Origin
Lakewood, IL
Evening in Lakewood on Tuesday
Local time
6:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakewood, IL to Evanston, IL
Data updated 3 hours ago
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
40.6 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, IL
Mike Tyurin
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lakewood, IL to Evanston, IL covers 40.6 miles and takes about 1h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Northwest Highway, West Golf Road, State Route 22 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7.3 miles on Northwest Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.35 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
20.3 miles from Lakewood, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 10m drive with frequent turns across 40.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Northwest Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 7.3 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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 14.2 miles in near US 12 / Rand Road.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 14.2 miles (US 12 / Rand Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles (Palatine Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
14.2 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
US 12 / Rand Road
Turn right onto US 12 / Rand Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
23.1 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
Palatine Road
Turn left onto Palatine Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
26.9 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward US 45, IL 21: Milwaukee Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 45, IL 21: Milwaukee Avenue
6
40.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
Dempster Street
Turn left onto Dempster Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
40.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest Highway | 7.3 mi | 12m |
| West Golf Road | 6.7 mi | 12m |
| State Route 22 | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| North Rand Road | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| Rand Road | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Milwaukee Avenue | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Palatine Road | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Emerson Street | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Northwest Highway
— 7.3 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, IL and Evanston, IL.
1
Start on Broadway Avenue
341 ft
·
20 sec
·
Broadway Avenue
2
Continue on Broadway Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway Avenue
3
Turn left onto Riverside Drive
305 ft
·
13 sec
·
Riverside Drive
4
Turn right onto Lake Avenue
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Lake Avenue
5
Continue on Lake Shore Drive
509 ft
·
22 sec
·
Lake Shore Drive
6
Continue on South Dole Avenue
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Dole Avenue
7
Turn right onto US 14
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Virginia Street
8
Continue on US 14
7.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Northwest Highway
9
Turn left onto IL 22
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 22
10
Continue on IL 22
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
West Main Street
11
Turn right onto US 12
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Rand Road
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on US 12
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
North Rand Road
13
Turn left onto Palatine Road
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Palatine Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
343 ft
·
9 sec
Toward US 45, IL 21: Milwaukee Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto East Palatine Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Palatine Road
16
Turn right onto US 45; IL 21
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Milwaukee Avenue
17
Continue on IL 21
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Milwaukee Avenue
18
Turn left onto IL 58
6.7 mi
·
12 min
·
West Golf Road
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on Emerson Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Emerson Street
20
Turn right onto Asbury Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Asbury Avenue
21
Turn left onto Dempster Street
213 ft
·
9 sec
·
Dempster Street
Use the left lane.
22
Turn uturn
213 ft
·
17 sec
23
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 20.3 miles from Lakewood, IL, or about 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.3 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 40.6 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 20.3 miles or 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 58m
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 Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, IL
This is one driving day of about 40.6 miles and 1h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lakewood, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Northwest Highway for about 7.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.3 mi from Lakewood, IL · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from Lakewood, 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
$6.35 one way
$12.69 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.97 | $13.94 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.81 | $15.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.96 | $17.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.55 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.68 | $2.60 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Evening in Evanston on Tuesday
Local time
6:45 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
13 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
1h 10m 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 Lakewood, IL to Evanston, IL covers 40.6 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northwest Highway, West Golf Road, State Route 22. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.3 miles from Lakewood, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.35 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 40.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 14.2 miles (US 12 / Rand Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles (Palatine Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Lakewood, IL to Evanston, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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