How far is Evanston, IL from Lake Forest, IL?
The driving distance from Evanston, IL to Lake Forest, IL is about 20.3 miles (32.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 31m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 16.9 miles (27.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 03m 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 31m.
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.
Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Evanston and Lake Forest.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston and Lake Forest.
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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
Turn right onto West Westleigh Road
1.1 mi · 2 min · West Westleigh Road
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16
Turn left onto South Western Avenue
1.3 mi · 2 min · South Western Avenue
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17
Turn right onto Illinois Road
73 m · 10 sec · Illinois Road
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18
Turn left onto North McKinley Road
2911 ft · 1 min · North McKinley Road
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19
Turn slight right onto East Woodland Road
62 m · 7 sec · East Woodland Road
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20
Turn slight left onto Griffith Road
22 m · 3 sec · Griffith Road
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21
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Griffith Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Evanston and Lake Forest.
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.
Edens Expressway
Merge slight left onto Edens Expressway
3.97 mi · 00h 05m
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.
Partly Sunny leaving Evanston and Partly Sunny near Lake Forest.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Evanston to Lake Forest?
The road trip is about 20.3 miles (32.7 km) and usually takes 00h 31m 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?
Glencoe is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.2 miles from Evanston and 10.2 miles from Lake Forest.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 16.9 miles (27.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.4 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 7:26 PM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.72 one way or $5.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Evanston and Partly Sunny near Lake Forest.
Stop Ideas Near Glencoe
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 Glencoe.
Glenview station
Chicago Union Station
La Grange Road
Summit
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Evanston and Lake Forest. Straight-line distance: 16.89 mi (27.18 km).
#1 Evanston
A city in Cook County, Illinois.
| Population | 72,683 |
| Coordinates | 42.0411400, -87.6900600 |
| Altitude | 187 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Lake Forest
City in Lake County, Illinois, United States
| Population | 19,379 |
| Coordinates | 42.2586300, -87.8406300 |
| Altitude | 210 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lake Forest (-87.84063, 42.25863)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 33 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 40m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 30m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 24m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 20m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 17m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 15m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $2.72 | $5.43 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $3.06 | $6.12 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $3.35 | $6.70 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $3.82 | $7.64 |
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 · May 30, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.