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Trip from Evanston, IL to Danville, IL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 33m

Distance

148.9 mi

240 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 21m ★
6 AM
3h 34m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 40m
3 PM
3h 44m
5 PM
3h 57m
8 PM
3h 26m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

suburban city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Evanston, IL

Wikimedia Commons

city in and the county seat of Vermilion County, Illinois, United States

Danville, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Evanston, IL to Danville, IL covers 148.9 miles and takes about 3h 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 $23.28 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

74.4 miles from Evanston, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .

About the Cities

Starting in Evanston, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1836

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.

Top landmarks

  • Grosse Point Light — lighthouse in Illinois, United States
  • Shakespeare Garden — garden on the campus of Northwestern University
  • Frederick B. Carter, Jr. House — historic house in Illinois, 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 3h 33m. Total distance: 148.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 33m drive with frequent turns across 148.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Evanston, IL to Danville, IL is easy. At 3h 33m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Evanston, IL to Danville, 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 Danville, 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

46 mi · 54 min · I 57 South: Memphis
14

Take the exit slight right toward IL 17: Kankakee, Momence

0.3 mi · 36 sec · IL 17: Kankakee, Momence
15

Turn straight onto East Court Street

5.9 mi · 8 min · East Court Street
16

Continue on South State Route 1

6.7 mi · 10 min · South State Route 1
17

Continue on North Dixie Highway

0.3 mi · 33 sec · North Dixie Highway
18

Turn right onto E 7000S Road

0.5 mi · 47 sec · E 7000S Road
19

Continue on S 7000E Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · S 7000E Road
20

Continue on North 2100 E Road

15 mi · 22 min · North 2100 E Road
21

Continue on North 2100 East Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · North 2100 East Road
22

At the end of the road, turn left onto West Walnut Street

2.7 mi · 6 min · West Walnut Street
23

Turn right

46 mi · 1 hr 7 min
24

Turn right onto East Main Street

13 ft · East Main Street
25

Arrive at your 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 74.4 miles from Evanston, IL, or about 1h 46m 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 33 miles or 47m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 74.4 miles or 1h 46m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Danville, 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 148.9 miles and 3h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 74.4 mi from Evanston, IL · 1h 46m into the drive

Downtown Orland Park, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Orland Park, IL

74 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Orland Park, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 74.4 miles from Evanston, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Danville, IL

The final approach into Danville, 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 Danville, 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

$23.28 one way

$46.56 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $25.56 $51.12
premium $4.89 $28.65 $57.31
diesel $5.61 $32.88 $65.75

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 52.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44.7 0 $15.63 $7.15
Efficient EV 37.2 0 $13.03 $5.96
EV Truck/SUV 59.6 0 $20.85 $9.53

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Evanston, IL

Morning in Evanston on Saturday

Local time

11:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Danville, IL

Morning in Danville on Saturday

Local time

11:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°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

7 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

3h 33m 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 Danville, IL covers 148.9 miles and takes about 3h 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 74.4 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 $23.28 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The drive from Evanston, IL to Danville, IL is easy. At 3h 33m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Evanston, IL to Danville, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Evanston, IL to Danville, 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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Explore More

Return Trip

Danville, IL to Evanston, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

149.1 mi 3h 34m

Explore more options from Evanston, IL or browse trips ending in Danville, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.