How far is Evanston, IL from Lancaster, IL?
The driving distance from Evanston, IL to Lancaster, IL is about 283.8 miles (456.8 km), with a travel time of about 06h 08m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 241.5 miles (388.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 16m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 06h 08m.
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.
The most populous city in Champaign County, Illinois.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Areas Of Fog then Partly Sunny
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Evanston and Lancaster.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston and Lancaster.
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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
1.5 mi · 3 min · Asbury Avenue
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5
Continue on North Western Avenue
5.5 mi · 11 min · North Western Avenue
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6
Turn left onto North Clybourn Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue
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7
Turn right onto North Damen Avenue
1.2 km · 2 min · North Damen Avenue
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8
Turn left onto West Webster Avenue
42 m · 3 sec · West Webster Avenue
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9
Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 East, I 94 East
1008 ft · 27 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Kennedy Expressway
3.6 mi · 5 min · Kennedy Expressway
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11
Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway
2.4 mi · 3 min · Dan Ryan Expressway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.8 mi · 12 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis
168.9 mi · 3 hr 6 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward IL 16 East: Charleston
1676 ft · 47 sec
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15
Turn straight onto Charleston Avenue East
1.2 km · 1 min · Charleston Avenue East
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16
Continue on Illinois Route 16
6 mi · 8 min · Illinois Route 16
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17
Continue on West Lincoln Avenue
1.8 mi · 3 min · West Lincoln Avenue
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18
Turn right onto 18th Street
1.6 mi · 2 min · 18th Street
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19
Continue on Illinois Route 130
1.2 km · 1 min · Illinois Route 130
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20
Continue on Route 130
10 mi · 15 min · Route 130
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21
Continue on County Road 1825 East
2 mi · 3 min · County Road 1825 East
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22
Continue on County Road 1775 E
1.3 km · 1 min · County Road 1775 E
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23
Continue on North Haughton Highway
1945 ft · 33 sec · North Haughton Highway
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24
Continue on 1700E
1.3 mi · 2 min · 1700E
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25
Continue on North Haughton Highway
4 mi · 6 min · North Haughton Highway
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26
Continue on County Road 1700E
2.1 mi · 3 min · County Road 1700E
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27
Continue on North 1250th Street
13.3 mi · 20 min · North 1250th Street
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28
Turn left onto South Van Buren Street
11 mi · 15 min · South Van Buren Street
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29
Continue on County Road 1100 East
6.7 mi · 9 min · County Road 1100 East
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30
Continue on North West Street
2.5 mi · 4 min · North West Street
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31
Continue on County Road 1150
14.3 mi · 20 min · County Road 1150
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32
Turn left onto County Road 1850 N
2 mi · 5 min · County Road 1850 N
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33
Continue on Champion Drive
1.2 km · 2 min · Champion Drive
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34
Continue on West Lancaster Road
3.5 mi · 9 min · West Lancaster Road
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35
Continue straight
5.3 mi · 13 min
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Evanston and Lancaster.
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 57 South
Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis
169 mi · 03h 06m
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.
Areas Of Fog then Partly Sunny leaving Evanston and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lancaster.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Evanston to Lancaster?
The road trip is about 283.8 miles (456.8 km) and usually takes 06h 08m 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?
Champaign is a useful midpoint, sitting about 142 miles from Evanston and 141.9 miles from Lancaster.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 241.5 miles (388.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.3 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 CDT. 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 $37.79 one way or $75.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 89 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Areas Of Fog then Partly Sunny around Evanston and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lancaster.
Stop Ideas Near Champaign
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 Champaign.
Illinois Terminal
Rantoul
Danville, Illinois
Mattoon station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Evanston and Lancaster. Straight-line distance: 241.54 mi (388.72 km).
#1 Evanston
A city in Cook County, Illinois.
| Population | 72,683 |
| Coordinates | 42.0411400, -87.6900600 |
| Altitude | 187 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Lancaster
City in Illinois, United States of America
| Population | 1,411 |
| Coordinates | 38.5478300, -87.8653100 |
| Altitude | 148 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lancaster (-87.86531, 38.54783)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 457 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 27m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 05m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 40m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 43m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 03m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 32m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $37.79 | $75.57 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $42.62 | $85.23 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $46.63 | $93.27 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $53.15 | $106.29 |
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 17, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.