Origin
Evanston, IL
Morning in Evanston on Friday
Local time
11:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Evanston, IL to Washburn, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 7m
Distance
146.2 mi
235 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 56m
★
6 AM
3h 7m
8 AM
3h 30m
10 AM
3h 15m
12 PM
3h 13m
3 PM
3h 17m
5 PM
3h 29m
8 PM
3h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Washburn, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Evanston, IL to Washburn, IL covers 146.2 miles and takes about 3h 7m 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 $22.86 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
73.1 miles from Evanston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 7m. Total distance: 146.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 7m 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 7m drive with frequent turns across 146.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 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 Washburn, IL is easy. At 3h 7m 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 Washburn, 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 Washburn, 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
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
15
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
16
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
17
Take the exit slight right toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
18
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 55 South: Saint Louis
19
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
26 mi
·
32 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
20
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West: Iowa
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 West: Iowa
21
Merge slight left
47 mi
·
50 min
22
Take the exit slight right toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomington
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomington
23
Merge slight left
24 mi
·
25 min
24
Take the exit slight right toward IL 17: Lacon, Wenona
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
IL 17: Lacon, Wenona
25
Turn straight onto 700 North Road
9.1 mi
·
13 min
·
700 North Road
26
Turn left onto 2160 E Rd
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
2160 E Rd
27
Continue on Main Street
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Main Street
28
Keep slight left to continue on North Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Jefferson Street
29
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 73.1 miles from Evanston, IL, or about 1h 33m 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 32 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.1 miles or 1h 33m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washburn, 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 146.2 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 73.1 mi from Evanston, IL · 1h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
73 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 73.1 miles from Evanston, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Washburn, IL
The final approach into Washburn, 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 Washburn, 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
$22.86 one way
$45.71 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.10 | $50.19 |
| premium | $4.89 | $28.13 | $56.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.28 | $64.56 |
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: 51.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.9 | 0 | $15.35 | $7.02 |
| Efficient EV | 36.6 | 0 | $12.79 | $5.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.5 | 0 | $20.47 | $9.36 |
Gas CO2
51 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.
Destination
Washburn, IL
Morning in Washburn on Friday
Local time
11:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
6 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 7m 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 Washburn, IL covers 146.2 miles and takes about 3h 7m 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 73.1 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 $22.86 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 Washburn, IL is easy. At 3h 7m 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 Washburn, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Evanston, IL to Washburn, 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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