Origin
Evanston, IL
Afternoon in Evanston on Thursday
Local time
3:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Evanston, IL to Warsaw, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 54m
Distance
297.3 mi
478 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 41m
★
6 AM
5h 54m
8 AM
6h 20m
10 AM
6h 3m
12 PM
6h 1m
3 PM
6h 5m
5 PM
6h 19m
8 PM
5h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Warsaw, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Evanston, IL to Warsaw, IL covers 297.3 miles and takes about 5h 54m 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 $46.48 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
148.6 miles from Evanston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 57m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 54m. Total distance: 297.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 54m 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 5h 54m drive with frequent turns across 297.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 42 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.
This is a straightforward 5h 54m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Evanston, IL to Warsaw, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dempster Street | — | — |
| Asbury Avenue | — | — |
| Oakton Street | — | — |
| Gross Point Road | — | — |
| New Gross Point Road | — | — |
| Howard Street | — | — |
| North Lehigh Avenue | — | — |
| West Gross Point Road | — | — |
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 Warsaw, 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
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Asbury Avenue
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
·
15 sec
·
New Gross Point Road
8
Turn right onto Howard Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Howard Street
9
Turn left onto North Lehigh Avenue
121 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
12
Turn left onto South Des Plaines River Road
184 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Des Plaines River Road
13
Take the ramp slight right toward I 294 South: Indiana
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
I 294 South: Indiana
14
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
8.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
16
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
17
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
18
Keep slight right to continue on I 88 West Toll: Aurora
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 88 West Toll: Aurora
19
Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
20
Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
25 mi
·
30 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
21
Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
69 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
22
Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
23
Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
38 mi
·
40 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
24
Continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
25
Take the exit slight right toward I 80: Peoria
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
I 80: Peoria
26
Keep slight left to continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
31 mi
·
33 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
27
Take the exit slight right toward US 34 West: Monmouth
22 mi
·
26 min
·
US 34 West: Monmouth
28
Take the exit slight right toward US 34 West: Burlington
28 mi
·
34 min
·
US 34 West: Burlington
29
Take the exit slight right toward US 61: Fort Madison
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 61: Fort Madison
30
Turn left onto North Roosevelt Avenue
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Roosevelt Avenue
31
Continue on 71st Street
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
71st Street
32
Continue on Highway 61
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 61
33
Continue on 71st Street
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
71st Street
34
Continue on 354th Avenue
28 mi
·
32 min
·
354th Avenue
35
Continue on Main Street
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Main Street
36
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
37
Turn slight right
121 ft
·
7 sec
38
Turn right onto Warsaw Road
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Warsaw Road
39
Continue on County Highway 32
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
County Highway 32
40
Continue on North 6th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North 6th Street
41
Turn right onto Main Street
49 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
42
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 148.6 miles from Evanston, IL, or about 2h 57m 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 65 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.6 miles or 2h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Warsaw, 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 297.3 miles and 5h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 148.6 mi from Evanston, IL · 2h 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
149 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 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 148.6 miles from Evanston, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Warsaw, IL
The final approach into Warsaw, 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 Warsaw, 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
$46.48 one way
$92.96 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
104 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $51.03 | $102.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $57.21 | $114.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $65.64 | $131.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89.2 | 1 | $31.22 | $14.27 |
| Efficient EV | 74.3 | 0 | $26.01 | $11.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118.9 | 1 | $41.62 | $19.03 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% 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
Warsaw, IL
Afternoon in Warsaw on Thursday
Local time
3:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°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
8 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
5h 54m 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 Warsaw, IL covers 297.3 miles and takes about 5h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dempster Street, Asbury Avenue, Oakton Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 148.6 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 $46.48 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 straightforward 5h 54m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Evanston, IL to Warsaw, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Evanston, IL to Warsaw, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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