How far is Evanston, IL from Lafayette, IL?
The driving distance from Evanston, IL to Lafayette, IL is about 169.3 miles (272.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 37m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 134.4 miles (216.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 03h 37m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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 LaSalle County, Illinois
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy then Rain Showers Likely
Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Evanston and Lafayette.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston and Lafayette.
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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
25.9 mi · 32 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West: Iowa
1.3 km · 1 min
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21
Merge slight left
80.8 mi · 1 hr 27 min
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22
Take the exit slight right toward IL 40: Sterling, Peoria
2121 ft · 52 sec
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23
Turn right onto 900 East Street
587 ft · 11 sec · 900 East Street
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24
Continue on IL 40
1.6 mi · 2 min · IL 40
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25
Turn right
37 m · 5 sec
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26
Turn right onto County Road 1500 N
2.5 mi · 4 min · County Road 1500 N
-
27
Continue on North Mason Street
1757 ft · 29 sec · North Mason Street
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28
Continue on East Railroad Street
1.6 km · 2 min · East Railroad Street
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29
Turn left onto 550 East Street
1.6 mi · 2 min · 550 East Street
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30
Continue on 525 East Street
1.2 km · 1 min · 525 East Street
-
31
Continue on 525 E Street
3.7 mi · 6 min · 525 E Street
-
32
Continue on 965 North Avenue
5.9 mi · 9 min · 965 North Avenue
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33
Continue straight
1.3 mi · 2 min
-
34
Continue on North East Street
66 m · 4 sec · North East Street
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35
Continue on East 2nd Street
2506 ft · 50 sec · East 2nd Street
-
36
Turn left onto North Main Street
1.2 km · 1 min · North Main Street
-
37
Continue on Tenney Street
4.5 mi · 7 min · Tenney Street
-
38
Turn left
4.5 mi · 8 min
-
39
Turn right onto 2100 E
2 mi · 3 min · 2100 E
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40
Continue on Madison Street
1964 ft · 33 sec · Madison Street
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41
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Madison Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Evanston and Lafayette.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 80 West
Merge slight left
80.8 mi · 01h 27m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Cloudy then Rain Showers Likely leaving Evanston and Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers near Lafayette.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Evanston to Lafayette?
The road trip is about 169.3 miles (272.4 km) and usually takes 03h 37m 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?
Marseilles is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.5 miles from Evanston and 84.8 miles from Lafayette.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 134.4 miles (216.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.9 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 9:46 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.85 one way or $55.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Rain Showers Likely around Evanston and Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers near Lafayette.
Stop Ideas Near Marseilles
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 Marseilles.
Dwight station
Plano
Mendota station
Pontiac station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Evanston and Lafayette. Straight-line distance: 134.39 mi (216.28 km).
#1 Evanston
A city in Cook County, Illinois.
| Population | 72,683 |
| Coordinates | 42.0411400, -87.6900600 |
| Altitude | 187 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Lafayette
Township in Ogle County, Illinois
| Population | 161 |
| Coordinates | 41.1080900, -89.9715000 |
| Altitude | 243 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lafayette (-89.9715, 41.10809)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 272 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 38m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 13m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 23m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 49m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 25m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 06m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.67 | $27.85 | $55.70 |
| Mid-grade | $5.29 | $31.59 | $63.19 |
| Premium | $5.84 | $34.85 | $69.69 |
| Diesel | $6.57 | $39.23 | $78.46 |
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