Origin
Evanston, IL
Late night in Evanston on Saturday
Local time
2:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Evanston, IL to Carbondale, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 33m
Distance
342.9 mi
552 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$54
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 21m
★
6 AM
6h 33m
8 AM
6h 58m
10 AM
6h 42m
12 PM
6h 39m
3 PM
6h 43m
5 PM
6h 56m
8 PM
6h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Carbondale, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Evanston, IL to Carbondale, IL covers 342.9 miles and takes about 6h 33m 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, North Western Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.61 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
171.5 miles from Evanston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 16m into the drive .
About the Cities
Starting in Evanston, IL
Full guide →Evanston is a city in the North Shore region of Illinois along the shores of Lake Michigan. Evanston has many identities: college town, dining destination, cultural center and gateway to the wealthy North Shore, although the city itself is anything but homogeneous in regards to economic status, culture and race. Evanston is named after John Evans, one of the founders of Northwestern University, which ranks among the most prestigious universities in the United States.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 33m. Total distance: 342.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 33m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 33m drive with frequent turns across 342.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 33m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Evanston, IL to Carbondale, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dempster Street | — | — |
| Asbury Avenue | — | — |
| North Western Avenue | — | — |
| North Clybourn Avenue | — | — |
| North Damen Avenue | — | — |
| West Webster Avenue | — | — |
| I 90 East | — | — |
| Kennedy Expressway | — | — |
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 Carbondale, 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
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Asbury Avenue
5
Continue on North Western Avenue
5.5 mi
·
11 min
·
North Western Avenue
6
Turn left onto North Clybourn Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Clybourn Avenue
7
Turn right onto North Damen Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Damen Avenue
8
Turn left onto West Webster Avenue
138 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Webster Avenue
9
Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 East, I 94 East
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 90 East, I 94 East
10
Merge slight left onto Kennedy Expressway
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
11
Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
12
Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
13
Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis
201 mi
·
3 hr 40 min
·
I 57 South: Memphis
14
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 South: Memphis
66 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 57 South: Memphis
15
Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway
37 mi
·
40 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
16
Take the exit slight right toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
17
Keep slight left to continue on IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
18
Keep slight right to continue on IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
19
Merge slight left onto West Deyoung Street
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Deyoung Street
20
Continue on IL-13
11 mi
·
16 min
·
IL-13
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 171.5 miles from Evanston, IL, or about 3h 16m 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 75 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 171.5 miles or 3h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carbondale, 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 342.9 miles and 6h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 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 171.5 mi from Evanston, IL · 3h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
171 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 75 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 171.5 miles from Evanston, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Carbondale, IL
The final approach into Carbondale, 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 Carbondale, 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
$53.61 one way
$107.22 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
120 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $58.86 | $117.72 |
| premium | $4.89 | $65.99 | $131.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $75.71 | $151.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 102.9 | 1 | $36.00 | $16.46 |
| Efficient EV | 85.7 | 0 | $30.00 | $13.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 137.2 | 1 | $48.01 | $21.95 |
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Carbondale, IL
Late night in Carbondale on Saturday
Local time
2:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
10 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
6h 33m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Carbondale, IL covers 342.9 miles and takes about 6h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dempster Street, Asbury Avenue, North Western Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 171.5 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 $53.61 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 itself is not hard, but at 6h 33m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Evanston, IL to Carbondale, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Evanston, IL to Carbondale, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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