Dempster Street
213 ft
·
15 sec
·
Dempster Street
4
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Asbury Avenue
5
Turn right onto Oakton Street
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Oakton Street
6
Turn slight left onto Gross Point Road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Gross Point Road
7
Turn straight onto New Gross Point Road
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
New Gross Point Road
8
Turn right onto Howard Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Howard Street
9
Turn left onto North Lehigh Avenue
121 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Lehigh Avenue
10
Turn right onto West Gross Point Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Gross Point Road
11
Turn slight right onto West Touhy Avenue
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
West Touhy Avenue
12
Turn left onto South Dee Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Dee Road
13
Turn right onto Devon Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Devon Avenue
14
Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 West Toll
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 90 West Toll
15
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
59 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
16
Take the exit slight right toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
17
Merge slight right
0.5 mi
·
30 sec
18
Continue straight
2.1 mi
·
2 min
19
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
20
Take the exit slight right toward IL 2: Rockford, Dixon
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
IL 2: Rockford, Dixon
21
Keep slight left
171 ft
·
6 sec
22
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
23
Turn right onto South Main Road
9.1 mi
·
13 min
·
South Main Road
24
Continue on East Blackhawk Drive
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Blackhawk Drive
25
Turn right
16 mi
·
23 min
26
Turn right onto South Walnut Avenue
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
South Walnut Avenue
27
Turn left
10 mi
·
14 min
28
Turn left
3.7 mi
·
5 min
29
Turn right onto West Locust Street
174 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Locust Street
30
Turn right
69 ft
·
5 sec
31
Arrive at your 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.5 miles from Evanston, IL, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
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 28 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.5 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lanark, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Evanston, 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 Evanston, IL
This is one driving day of about 127 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Evanston, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 63.5 mi from Evanston, IL · 1h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 63.5 miles from Evanston, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lanark, IL
The final approach into Lanark, 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 Lanark, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.86 one way
$39.71 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.80 | $43.60 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.44 | $48.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.04 | $56.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.1 | 0 | $13.33 | $6.10 |
| Efficient EV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.11 | $5.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.8 | 0 | $17.78 | $8.13 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Destination
Lanark, IL
Night in Lanark on Wednesday
Local time
9:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
17 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
2h 49m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Evanston, IL to Lanark, IL covers 127 miles and takes about 2h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dempster Street, Asbury Avenue, Oakton Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 63.5 miles from Evanston, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.86 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Evanston, IL to Lanark, IL is easy. At 2h 49m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Evanston, IL to Lanark, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Evanston, IL to Lanark, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Lanark, IL
More trips to Lanark, IL
Explore more options from Evanston, IL or browse trips ending in Lanark, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Evanston, IL or Lanark, IL on MapSof.net.