How far is Evanston, IL from Gurnee, IL?
The driving distance from Evanston, IL to Gurnee, IL is about 27.7 miles (44.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 39m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 25.2 miles (40.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 39m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Evanston and Gurnee.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston and Gurnee.
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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 · 11 sec · Dempster Street
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4
Turn right onto Asbury Avenue
1.4 km · 2 min · Asbury Avenue
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5
Turn left onto Green Bay Road
1.4 km · 2 min · Green Bay Road
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6
Turn left onto Central Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · Central Street
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7
Turn right onto Crawford Avenue
3078 ft · 1 min · Crawford Avenue
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8
Turn left onto Wilmette Avenue
27 m · 2 sec · Wilmette Avenue
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Glenview Road
1.2 km · 1 min · Glenview Road
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10
Turn right onto Skokie Boulevard
1.2 mi · 2 min · Skokie Boulevard
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11
Take the ramp straight toward I 94 West
1251 ft · 31 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Edens Expressway
4 mi · 5 min · Edens Expressway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway
3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway
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14
Continue on Skokie Valley Road
3.4 mi · 4 min · Skokie Valley Road
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15
Continue on South Skokie Highway
9.8 mi · 12 min · South Skokie Highway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward IL 132: Grand Avenue, Grandville Avenue
922 ft · 25 sec
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17
Keep slight left to continue on IL 132: Great America
84 m · 10 sec
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18
Turn slight left onto Grand Avenue
1629 ft · 35 sec · Grand Avenue
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19
Turn left onto North Greenleaf Street
28 m · 4 sec · North Greenleaf Street
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20
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Greenleaf Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Evanston and Gurnee.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
South Skokie Highway
Continue on South Skokie Highway
9.81 mi · 00h 12m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny leaving Evanston and Sunny near Gurnee.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Evanston to Gurnee?
The road trip is about 27.7 miles (44.6 km) and usually takes 00h 39m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Highwood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.9 miles from Evanston and 13.9 miles from Gurnee.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 25.2 miles (40.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.5 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:10 PM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.70 one way or $7.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny around Evanston and Sunny near Gurnee.
Stop Ideas Near Highwood
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Highwood.
Glenview station
Chicago Union Station
La Grange Road
Summit
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Evanston and Gurnee. Straight-line distance: 25.2 mi (40.55 km).
#1 Evanston
A city in Cook County, Illinois.
| Population | 72,683 |
| Coordinates | 42.0411400, -87.6900600 |
| Altitude | 187 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Gurnee
Village in Illinois
| Population | 30,168 |
| Coordinates | 42.3703000, -87.9020200 |
| Altitude | 207 |
| Country | United States |
End: Gurnee (-87.90202, 42.3703)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 45 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 55m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 41m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 33m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 27m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 23m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 20m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $3.70 | $7.39 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $4.17 | $8.34 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $4.56 | $9.12 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $5.20 | $10.40 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.