How far is Evanston, IL from Bourbon, IL?

The driving distance from Evanston, IL to Bourbon, IL is about 177.6 miles (285.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 162.6 miles (261.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 27m 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
177.67 mi
03h 43m
Flight
162.64 mi
261.74 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Evanston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
162.64 mi
Kilometers
261.74 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
177.67 mi
Kilometers
285.94 km
Drive Time
03h 43m

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 03h 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bourbon
Tue, Apr 14, 11:24 PM CDT
Return by in Evanston
Wed, Apr 15, 3:08 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Evanston
2026-04-14T19:40
Arrive Bourbon
Tue, Apr 14, 11:24 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:44 AM to 11:44 AM CDT

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

Leave by
9:32 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Evanston
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
Ashkum
IL

Township in Iroquois County, Illinois

From Evanston
88.9 mi
01h 51m
To Bourbon
88.8 mi
01h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
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
Destination
82°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 21 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    60 m · 22 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left

    43 m · 16 sec

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Dempster Street

    65 m · 15 sec · Dempster Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Asbury Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Asbury Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on North Western Avenue

    5.5 mi · 11 min · North Western Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn left onto North Clybourn Avenue

    1.2 km · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn right onto North Damen Avenue

    1.2 km · 2 min · North Damen Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn left onto West Webster Avenue

    42 m · 3 sec · West Webster Avenue

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 East, I 94 East

    1008 ft · 27 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Kennedy Expressway

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Kennedy Expressway

  11. 11

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  12. 12

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

    8.8 mi · 12 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

    138.5 mi · 2 hr 34 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 45: Tolono, Pesotum, Tuscola

    1328 ft · 28 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight

    8 mi · 12 min

  16. 16

    Turn right

    825 ft · 30 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto County Road 950 North

    3.5 mi · 5 min · County Road 950 North

  18. 18

    Turn left onto North County Road 590 East

    1.6 mi · 6 min · North County Road 590 East

  19. 19

    Continue on North County Road 560 East

    116 m · 17 sec · North County Road 560 East

  20. 20

    Continue on North County Road 540 East

    2707 ft · 2 min · North County Road 540 East

  21. 21

    Turn right onto County Highway 16

    1.1 mi · 4 min · County Highway 16

  22. 22

    Continue on North County Road 475 East

    1278 ft · 56 sec · North County Road 475 East

  23. 23

    Continue on North County Road 490 East

    137 m · 21 sec · North County Road 490 East

  24. 24

    Continue on County Road 490E

    42 m · 6 sec · County Road 490E

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · County Road 490E

Car Route Details

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

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
25 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
138 mi · 78%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.83 mi · 5%
North Western Avenue
5.53 mi · 3%
Kennedy Expressway
3.57 mi · 2%
County Road 950 North
3.47 mi · 2%
Dan Ryan Expressway
2.42 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

138 mi · 02h 34m

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
03h 43m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15 mi
162.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ashkum
01h 51m from Evanston
Leave By
9:32 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 177.6 miles (285.9 km) and usually takes 03h 43m 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?

Ashkum is a useful midpoint, sitting about 88.9 miles from Evanston and 88.8 miles from Bourbon.

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

The direct path is about 162.6 miles (261.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 15 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 9:32 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.64 one way or $47.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Ashkum

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Ashkum, 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 Ashkum.

RAIL

Gilman

14 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.
RAIL

Kankakee

28 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Dwight station

46 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Pontiac station

57 mi away
721 West Washington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Evanston and Bourbon. Straight-line distance: 162.64 mi (261.74 km).

Evanston

#1 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Bourbon

#2 Bourbon

Township in Douglas County, Illinois

Population4,061
Coordinates39.7455900, -88.3789400
Altitude201
CountryUnited States
Start: Evanston (-87.69006, 42.04114)
End: Bourbon (-88.37894, 39.74559)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 286 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.27 gal
23.73 L · about $23.64
Round trip
$47.29
12.54 gal · 47.46 L
Estimated CO2
55.7 kg one way
Round trip: 111.4 kg / 246 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.64 $47.29
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.67 $53.33
Premium $4.65 $29.18 $58.36
Diesel $5.30 $33.26 $66.51

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 Evanston and Bourbon. The current time is 19:40:22.

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.