Origin
Evanston, IL
Evening in Evanston on Tuesday
Local time
8:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Evanston, IL to Athens, IL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 6m
Distance
206.4 mi
332 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 54m
★
6 AM
4h 7m
8 AM
4h 33m
10 AM
4h 16m
12 PM
4h 13m
3 PM
4h 17m
5 PM
4h 32m
8 PM
3h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Athens, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Evanston, IL to Athens, IL covers 206.4 miles and takes about 4h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Adlai Stevenson Expressway, I 55, Tri-State Tollway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 119.4 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.27 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
103.2 miles from Evanston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 4h 6m highway drive covering 206.4 miles, with most of the trip on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 55. The longest continuous stretch is about 119.4 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 119.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 55. 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
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 206.4 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 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
8
149.3 mi into trip
|
~3h in
|
I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Evanston, IL and Athens, IL, road signs point toward St. Louis and Springfield.
St. Louis
28.9 mi in
|
~44m
Springfield
149.3 mi in
|
~3h
|
via I 55
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 119.4 mi | 2h 13m |
| I 55 | 47.8 mi | 51m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 17.5 mi | 22m |
| West Touhy Avenue | 4 mi | 7m |
| Oakton Street | 4 mi | 7m |
| County Road 11 North | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Dinius Road | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| IL 29 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
— 119.4 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston, IL and Athens, 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
119 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
48 mi
·
51 min
·
I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward IL 123: Williamsville
22
Keep slight right at fork
367 ft
·
10 sec
23
Turn straight onto IL 123
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
County Highway 2
24
Continue on IL 123
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Dinius Road
25
Continue on IL 123
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road 11 North
26
Turn right onto IL 29; IL 123
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 29; IL 123
27
Turn left onto Springfield Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Springfield Road
28
Continue on East Hargrave Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Hargrave Street
29
At end of road, turn right onto North Main Street
107 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Main Street
30
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
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 103.2 miles from Evanston, IL, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.4 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 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.2 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Athens, 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 206.4 miles and 4h 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 Adlai Stevenson Expressway for about 119.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 103.2 mi from Evanston, IL · 2h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 103.2 miles from Evanston, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Adlai Stevenson Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 119.4 miles.
Arriving in Athens, IL
The final approach into Athens, 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 Athens, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.27 one way
$64.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $35.43 | $70.86 |
| premium | $4.89 | $39.72 | $79.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.57 | $91.14 |
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.9 | 0 | $21.67 | $9.91 |
| Efficient EV | 51.6 | 0 | $18.06 | $8.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.6 | 1 | $28.90 | $13.21 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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
Athens, IL
Evening in Athens on Tuesday
Local time
8:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
14 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
4h 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 Athens, IL covers 206.4 miles and takes about 4h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, I 55, Tri-State Tollway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 103.2 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 $32.27 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 206.4 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 (Asbury Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Evanston, IL and Athens, IL, road signs point toward St. Louis and Springfield.
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