Origin
Long Lake, IL
Evening in Long Lake on Thursday
Local time
5:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Long Lake, IL to Evanston, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
57m
Distance
38.4 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Long Lake, IL
Sean Ewing
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Long Lake, IL to Evanston, IL covers 38.4 miles and takes about 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Skokie Highway, Edens Expressway, Buckley Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 5.6 miles on North Skokie Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.00 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 38.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 57m drive with frequent turns across 38.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Skokie Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 5.6 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 14.8 miles in near US 41 / North Skokie Highway.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 38.4 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 14.8 miles (US 41 / North Skokie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles (Gross Point Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
14.8 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
US 41 / North Skokie Highway
Turn right onto US 41 / North Skokie Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
33.1 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward Old Orchard Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35
Toward Old Orchard Road
5
34.9 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
Gross Point Road
Turn left onto Gross Point Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
38.3 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
Dempster Street
Turn left onto Dempster Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
38.3 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Skokie Highway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Edens Expressway | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Buckley Road | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Skokie Highway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Skokie Valley Road | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| Antioch Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| West Belvidere Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Central Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
North Skokie Highway
— 5.6 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Long Lake, IL and Evanston, IL.
1
Start on North Rock Island Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Rock Island Street
2
Turn left onto North Augustana Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Augustana Avenue
3
Continue on North Augustana Avenue
177 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Augustana Avenue
4
Turn left onto IL 134
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Big Hollow Road
5
Continue on IL 134
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Long Lake Road
6
Continue on IL 134
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Round Lake Road
7
Continue on IL 134
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Railroad Avenue
8
Continue on IL 134
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
9
Turn left onto IL 120
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West Belvidere Road
10
Turn right onto IL 83
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Ivanhoe Road
11
Continue on Antioch Road
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Antioch Road
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on IL 137
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Old Peterson Road
13
Continue on IL 137
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Peterson Road
14
Continue on IL 137
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Buckley Road
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto US 41
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
North Skokie Highway
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
17
Continue on US 41
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 94; US 41
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 35
Toward Old Orchard Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn left onto Old Orchard Road
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Orchard Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto Gross Point Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Gross Point Road
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto Central Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Street
Use the right lane.
23
Turn right onto Green Bay Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Green Bay Road
24
Turn right onto Asbury Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Asbury Avenue
25
Turn left onto Dempster Street
213 ft
·
9 sec
·
Dempster Street
Use the left lane.
26
Turn uturn
213 ft
·
17 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.2 mi from Long Lake, IL · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.2 miles from Long Lake, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Evanston, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Evanston, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.00 one way
$12.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.59 | $13.18 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.39 | $14.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.48 | $16.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 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 | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.36 | $1.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
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.
Destination
Evanston, IL
Evening in Evanston on Thursday
Local time
5:57 PM
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
57m 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 Long Lake, IL to Evanston, IL covers 38.4 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Skokie Highway, Edens Expressway, Buckley Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.2 miles from Long Lake, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.00 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 38.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 14.8 miles (US 41 / North Skokie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles (Gross Point Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Long Lake, 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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