Trip from Guilford, IL to Evanston, IL

Drive Time

3h 23m

Distance

154.2 mi

248 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min

4 AM

3h 11m ★

6 AM

3h 24m

8 AM

3h 48m

10 AM

3h 32m

12 PM

3h 30m

3 PM

3h 33m

5 PM

3h 47m

8 PM

3h 16m

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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Evanston, IL

Stéphane Tendon

Trip Overview

Spanning 154.2 miles across the Illinois Midwest, this trip connects Guilford to Evanston in approximately 3 hours and 23 minutes. It functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, requiring only one stop to keep you refreshed. You should budget roughly $23 for fuel to complete the journey. By utilizing a mix of the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway, the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, and West State Road, you move efficiently between these two points. Since the entire route stays within Illinois, you won't face any regional climate shifts, making this a predictable and manageable drive for any weekend traveler.

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

77.1 miles from Guilford, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will encounter a mix of roads, the route is defined by its technical nature rather than high-speed highway travel, as it features 0% highway share by traditional definitions. Your longest single stretch occurs on the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway, where you will cover 58.7 miles before needing a transition. The personality of the road shifts as you navigate off the main tollway segments and onto local connectors, requiring you to stay alert through various turns. It is a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the landscape from start to finish.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

U.S. Grant Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 58.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 103.7 miles in near I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 154.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 103.7 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 139.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 139.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

103.7 mi into trip | ~2h 15m 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 none / straight / slight right lanes.

139.4 mi into trip | ~2h 54m 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

139.8 mi into trip | ~2h 54m 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

140.2 mi into trip | ~2h 55m in | West Oakton Street

Turn right onto West Oakton Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

154.2 mi into trip | ~3h 23m in

Turn uturn

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Guilford, IL to Evanston, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Elmhurst Road North along the way.

Elmhurst Road North

139.8 mi in | ~2h 54m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway	58.7 mi	1h 13m
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway	55.4 mi	59m
West State Road	9.8 mi	11m
North Elizabeth Scales Mound Road	8.1 mi	14m
East Oakton Street	6.1 mi	12m
Oakton Street	5.8 mi	11m
West North Avenue	2.1 mi	3m
West Rawlins Road	1.9 mi	4m

Longest stretch: U.S. Grant Memorial Highway — 58.7 mi, about 1h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on West Guilford Road

0.4 mi · 56 sec · West Guilford Road

Continue on West Rawlins Road

1.9 mi · 4 min · West Rawlins Road

At end of road, turn right onto CR 4

8.1 mi · 14 min · North Elizabeth Scales Mound Road

At end of road, turn left onto US 20

0.7 mi · 1 min · Madison Street

Continue on US 20

0.1 mi · 20 sec · West Diagonal Street

Continue on US 20

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Main Street

Continue on US 20

4.6 mi · 6 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 20

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Woodbine Street

Continue on US 20

6.4 mi · 8 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Continue on US 20

2.1 mi · 3 min · West North Avenue

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 20

33 mi · 41 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 20

9.8 mi · 11 min · West State Road

Continue on US 20

14 mi · 16 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Toward US 20 East: Chicago

Continue on I 39; US 51

0.6 mi · 41 sec · I 39; US 51

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 90 East: Chicago

Merge onto I 90

20 mi · 21 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

36 mi · 38 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 41 sec

Exit 73 Toward Elmhurst Road Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

288 ft · 9 sec

Toward Elmhurst Road North Use the slight left lane.

Turn straight onto South Elmhurst Road

0.4 mi · 42 sec · South Elmhurst Road

Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.

Turn right onto West Oakton Street

0.1 mi · 12 sec · West Oakton Street

Use the right lane.

Continue on West Oakton Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Oakton Street

Use the none lane.

Continue on East Oakton Street

6.1 mi · 12 min · East Oakton Street

Use the none lane.

Continue on Oakton Street

5.8 mi · 11 min · Oakton Street

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto Asbury Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · Asbury Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Dempster Street

213 ft · 9 sec · Dempster Street

Use the none lane.

Turn uturn

213 ft · 17 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 3h 23m travel time, consider departing mid-morning to avoid the heaviest local traffic patterns. Since the drive is relatively short, you have the flexibility to choose your single stop based on your personal pace rather than strict time constraints. Keep your fuel budget of $23 in mind, and try to fill up before hitting the tollway sections to avoid higher prices near major junctions. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay vigilant during the transition between the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway and the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, as the change in road type can be abrupt. This approach ensures you remain comfortable and focused throughout the 154.2-mile journey.

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 77.1 miles from Guilford, IL, or about 1h 46m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.7 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 80 miles or 1h 49m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 77.1 miles or 1h 46m 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 40m

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 Guilford, 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 Guilford, IL

This is one driving day of about 154.2 miles and 3h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Guilford, 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.

The longest stretch is on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway for about 58.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 77.1 mi from Guilford, IL · 1h 46m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

77 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 77.1 miles from Guilford, 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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Evanston, 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

$23.42 one way

$46.84 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 54 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$25.82	$51.64
premium	$4.80	$29.11	$58.22
diesel	$5.64	$34.26	$68.52

Estimated Tolls: $3.88

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (55.4 mi) $3.88

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

$23

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 54 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	46.3	$16.19	$7.40
Efficient EV	38.6	$13.49	$6.17
EV Truck/SUV	61.7	$21.59	$9.87

Gas CO2

54 kg

EV CO2

18 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Guilford, IL

Evening in Guilford on Sunday

Local time

5:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Evanston, IL

Evening in Evanston on Sunday

Local time

5:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°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

23 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

3h 23m 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 Guilford, IL to Evanston, IL covers 154.2 miles and takes about 3h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are U.S. Grant Memorial Highway, Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, West State Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 77.1 miles from Guilford, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.42 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.

On the drive from Guilford, IL to Evanston, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Elmhurst Road North along the way.

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Return Trip

Evanston, IL to Guilford, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

155.3 mi 3h 28m

Explore more options from Guilford, IL or browse trips ending in Evanston, IL.

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Trip from Guilford, IL to Evanston, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Evanston, IL

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Guilford, IL

Evanston, IL

Same local time

23 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 23m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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