Drive Time
3h 47m
Distance
172.2 mi
277 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
The drive from Evanston, IL to East Dubuque, IL covers 172.2 miles and takes about 3h 47m 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, Oakton Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.57 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
86.1 miles from Evanston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 47m drive with frequent turns across 172.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dempster Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Asbury Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Oakton Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gross Point Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New Gross Point Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Howard Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Lehigh Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Gross Point Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston, IL and East Dubuque, IL.
Start on the route
At the end of the road, turn left
At the end of the road, turn left onto Dempster Street
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
Turn right onto Oakton Street
Turn slight left onto Gross Point Road
Turn straight onto New Gross Point Road
Turn right onto Howard Street
Turn left onto North Lehigh Avenue
Turn right onto West Gross Point Road
Turn slight right onto West Touhy Avenue
Turn left onto South Dee Road
Turn right onto Devon Avenue
Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 West Toll
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Take the exit slight right toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
Merge slight right
Continue straight
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right toward US 20 BUS: Freeport
Turn slight right onto South Galena Avenue
Turn left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Continue on East North Avenue
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Continue on East Woodbine Street
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Continue on South Main Street
Turn straight onto Diagonal Street
Continue on West Madison Street
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Continue on Decatur Street
Continue on Spring Street
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Continue on Sinsinawa Avenue
Turn left onto Wall Street
Turn right onto 3rd Street
Turn left onto Sinsinawa Avenue
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.1 miles or 1h 53m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Dubuque, IL than in the middle of the route.
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 172.2 miles and 3h 47m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.1 mi from Evanston, IL · 1h 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 86.1 miles from Evanston, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into East Dubuque, 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 East Dubuque, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$25.57 one way
$51.13 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $28.83 | $57.67 |
| premium | $4.65 | $31.55 | $63.10 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $35.96 | $71.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.7 | 0 | $18.08 | $8.27 |
| Efficient EV | 43.1 | 0 | $15.07 | $6.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.9 | 0 | $24.11 | $11.02 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Evanston on Saturday
Local time
8:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in East Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
8:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
43°F
Rockford, IL
86 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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