How far is Bethalto, IL from Evanston, IL?

The driving distance from Bethalto, IL to Evanston, IL is about 289.7 miles (466.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 249.2 miles (401 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
289.72 mi
04h 46m
Flight
249.15 mi
400.97 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bethalto.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
249.15 mi
Kilometers
400.97 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
289.72 mi
Kilometers
466.26 km
Drive Time
04h 46m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Evanston
Wed, Apr 15, 2:05 AM CDT
Return by in Bethalto
Wed, Apr 15, 6:51 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bethalto
2026-04-14T21:18
Arrive Evanston
Wed, Apr 15, 2:05 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:46 AM to 12:46 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:28 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bethalto
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Normal
IL

Town in McLean County, Illinois, United States

From Bethalto
143.7 mi
02h 23m
To Evanston
146.1 mi
02h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 16 mph S
Destination
79°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bethalto and Evanston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bethalto and Evanston.

  1. 1

    Start on West Sherman Street

    2 m · 1 sec · West Sherman Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Prairie Street

    2920 ft · 2 min · South Prairie Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Bethalto Drive

    1.2 km · 1 min · East Bethalto Drive

  4. 4

    Continue on State Route 140

    9.6 mi · 13 min · State Route 140

  5. 5

    Continue on West State Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · West State Street

  6. 6

    Continue on State Route 140

    135 m · 14 sec · State Route 140

  7. 7

    Take the ramp left

    1515 ft · 38 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    96.7 mi · 1 hr 44 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

    29.4 mi · 31 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

    130.4 mi · 2 hr 27 min

  11. 11

    Continue on Stevenson Expressway

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Stevenson Expressway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Damen Avenue, Ashland Avenue

    912 ft · 24 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Damen Avenue

    1372 ft · 34 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Ashland Market Place, South Damen Avenue

    134 m · 13 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto South Damen Avenue

    2.4 mi · 5 min · South Damen Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right onto West Ogden Avenue

    1.2 km · 1 min · West Ogden Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto South Ashland Avenue

    4.1 mi · 8 min · South Ashland Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn slight left onto North Lincoln Avenue

    2.1 mi · 4 min · North Lincoln Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto West Leland Avenue

    119 m · 11 sec · West Leland Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn right onto North Western Avenue

    3.6 mi · 7 min · North Western Avenue

  21. 21

    Continue on Asbury Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Asbury Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Dempster Street

    65 m · 9 sec · Dempster Street

  23. 23

    Turn uturn

    65 m · 18 sec

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bethalto and Evanston.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
24 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
160 mi · 55%
State Route 140
107 mi · 37%
South Ashland Avenue
4.08 mi · 1%
North Western Avenue
3.65 mi · 1%
Stevenson Expressway
3.63 mi · 1%
South Damen Avenue
2.45 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

130 mi · 02h 27m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 46m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.5 mi
249.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Normal
02h 23m from Bethalto
Leave By
7:28 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Bethalto and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Evanston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bethalto to Evanston?

The road trip is about 289.7 miles (466.3 km) and usually takes 04h 46m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Normal is a useful midpoint, sitting about 143.7 miles from Bethalto and 146.1 miles from Evanston.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 249.2 miles (401 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:28 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.54 one way or $77.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 90.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Bethalto and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Evanston.

Stop Ideas Near Normal

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Normal and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 2.3 mi away

City Hall - Town of Normal

Normal , IL
11 Uptown Circle, Normal, IL 61761
Parking lot
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Meeting point 3.1 mi away

City of Bloomington, Illinois

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
Rating 3.6/5 8 reviews City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 3.1 mi away

Bloomington Finance Department

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
City tax office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Normal.

RAIL

Uptown Station

1 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Pontiac station

50 mi away
721 West Washington St.
RAIL

Lincoln

52 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

61 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bethalto and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 249.15 mi (400.97 km).

Bethalto

#1 Bethalto

Village in Illinois

Population9,201
Coordinates38.9092100, -90.0406600
Altitude160
CountryUnited States
Evanston

#2 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: South Prairie Street (-90.04063, 38.909215)
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 466 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 47m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 08m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.22 gal
38.7 L · about $38.54
Round trip
$77.08
20.44 gal · 77.4 L
Estimated CO2
90.8 kg one way
Round trip: 181.7 kg / 401 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $38.54 $77.08
Mid-grade $4.25 $43.47 $86.93
Premium $4.65 $47.56 $95.13
Diesel $5.30 $54.21 $108.41

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · Apr 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Bethalto and Evanston. The current time is 21:18:44.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.