Trip from Evanston, IL to Vernon, IL

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

5h 6m

Distance

266.8 mi

429 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 53m ★

6 AM

5h 6m

8 AM

5h 33m

10 AM

5h 16m

12 PM

5h 13m

3 PM

5h 17m

5 PM

5h 32m

8 PM

4h 58m

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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suburban city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Evanston, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Evanston, IL to Vernon, IL covers 266.8 miles and takes about 5h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 57, I 70, United States Highway 51 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 200.8 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.71 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

133.4 miles from Evanston, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 5h 6m highway drive covering 266.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and I 70. The longest continuous stretch is about 200.8 miles on I 57.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 200.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 70. 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 17 significant decision points across 266.8 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 (Asbury Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

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

0 mi into trip | ~0m in

At end of road, turn left

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

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

Turn left onto Asbury Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

14.8 mi into trip | ~26m in | I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express

23.7 mi into trip | ~38m in | I 57

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 63 Toward I 57 South: Memphis

253.6 mi into trip | ~4h 50m in

Take the exit toward US 51 (Kennedy Boulevard): Vandalia, Pana

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 63 Toward US 51 (Kennedy Boulevard): Vandalia, Pan...

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 57	200.8 mi	3h 40m
I 70	29.2 mi	31m
United States Highway 51	10.8 mi	12m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)	8.8 mi	11m
North Western Avenue	5.5 mi	11m
Kennedy Expressway	3.6 mi	5m
Dan Ryan Expressway	2.4 mi	2m
Asbury Avenue	1.5 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 57 — 200.8 mi, about 3h 40m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on this road

197 ft · 21 sec · this road

At end of road, turn left

139 ft · 15 sec

At end of road, turn left onto Dempster Street

213 ft · 14 sec · Dempster Street

Turn left onto Asbury Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · Asbury Avenue

Use the left lane.

Continue on North Western Avenue

5.5 mi · 11 min · North Western Avenue

Turn left onto North Clybourn Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto North Damen Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Damen Avenue

Turn left onto West Webster Avenue

139 ft · 2 sec · West Webster Avenue

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Toward I 90 East, I 94 East

Merge onto I 90; I 94

3.6 mi · 5 min · Kennedy Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 90; I 94

2.4 mi · 2 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

8.8 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57

201 mi · 3 hr 40 min · I 57

Exit 63 Toward I 57 South: Memphis Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 70

29 mi · 31 min · I 70

Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 37 sec

Exit 63 Toward US 51 (Kennedy Boulevard): Vandalia, Pana

Merge onto US 51

1.4 mi · 1 min · North Kennedy Boulevard

Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185

0.5 mi · 34 sec · West Gallatin Street

Turn right

0.1 mi · 7 sec

Continue on US 51

11 mi · 12 min · United States Highway 51

Turn right onto West Broadway Street

147 ft · 12 sec · West Broadway Street

Turn left

122 ft · 9 sec

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 133.4 miles from Evanston, IL, or about 2h 39m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 200.8 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 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 133.4 miles or 2h 39m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 12m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vernon, 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 266.8 miles and 5h 6m.

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.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 200.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 133.4 mi from Evanston, IL · 2h 39m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Joliet, IL

133 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

Chicago, IL

Fuel and coffee

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

Joliet, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 133.4 miles from Evanston, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Vernon, IL

The final approach into Vernon, 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 Vernon, 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.

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...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 27.6

Caution: Road Construction Near the Park

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.71 one way

$83.42 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 93 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$45.80	$91.59
premium	$4.89	$51.34	$102.69
diesel	$5.61	$58.91	$117.81

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 93.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	80	0	$28.01	$12.81
Efficient EV	66.7	0	$23.35	$10.67
EV Truck/SUV	106.7	1	$37.35	$17.08

Gas CO2

93 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 4 days ago

Origin

Evanston, IL

Night in Evanston on Tuesday

Local time

10:10 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Vernon, IL

Night in Vernon on Tuesday

Local time

10:10 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°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

27 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

5h 6m 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 Evanston, IL to Vernon, IL covers 266.8 miles and takes about 5h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 57, I 70, United States Highway 51. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 133.4 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 $41.71 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.

The route from Evanston, IL to Vernon, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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