How far is Chester, IL from Evanston, IL?
The driving distance from Chester, IL to Evanston, IL is about 359.8 miles (579 km), with a travel time of about 06h 01m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 306.7 miles (493.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 02m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 06h 01m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Illinois, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Chester and Evanston.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chester and Evanston.
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1
Start on East Stacey Street
38 m · 11 sec · East Stacey Street
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2
Turn left onto State Street
118 m · 10 sec · State Street
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3
Turn left onto East Holmes Street
2470 ft · 32 sec · East Holmes Street
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4
Continue on Lehmen Drive
7.8 mi · 9 min · Lehmen Drive
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5
Continue on South State Street
17.7 mi · 23 min · South State Street
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6
Continue straight
20.1 mi · 30 min
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7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Illinois Street
54 m · 4 sec · North Illinois Street
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8
Exit the rotary onto North Illinois Street
9.8 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street
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9
Continue on South Morrison Avenue
1.3 mi · 2 min · South Morrison Avenue
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10
Continue on Vandalia Street
2.8 mi · 5 min · Vandalia Street
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11
Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North, I 70 East
2235 ft · 55 sec
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12
Merge slight left
3.8 mi · 4 min
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13
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
107.9 mi · 1 hr 57 min
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14
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago
29.4 mi · 31 min
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15
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
120.8 mi · 2 hr 14 min
-
16
Take the exit slight right toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
1.6 mi · 3 min
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17
Keep slight left to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin
1694 ft · 41 sec
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18
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway
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19
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
11.7 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward Touhy Avenue
635 ft · 16 sec
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue
2694 ft · 1 min
-
22
Keep slight right to continue on Touhy Avenue East
1749 ft · 43 sec
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23
Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue
3 mi · 6 min · East Touhy Avenue
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24
Turn left onto North Harlem Avenue
2643 ft · 50 sec · North Harlem Avenue
-
25
Turn right onto West Howard Street
1.7 mi · 3 min · West Howard Street
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26
Turn left onto New Gross Point Road
531 ft · 11 sec · New Gross Point Road
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27
Continue on Gross Point Road
2627 ft · 55 sec · Gross Point Road
-
28
Turn right onto Oakton Street
4 mi · 8 min · Oakton Street
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29
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · Asbury Avenue
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30
Turn right onto Dempster Street
65 m · 9 sec · Dempster Street
-
31
Turn uturn
65 m · 18 sec
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32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Chester and Evanston.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 55 North
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
121 mi · 02h 14m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Chester and Rain near Evanston.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Chester to Evanston?
The road trip is about 359.8 miles (579 km) and usually takes 06h 01m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Lincoln is a useful midpoint, sitting about 176.3 miles from Chester and 183.4 miles from Evanston.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 306.7 miles (493.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 53.1 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $59.20 one way or $118.40 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 112.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Chester and Rain near Evanston.
Stop Ideas Near Lincoln
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
City of Lincoln
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lincoln.
Lincoln
Springfield station
Uptown Station
Peoria, Illinois
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Chester and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 306.68 mi (493.55 km).
#1 Chester
City in Illinois
| Population | 8,145 |
| Coordinates | 37.9136600, -89.8220500 |
| Altitude | 204 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Evanston
A city in Cook County, Illinois.
| Population | 72,683 |
| Coordinates | 42.0411400, -87.6900600 |
| Altitude | 187 |
| Country | United States |
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 579 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 59m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 59m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 11m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 59m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 08m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 29m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.67 | $59.20 | $118.40 |
| Mid-grade | $5.29 | $67.16 | $134.31 |
| Premium | $5.84 | $74.07 | $148.14 |
| Diesel | $6.57 | $83.39 | $166.77 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026