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Trip from Evanston, IL to Round Lake Beach, IL

Drive Time

55m

Distance

36.8 mi

59 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 51m ★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m

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 Evanston, IL, IL

Evanston, IL

Stéphane Tendon

Downtown Round Lake Beach, IL, IL

Round Lake Beach, IL

Ryan Latimer

Trip Overview

The drive from Evanston, IL to Round Lake Beach, IL covers 36.8 miles and takes about 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Skokie Highway, Buckley Road, Edens Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 5.6 miles on South Skokie Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.59 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

18.4 miles from Evanston, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 55m drive with frequent turns across 36.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Skokie Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 5.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 early in the drive.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 36.8 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: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Dempster Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Asbury Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These 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

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Dempster Street

At end of road, turn left onto Dempster Street

Navigation decision point

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Asbury Avenue

Turn right onto Asbury Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
5
1.8 mi into trip | ~4m in | Central Street

Turn left onto Central Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
10.1 mi into trip | ~17m in | US 41 / Skokie Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 41 / Skokie Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Skokie Highway 5.6 mi 7m
Buckley Road 4.4 mi 7m
Edens Expressway 4 mi 5m
Skokie Highway 3.8 mi 4m
Skokie Valley Road 3.4 mi 3m
Antioch Road 2.7 mi 4m
East Belvidere Road 2 mi 3m
Peterson Road 1.6 mi 2m
Longest stretch: South Skokie Highway — 5.6 mi, about 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Evanston, IL and Round Lake Beach, 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 · 11 sec · Dempster Street
4

Turn right onto Asbury Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · Asbury Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
5

Turn left onto Green Bay Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Green Bay Road
6

Turn left onto Central Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · Central Street
Use the left lane.
7

Turn right onto Crawford Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Crawford Avenue
8

Turn left onto Wilmette Avenue

90 ft · 1 sec · Wilmette Avenue
9

Keep slight left at fork onto Glenview Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Glenview Road
10

Turn right onto US 41

1.2 mi · 2 min · Skokie Boulevard
11

Take the ramp onto US 41

0.2 mi · 30 sec · US 41
Toward I 94 West
12

Merge onto I 94; US 41

4.0 mi · 5 min · Edens Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto US 41

3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on US 41

3.4 mi · 3 min · Skokie Valley Road
15

Continue on US 41

5.6 mi · 7 min · South Skokie Highway
16

Turn left onto IL 137

4.4 mi · 7 min · Buckley Road
Use the left lane.
17

Continue on IL 137

1.6 mi · 2 min · Peterson Road
Use the left lane.
18

Continue on IL 137

0.2 mi · 14 sec · Old Peterson Road
19

Continue on IL 137

2.7 mi · 4 min · Antioch Road
20

Continue on IL 83

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Ivanhoe Road
21

Turn left onto IL 120

2.0 mi · 3 min · East Belvidere Road
Use the left lane.
22

Turn straight

0.1 mi · 13 sec
23

Turn straight onto IL 134

1.2 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
24

Continue on IL 134

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Railroad Avenue
25

Turn right onto CR V63

1.3 mi · 2 min · North Cedar Lake Road
26

Turn left

142 ft · 10 sec
27

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 18.4 miles from Evanston, IL, or about 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.6 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 36.8 miles or 55m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 18.4 miles or 27m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 46m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Round Lake Beach, 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 36.8 miles and 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Evanston, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on South Skokie Highway for about 5.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 18.4 mi from Evanston, IL · 27m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukegan, IL

18 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

Waukegan, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waukegan, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Evanston, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Round Lake Beach, IL

The final approach into Round Lake Beach, 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 Round Lake Beach, 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

$5.59 one way

$11.18 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $6.16 $12.32
premium $4.80 $6.95 $13.89
diesel $5.64 $8.18 $16.35

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11 0 $3.86 $1.77
Efficient EV 9.2 0 $3.22 $1.47
EV Truck/SUV 14.7 0 $5.15 $2.36

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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 7 hours ago

Origin

Evanston, IL

Afternoon in Evanston on Monday

Local time

2:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 15 mph 39% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Round Lake Beach, IL

Afternoon in Round Lake Beach on Monday

Local time

2:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°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

26 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

55m 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 Evanston, IL to Round Lake Beach, IL covers 36.8 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Skokie Highway, Buckley Road, Edens Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.4 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 $5.59 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 is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 36.8 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: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Dempster Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Asbury Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Evanston, IL to Round Lake Beach, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Round Lake Beach, IL to Evanston, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

37.4 mi 55m

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