How far is Evanston, IL from Elsah, IL?
The driving distance from Evanston, IL to Elsah, IL is about 308.6 miles (496.7 km), with a travel time of about 06h 07m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 255.1 miles (410.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST.
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 07m.
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.
Township in McLean County, Illinois
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Evanston and Elsah.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston and Elsah.
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1
Start on the route
60 m · 22 sec
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2
At the end of the road, turn left
43 m · 16 sec
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3
At the end of the road, turn left onto Dempster Street
65 m · 15 sec · Dempster Street
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4
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · Asbury Avenue
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5
Turn right onto Oakton Street
4 mi · 7 min · Oakton Street
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6
Turn slight left onto Gross Point Road
2627 ft · 52 sec · Gross Point Road
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7
Turn straight onto New Gross Point Road
531 ft · 15 sec · New Gross Point Road
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8
Turn right onto Howard Street
1222 ft · 35 sec · Howard Street
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9
Turn left onto North Lehigh Avenue
37 m · 2 sec · North Lehigh Avenue
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10
Turn right onto West Gross Point Road
1.4 km · 2 min · West Gross Point Road
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11
Turn slight right onto West Touhy Avenue
4 mi · 8 min · West Touhy Avenue
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12
Turn left onto South Des Plaines River Road
56 m · 4 sec · South Des Plaines River Road
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13
Take the ramp slight right toward I 294 South: Indiana
2265 ft · 55 sec
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14
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
11.5 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
1 km · 1 min
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18
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
2295 ft · 56 sec
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19
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
119.4 mi · 2 hr 13 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min
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21
Keep slight right to continue on I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
37.2 mi · 40 min
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22
Take the exit slight right toward US 67 South: Alton
1828 ft · 45 sec
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23
Merge slight left onto United States Route 67
12.3 mi · 14 min · United States Route 67
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24
Continue on 1440 E
2.3 mi · 3 min · 1440 E
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25
Continue on North State Street
1.4 mi · 2 min · North State Street
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26
Continue on South State Avenue
2.4 mi · 3 min · South State Avenue
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27
Continue on North Main Street
1.4 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
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28
Continue on United States Route 67
8.1 mi · 9 min · United States Route 67
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29
Continue on North 5th Street
14.5 mi · 17 min · North 5th Street
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30
Turn right onto McClusky Road
8.2 mi · 14 min · McClusky Road
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31
Turn right
3.1 mi · 6 min
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32
Turn left onto Elsah Road
2.8 mi · 7 min · Elsah Road
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33
Continue on Mill Street
2003 ft · 55 sec · Mill Street
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34
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Mill Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Evanston and Elsah.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
119 mi · 02h 13m
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Evanston and Sunny near Elsah.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Evanston to Elsah?
The road trip is about 308.6 miles (496.7 km) and usually takes 06h 07m 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?
Funks Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 154.3 miles from Evanston and 154.3 miles from Elsah.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 255.1 miles (410.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 53.5 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 7:30 AM CST. 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 $50.17 one way or $100.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Evanston and Sunny near Elsah.
Stop Ideas Near Funks Grove
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington Finance Department
City Hall - Town of Normal
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Funks Grove.
Uptown Station
Lincoln
Peoria, Illinois
Pontiac station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Evanston and Elsah. Straight-line distance: 255.13 mi (410.6 km).
#1 Evanston
A city in Cook County, Illinois.
| Population | 72,683 |
| Coordinates | 42.0411400, -87.6900600 |
| Altitude | 187 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Elsah
Township in Jersey County, Illinois
| Population | 604 |
| Coordinates | 38.9561600, -90.3598400 |
| Altitude | 132 |
| Country | United States |
End: Elsah (-90.35984, 38.95616)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 497 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 17m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 42m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 10m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 08m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 24m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 51m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.61 | $50.17 | $100.34 |
| Mid-grade | $5.24 | $57.06 | $114.13 |
| Premium | $5.79 | $63.10 | $126.19 |
| Diesel | $6.59 | $71.79 | $143.57 |
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 · Nov 06, 2026