Origin
Evanston, IL
Late night in Evanston on Thursday
Local time
12:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Evanston, IL to Cortland, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 36m
Distance
67.2 mi
108 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 29m
★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Cortland, IL
Mike Tyurin
Trip Overview
The drive from Evanston, IL to Cortland, IL covers 67.2 miles and takes about 1h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Lincoln Highway, Randall Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.7 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.51 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
33.6 miles from Evanston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 36m drive with frequent turns across 67.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 24.7 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
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.2 miles you will encounter 19 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 11.1 miles (Devon Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 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
11.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Devon Avenue
Turn right onto Devon Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
37 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward Randall Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52
Toward Randall Road
8
37.3 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Randall Road, Elgin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Randall Road, Elgin
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 Cortland, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Elgin along the way.
Elgin
37.3 mi in
|
~51m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 24.7 mi | 26m |
| Lincoln Highway | 14.7 mi | 20m |
| Randall Road | 8.8 mi | 14m |
| Oakton Street | 4 mi | 7m |
| West Touhy Avenue | 3.3 mi | 6m |
| Bolcum Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| LaFox Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Asbury Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 24.7 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston, IL and Cortland, 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
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
West Touhy Avenue
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto South Dee Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Dee Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Devon Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Devon Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 90 West Toll
Use the right lane.
15
Merge onto I 90
25 mi
·
26 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 52
Toward Randall Road
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
222 ft
·
7 sec
Toward Randall Road, Elgin
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto CR 34
8.8 mi
·
14 min
·
Randall Road
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Bolcum Road
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Bolcum Road
20
Enter roundabout onto CR 2
178 ft
·
3 sec
·
Burlington Road
21
Continue on CR 2
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Burlington Road
22
Continue on CR 81
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
LaFox Road
23
Turn right onto IL 38
15 mi
·
20 min
·
Lincoln Highway
24
Turn right onto South Somonauk Road
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Somonauk Road
25
Turn right onto East Chestnut Avenue
20 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Chestnut Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
East Chestnut Avenue
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 33.6 miles from Evanston, IL, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.7 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 15 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.6 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cortland, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Evanston, IL
This is one driving day of about 67.2 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Evanston, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 24.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.6 mi from Evanston, IL · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.6 miles from Evanston, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cortland, IL
The final approach into Cortland, 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
$10.51 one way
$21.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.54 | $23.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.93 | $25.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.84 | $29.67 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.73
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(24.7 mi)
$1.73
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
$11
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.06 | $3.23 |
| Efficient EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.88 | $2.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.9 | 0 | $9.41 | $4.30 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Cortland, IL
Late night in Cortland on Thursday
Local time
12:17 AM
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
1 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
1h 36m 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 Cortland, IL covers 67.2 miles and takes about 1h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Lincoln Highway, Randall Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.6 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 $10.51 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 67.2 miles you will encounter 19 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 11.1 miles (Devon Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Evanston, IL to Cortland, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Elgin along the way.
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