Origin
Genoa, IL
Late night in Genoa on Thursday
Local time
4:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Genoa, IL to Evanston, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
60.3 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Genoa, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Planning a trip from Genoa, IL to Evanston, IL? This 60.3-mile drive will take you about 1 hour and 22 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, with some travel on East Oakton Street and IL 23. With a fuel cost estimated at $9, this Midwest journey is quite budget-friendly. The route has a higher percentage of local driving, so expect a less monotonous experience than a pure highway trek. Given its short distance, you have plenty of flexibility for departure times and can easily complete it in a single day.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 60.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This drive presents a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. While 36.6 miles of your journey will be on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, accounting for a 10% highway share overall, expect a significant portion of the route to involve more frequent turns and local road navigation. The character of the drive will shift from faster tollway speeds to more deliberate local street driving as you approach your destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch is on the tollway, after which you'll be more engaged with varied road conditions.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 36.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.9 miles in near I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 9.9 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
9.9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
45.5 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward Elmhurst Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 73
Toward Elmhurst Road
7
45.9 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Elmhurst Road North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Elmhurst Road North
6
46.3 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
West Oakton Street
Turn right onto West Oakton Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
60.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m 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.
On the drive from Genoa, IL to Evanston, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Elmhurst Road North along the way.
Elmhurst Road North
45.9 mi in
|
~53m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 36.6 mi | 39m |
| East Oakton Street | 6.1 mi | 12m |
| IL 23 | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| Oakton Street | 5.8 mi | 11m |
| West Main Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Asbury Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Oakton Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Elmhurst Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 36.6 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Genoa, IL and Evanston, IL.
1
Start on IL 72
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
2
Turn left onto IL 23
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
IL 23
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 90 Toll East: Chicago
4
Merge onto I 90
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
36 mi
·
38 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 73
Toward Elmhurst Road
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
288 ft
·
9 sec
Toward Elmhurst Road North
Use the slight left lane.
8
Turn straight onto South Elmhurst Road
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Elmhurst Road
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Turn right onto West Oakton Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
West Oakton Street
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on West Oakton Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Oakton Street
11
Continue on East Oakton Street
6.1 mi
·
12 min
·
East Oakton Street
12
Continue on Oakton Street
5.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Oakton Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Asbury Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Dempster Street
213 ft
·
9 sec
·
Dempster Street
15
Turn uturn
213 ft
·
17 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.2 mi from Genoa, IL · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.2 miles from Genoa, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.43 one way
$18.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.35 | $20.70 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.60 | $23.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.31 | $26.63 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.57
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(36.6 mi)
$2.57
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$3
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.33 | $2.89 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.44 | $3.86 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Evanston, IL
Late night in Evanston on Thursday
Local time
4:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 22m 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 Genoa, IL to Evanston, IL covers 60.3 miles and takes about 1h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, East Oakton Street, IL 23. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.2 miles from Genoa, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.43 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 60.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 9.9 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Genoa, IL to Evanston, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Elmhurst Road North along the way.
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