How far is Bloomington, IL from Evanston, IL?

The driving distance from Bloomington, IL to Evanston, IL is about 146.3 miles (235.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 127.1 miles (204.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 11m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
146.28 mi
02h 35m
Flight
127.1 mi
204.55 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bloomington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
127.1 mi
Kilometers
204.55 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
146.28 mi
Kilometers
235.41 km
Drive Time
02h 35m

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 02h 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Evanston
Thu, Apr 23, 2:44 AM CDT
Return by in Bloomington
Thu, Apr 23, 5:20 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bloomington
2026-04-23T00:08
Arrive Evanston
Thu, Apr 23, 2:44 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:36 AM to 12:36 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:18 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bloomington
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Diamond
IL

Village in Illinois, USA

From Bloomington
72.9 mi
01h 17m
To Evanston
73.3 mi
01h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 23 mph S
Destination
76°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North East Street

    42 m · 6 sec · North East Street

  2. 2

    Continue on North Main Street

    3.6 mi · 9 min · North Main Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North: Chicago

    2654 ft · 1 min

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    111.5 mi · 2 hr 4 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin

    1.6 mi · 3 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin

    1694 ft · 41 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    11.7 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward Touhy Avenue

    635 ft · 16 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue

    2694 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Touhy Avenue East

    1749 ft · 43 sec

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue

    3 mi · 6 min · East Touhy Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto North Harlem Avenue

    2643 ft · 50 sec · North Harlem Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto West Howard Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · West Howard Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto New Gross Point Road

    531 ft · 11 sec · New Gross Point Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Gross Point Road

    2627 ft · 55 sec · Gross Point Road

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Oakton Street

    4 mi · 8 min · Oakton Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Asbury Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Asbury Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Dempster Street

    65 m · 9 sec · Dempster Street

  20. 20

    Turn uturn

    65 m · 18 sec

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bloomington 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
21 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
112 mi · 77%
Tri-State Tollway
16.6 mi · 11%
Oakton Street
3.96 mi · 3%
North Main Street
3.57 mi · 2%
East Touhy Avenue
2.99 mi · 2%
West Howard Street
1.75 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Merge slight left

112 mi · 02h 04m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 35m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.2 mi
127.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Diamond
01h 17m from Bloomington
Leave By
1:18 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Bloomington and Mostly Sunny near Evanston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 146.3 miles (235.4 km) and usually takes 02h 35m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Diamond is a useful midpoint, sitting about 72.9 miles from Bloomington and 73.3 miles from Evanston.

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

The direct path is about 127.1 miles (204.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:18 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.46 one way or $38.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 45.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Bloomington and Mostly Sunny near Evanston.

Stop Ideas Near Diamond

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Diamond, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Dwight station

26 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

30 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street
RAIL

Kankakee

37 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Plano

48 mi away
101 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bloomington and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 127.1 mi (204.55 km).

Bloomington

#1 Bloomington

The second most populous city in McLean County, Illinois.

Population77,132
Coordinates40.4842000, -88.9936900
Altitude243
CountryUnited States
Evanston

#2 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: North East Street (-88.993738, 40.484193)
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 235 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.16 gal
19.54 L · about $19.46
Round trip
$38.92
10.32 gal · 39.08 L
Estimated CO2
45.9 kg one way
Round trip: 91.7 kg / 202 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $19.46 $38.92
Mid-grade $4.25 $21.95 $43.89
Premium $4.65 $24.01 $48.03
Diesel $5.30 $27.37 $54.74

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Bloomington and Evanston. The current time is 00:08:30.

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.