Origin
Evanston, IL
Afternoon in Evanston on Thursday
Local time
4:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Evanston, IL to Plainfield, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
49.2 mi
79 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Plainfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Evanston, IL to Plainfield, IL covers 49.2 miles and takes about 1h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Tri-State Tollway, Adlai Stevenson Expressway, West Touhy Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.5 miles on Tri-State Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 49.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Evanston, IL to Plainfield, IL covers 49.2 miles and takes about 1h 14m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tri-State Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 17.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 early in the drive.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.2 miles you will encounter 20 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: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Asbury Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
At end of road, turn left
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Asbury Avenue
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
27.6 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
29.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
7
45.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward IL 126 West: Plainfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 261
Toward IL 126 West: Plainfield
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 Evanston, IL to Plainfield, IL, road signs begin pointing toward St. Louis along the way.
St. Louis
28.9 mi in
|
~44m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 17.5 mi | 22m |
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 15.4 mi | 20m |
| West Touhy Avenue | 4 mi | 7m |
| Oakton Street | 4 mi | 7m |
| East Main Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Asbury Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Division Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West Gross Point Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 17.5 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston, IL and Plainfield, IL.
1
Start on this road
197 ft
·
21 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn left
139 ft
·
15 sec
3
At end of road, turn left onto Dempster Street
213 ft
·
14 sec
·
Dempster Street
4
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Asbury Avenue
Use the left lane.
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
·
14 sec
·
New Gross Point Road
8
Turn right onto Howard Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Howard Street
9
Turn left onto North Lehigh Avenue
120 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
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
West Touhy Avenue
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto South Des Plaines River Road
184 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Des Plaines River Road
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 294 South: Indiana
14
Merge onto I 294
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 23
Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Use the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto I 55
15 mi
·
20 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 261
Toward IL 126 West: Plainfield
Use the slight right lane.
21
Continue on IL 126
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
East Main Street
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto Michigan Street
439 ft
·
22 sec
·
Michigan Street
23
Turn left onto South Naperville Road
91 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Naperville Road
24
Turn right onto US 30; IL 59
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Division Street
25
Turn left onto West Hazelcrest Drive
350 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Hazelcrest Drive
Use the left lane.
26
Arrive at destination
West Hazelcrest Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.6 mi from Evanston, IL · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.6 miles from Evanston, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Plainfield, IL
The final approach into Plainfield, 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
$7.69 one way
$15.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.45 | $16.89 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.47 | $18.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.86 | $21.73 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.05
Tri-state Tollway
(17.5 mi)
$1.05
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.89 | $3.15 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Plainfield, IL
Afternoon in Plainfield on Thursday
Local time
4:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
1 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 14m 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 Plainfield, IL covers 49.2 miles and takes about 1h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, Adlai Stevenson Expressway, West Touhy Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.6 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 $7.69 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 49.2 miles you will encounter 20 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: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Asbury Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Evanston, IL to Plainfield, IL, road signs begin pointing toward St. Louis along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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