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Trip from Fox, IL to Evanston, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 34m

Distance

65.2 mi

105 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 27m ★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 48m
8 PM
1h 30m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Fox, IL, IL

Fox, IL

Steffi Wacker

suburban city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Evanston, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Fox, IL to Evanston, IL covers 65.2 miles and takes about 1h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on IL 56, Tri-State Tollway, Eldamain Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.8 miles on IL 56. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.19 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.

Midpoint

32.6 miles from Fox, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 65.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Fox, IL to Evanston, IL covers 65.2 miles and takes about 1h 34m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IL 56 is the longest continuous segment at about 24.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.6 miles in near Galena Road.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.2 miles you will encounter 21 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: at 6.6 miles (Galena Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
6.6 mi into trip | ~11m in | Galena Road

Turn right onto Galena Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
8
42.6 mi into trip | ~56m in

Take the exit toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 139 Toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rock...
7
53.4 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in

Take the exit toward Touhy Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 42 A-B Toward Touhy Avenue
8
54 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Touhy Avenue East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 42A Toward Touhy Avenue East
7
65.2 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in

Turn uturn

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Fox, IL and Evanston, IL, road signs point toward Rockford, Milwaukee and Touhy Avenue East.

Rockford

42.6 mi in | ~56m

Milwaukee

43.2 mi in | ~57m

Touhy Avenue East

54 mi in | ~1h 12m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
IL 56 24.8 mi 30m
Tri-State Tollway 9.9 mi 13m
Eldamain Road 6.5 mi 10m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway 4.7 mi 5m
Oakton Street 4 mi 7m
East Touhy Avenue 3 mi 5m
US 30 2.9 mi 3m
Galena Road 2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: IL 56 — 24.8 mi, about 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fox, IL and Evanston, IL.

1

Start on West Fox Road

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Fox Road
2

Turn right onto Eldamain Road

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Eldamain Road
3

Enter roundabout onto Eldamain Road

118 ft · 2 sec · Eldamain Road
4

Continue on Eldamain Road

6.1 mi · 10 min · Eldamain Road
Use the straight lane.
5

Turn right onto Galena Road

2.0 mi · 2 min · Galena Road
Use the right lane.
6

Turn left onto North Bridge Street

1.2 mi · 1 min · North Bridge Street
7

Continue on US 30; IL 47

2.9 mi · 3 min · US 30; IL 47
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward IL 56 East: Chicago Use the right lane.
9

Merge onto IL 56

25 mi · 30 min · IL 56
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110

4.7 mi · 5 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 139 Toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
13

Merge onto I 294

9.9 mi · 13 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Exit 42 A-B Toward Touhy Avenue Use the slight right lane.
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 42 A-B Toward Touhy Avenue
16

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Exit 42A Toward Touhy Avenue East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue

3.0 mi · 5 min · East Touhy Avenue
18

Turn left onto IL 43

0.5 mi · 50 sec · North Harlem Avenue
Use the left lane.
19

Turn right onto West Howard Street

1.7 mi · 3 min · West Howard Street
20

Turn left onto New Gross Point Road

0.1 mi · 10 sec · New Gross Point Road
21

Continue on Gross Point Road

0.5 mi · 54 sec · Gross Point Road
22

Turn right onto Oakton Street

4.0 mi · 7 min · Oakton Street
23

Turn left onto Asbury Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · Asbury Avenue
Use the left lane.
24

Turn right onto Dempster Street

213 ft · 9 sec · Dempster Street
25

Turn uturn

213 ft · 17 sec
26

Arrive at destination

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 32.6 miles from Fox, IL, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.8 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 14 miles or 20m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 32.6 miles or 44m 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 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evanston, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Fox, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Fox, IL

This is one driving day of about 65.2 miles and 1h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Fox, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IL 56 for about 24.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 32.6 mi from Fox, IL · 44m into the drive

city in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Elmhurst, IL

33 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

Aurora, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lisle, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 32.6 miles from Fox, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Evanston, IL

The final approach into Evanston, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pullman National Historical Park

Pullman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...

20 mi from route ~50 min detour Free near mile 42
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.19 one way

$20.39 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $11.19 $22.38
premium $4.89 $12.55 $25.09
diesel $5.61 $14.40 $28.79

Estimated Tolls: $0.88

Tri-state Tollway (9.9 mi) $0.60
Reagan Memorial Tollway (4.7 mi) $0.28

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

$10

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.6 0 $6.85 $3.13
Efficient EV 16.3 0 $5.71 $2.61
EV Truck/SUV 26.1 0 $9.13 $4.17

Gas CO2

23 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (65% 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

Fox, IL

Evening in Fox on Thursday

Local time

6:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Evanston, IL

Evening in Evanston on Thursday

Local time

6:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

NNW 10 to 15 mph 42% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 16 at 2:08PM CDT until April 16 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:33PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

69°F

Elmhurst, IL

33 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

5 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 34m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Fox, IL to Evanston, IL covers 65.2 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IL 56, Tri-State Tollway, Eldamain Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.6 miles from Fox, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.19 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 65.2 miles you will encounter 21 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: at 6.6 miles (Galena Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Fox, IL and Evanston, IL, road signs point toward Rockford, Milwaukee and Touhy Avenue East.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.

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