Origin
Saint Joseph, IL
Evening in Saint Joseph on Friday
Local time
8:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Joseph, IL to Evanston, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 57m
Distance
160.6 mi
258 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 46m
★
6 AM
2h 57m
8 AM
3h 20m
10 AM
3h 5m
12 PM
3h 3m
3 PM
3h 6m
5 PM
3h 19m
8 PM
2h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Joseph, IL
Vladimir Srajber
Evanston, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Joseph, IL to Evanston, IL covers 160.6 miles and takes about 2h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 74 West, Neil Street, North Neil Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.11 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.3 miles from Saint Joseph, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
About the Cities
Arriving in Evanston, IL
Full guide →Evanston is a city in the North Shore region of Illinois along the shores of Lake Michigan. Evanston has many identities: college town, dining destination, cultural center and gateway to the wealthy North Shore, although the city itself is anything but homogeneous in regards to economic status, culture and race. Evanston is named after John Evans, one of the founders of Northwestern University, which ranks among the most prestigious universities in the United States.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 160.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 57m drive with frequent turns across 160.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 74 West is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Saint Joseph, IL to Evanston, IL is easy. At 2h 57m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Saint Joseph, IL to Evanston, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 74 West | — | — |
| Neil Street | — | — |
| North Neil Street | — | — |
| East Marketview Drive | — | — |
| North Market Street | — | — |
| I-57 North | — | — |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | — | — |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 74 West
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph, IL and Evanston, IL.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
2
Take the ramp left toward I 74 West: Champaign
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 74 West: Champaign
3
Merge slight left
10 mi
·
11 min
4
Take the exit straight toward Neil Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Neil Street
5
Keep slight right to continue on North Neil Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Neil Street
6
Turn right onto East Marketview Drive
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Marketview Drive
7
At the end of the road, turn left onto North Market Street
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North Market Street
8
Take the ramp right toward I-57 North: Kankakee
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I-57 North: Kankakee
9
Merge slight left
118 mi
·
2 hr 11 min
10
Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
11
Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
12
Continue on Kennedy Expressway
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
13
Take the exit slight right toward Damen Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Damen Avenue
14
Turn right onto North Damen Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Damen Avenue
15
Turn slight left onto North Clybourn Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Clybourn Avenue
16
Turn right onto North Western Avenue
5.5 mi
·
11 min
·
North Western Avenue
17
Continue on Asbury Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Asbury Avenue
18
Turn right onto Dempster Street
213 ft
·
9 sec
·
Dempster Street
19
Turn uturn
213 ft
·
18 sec
20
Arrive at your 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.3 miles from Saint Joseph, IL, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
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 35 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.3 miles or 1h 28m 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 25m
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 Saint Joseph, 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 Saint Joseph, IL
This is one driving day of about 160.6 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Saint Joseph, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 80.3 mi from Saint Joseph, IL · 1h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80.3 miles from Saint Joseph, 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
$25.11 one way
$50.22 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $27.57 | $55.14 |
| premium | $4.89 | $30.91 | $61.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.46 | $70.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.2 | 0 | $16.86 | $7.71 |
| Efficient EV | 40.2 | 0 | $14.05 | $6.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.2 | 0 | $22.48 | $10.28 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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 Friday
Local time
8:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
14 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
2h 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 Saint Joseph, IL to Evanston, IL covers 160.6 miles and takes about 2h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 74 West, Neil Street, North Neil Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80.3 miles from Saint Joseph, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.11 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Saint Joseph, IL to Evanston, IL is easy. At 2h 57m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Saint Joseph, IL to Evanston, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Saint Joseph, IL to Evanston, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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