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Trip from Homewood, IL to Evanston, IL

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

1h

Distance

36.9 mi

59 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 56m ★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m

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

Downtown Homewood, IL, IL

Homewood, IL

Александр Ершков

suburban city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Evanston, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 36.9-mile drive from Homewood, IL, to Evanston, IL, is easily manageable as a one-day trip, taking about an hour to complete. You'll primarily be on highways, with about 62% of the journey utilizing interstate routes. Expect a fuel cost of around $6 for this relatively short distance. Traveling within the Midwest, this route offers a practical connection between two Illinois communities. Given its brevity and focused highway profile, it's ideal for a quick transit, allowing for flexibility in your departure time without needing an overnight stay.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 36.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is largely a highway-focused drive, with a significant 62% of the route on interstates. You'll experience stretches of consistent speed, including an uninterrupted 8-mile segment on I-57. The primary roads guiding you include I-57 and the Dan Ryan Expressway (Express), suggesting a consistent, fast-paced experience for much of the journey. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of North Western Avenue indicates a transition to more surface-street driving as you approach your destination. Overall, anticipate a driving personality geared towards efficient travel rather than scenic exploration.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 36.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 4.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

5
4.9 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the ramp toward I 57 North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 57 North
5
5.3 mi into trip | ~11m in | I 57

Merge onto I 57

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
16.6 mi into trip | ~26m in | I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Roa...
7
28.2 mi into trip | ~43m in

Take the exit toward Damen Avenue

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 47B Toward Damen Avenue
7
36.8 mi into trip | ~1h in

Turn uturn

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 57 8 mi 10m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) 7.9 mi 11m
North Western Avenue 5.5 mi 11m
Dixie Highway 4.7 mi 9m
Kennedy Expressway 3.7 mi 5m
Dan Ryan Expressway 3.3 mi 4m
Asbury Avenue 1.5 mi 2m
North Clybourn Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 57 — 8 mi, about 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 183rd Street

65 ft · 9 sec · 183rd Street
2

Turn left onto Dixie Highway

0.5 mi · 1 min · Dixie Highway
3

Continue on Dixie Highway

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Dixie Highway
4

Continue on Dixie Highway

4.1 mi · 7 min · Dixie Highway
5

Turn left onto IL 83

0.2 mi · 25 sec · West 147th Street
Use the left lane.
6

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Toward I 57 North Use the right lane.
7

Merge onto I 57

8.0 mi · 10 min · I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 94

3.3 mi · 4 min · Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

7.9 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 90; I 94

3.7 mi · 5 min · Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 47B Toward Damen Avenue Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn right onto North Damen Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Damen Avenue
Use the right lane.
13

Turn slight left onto North Clybourn Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue
14

Turn right onto North Western Avenue

5.5 mi · 11 min · North Western Avenue
15

Continue on Asbury Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · Asbury Avenue
16

Turn right onto Dempster Street

213 ft · 9 sec · Dempster Street
17

Turn uturn

213 ft · 17 sec
18

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 18.4 mi from Homewood, IL · 28m into the drive

Downtown chicago-il

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Chicago, IL

18 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.

Popular next leg

Chicago, IL to Evanston, IL

14.4 mi · 27m

Pacing Suggestions

Glenview, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Chicago, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Homewood, 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

$5.77 one way

$11.54 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $6.33 $12.67
premium $4.89 $7.10 $14.20
diesel $5.61 $8.15 $16.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.1 0 $3.87 $1.77
Efficient EV 9.2 0 $3.23 $1.48
EV Truck/SUV 14.8 0 $5.17 $2.36

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Homewood, IL

Late night in Homewood on Friday

Local time

1:31 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Evanston, IL

Late night in Evanston on Friday

Local time

1:31 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

4 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 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 Homewood, IL to Evanston, IL covers 36.9 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Dan Ryan Expressway (Express), North Western Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.4 miles from Homewood, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.77 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 36.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 4.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Homewood, IL to Evanston, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.

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