Trip from Sullivan, IL to Evanston, IL

Drive Time

3h 46m

Distance

211.3 mi

340 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 34m ★
6 AM
3h 47m
8 AM
4h 12m
10 AM
3h 55m
12 PM
3h 53m
3 PM
3h 57m
5 PM
4h 11m
8 PM
3h 39m

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

Downtown Sullivan, IL, IL

Sullivan, IL

Josef Traxler

Downtown Evanston, IL, IL

Evanston, IL

Stéphane Tendon

Trip Overview

The drive from Sullivan, IL to Evanston, IL covers 211.3 miles and takes about 3h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Main Street, Dewitt Avenue, North 19th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.09 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

105.6 miles from Sullivan, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 46m drive with frequent turns across 211.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Main Street 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 46m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sullivan, IL to Evanston, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Main Street Unavailable Refreshing
Dewitt Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
North 19th Street Unavailable Refreshing
Charleston Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
I-57 North Unavailable Refreshing
Dan Ryan Expressway Unavailable Refreshing
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) Unavailable Refreshing
Kennedy Expressway Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: North Main Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West Harrison Street

102 ft · 10 sec · West Harrison Street
2

Turn left onto North Main Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · North Main Street
3

Turn right

14 mi · 21 min
4

Continue on Dewitt Avenue

2.0 mi · 3 min · Dewitt Avenue
5

Turn right onto North 19th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North 19th Street
6

At the end of the road, turn left onto Charleston Avenue

3.0 mi · 5 min · Charleston Avenue
7

Turn right onto I-57 North: Champaign

0.3 mi · 49 sec · I-57 North: Champaign
8

Merge slight left

169 mi · 3 hr 6 min
9

Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

3.3 mi · 4 min · Dan Ryan Expressway
10

Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

7.9 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
11

Continue on Kennedy Expressway

3.7 mi · 5 min · Kennedy Expressway
12

Take the exit slight right toward Damen Avenue

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Damen Avenue
13

Turn right onto North Damen Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Damen Avenue
14

Turn slight left onto North Clybourn Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue
15

Turn right onto North Western Avenue

5.5 mi · 11 min · North Western Avenue
16

Continue on Asbury Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · Asbury Avenue
17

Turn right onto Dempster Street

213 ft · 9 sec · Dempster Street
18

Turn uturn

213 ft · 18 sec
19

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 105.6 miles from Sullivan, IL, or about 1h 53m 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 80 miles or 1h 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 105.6 miles or 1h 53m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 5m

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 Sullivan, 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 Sullivan, IL

This is one driving day of about 211.3 miles and 3h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sullivan, 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 105.6 mi from Sullivan, IL · 1h 53m into the drive

Downtown Joliet, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Joliet, IL

106 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

Champaign, IL

Fuel and coffee

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

Joliet, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 105.6 miles from Sullivan, 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

$32.09 one way

$64.19 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 74 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $35.38 $70.76
premium $4.80 $39.89 $79.78
diesel $5.64 $46.94 $93.89

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 73.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 63.4 0 $22.19 $10.14
Efficient EV 52.8 0 $18.49 $8.45
EV Truck/SUV 84.5 1 $29.58 $13.52

Gas CO2

74 kg

EV CO2

25 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Sullivan, IL

Evening in Sullivan on Sunday

Local time

5:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Evanston, IL

Evening in Evanston on Sunday

Local time

5:32 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

26 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 46m 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 Sullivan, IL to Evanston, IL covers 211.3 miles and takes about 3h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Main Street, Dewitt Avenue, North 19th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 105.6 miles from Sullivan, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.09 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.
This is a straightforward 3h 46m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sullivan, IL to Evanston, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sullivan, IL to Evanston, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Evanston, IL to Sullivan, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

212.5 mi 4h 16m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.

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