How far is Evanston, IL from Lansing, IL?

The driving distance from Evanston, IL to Lansing, IL is about 38.3 miles (61.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 33.8 miles (54.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 58m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
38.25 mi
00h 59m
Flight
33.82 mi
54.43 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Evanston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
33.82 mi
Kilometers
54.43 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
38.25 mi
Kilometers
61.56 km
Drive Time
00h 59m

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 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lansing
Thu, Apr 23, 1:20 AM CDT
Return by in Evanston
Thu, Apr 23, 2:19 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Evanston
2026-04-23T00:21
Arrive Lansing
Thu, Apr 23, 1:20 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:59 AM to 10:59 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:32 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Evanston
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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.

Mid-route stop
Chicago
IL

The third most populous city in the United States and the center of the Chicago metropolitan area.

From Evanston
19.1 mi
00h 29m
To Lansing
19.1 mi
00h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Evanston and Lansing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Evanston and Lansing.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    60 m · 22 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left

    43 m · 16 sec

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Dempster Street

    65 m · 15 sec · Dempster Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Asbury Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Asbury Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on North Western Avenue

    5.5 mi · 11 min · North Western Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn left onto North Clybourn Avenue

    1.2 km · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn right onto North Damen Avenue

    1.2 km · 2 min · North Damen Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn left onto West Webster Avenue

    42 m · 3 sec · West Webster Avenue

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 East, I 94 East

    1008 ft · 27 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Kennedy Expressway

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Kennedy Expressway

  11. 11

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

    8.8 mi · 12 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Bishop Ford Freeway

    10.8 mi · 15 min · Bishop Ford Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East, I 94 East: Indiana

    1.1 mi · 1 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on US 6 West, IL 83: Torrence Avenue

    2791 ft · 43 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on US 6 West, IL 83 West: Torrence Avenue

    997 ft · 24 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on IL 83 South

    153 m · 12 sec

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Torrence Avenue

    1.4 km · 1 min · Torrence Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Ridge Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Ridge Road

  20. 20

    Turn right

    7 m · 2 sec

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Evanston and Lansing.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
21 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
55 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Bishop Ford Freeway
10.8 mi · 28%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.83 mi · 23%
North Western Avenue
5.53 mi · 14%
Kennedy Expressway
3.57 mi · 9%
Dan Ryan Expressway
2.42 mi · 6%
Asbury Avenue
1.51 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Bishop Ford Freeway

Keep slight left to continue on Bishop Ford Freeway

10.8 mi · 00h 15m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 59m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.5 mi
33.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chicago
00h 29m from Evanston
Leave By
4:32 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Evanston and Mostly Sunny near Lansing.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Evanston to Lansing?

The road trip is about 38.3 miles (61.6 km) and usually takes 00h 59m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Chicago is a useful midpoint, sitting about 19.1 miles from Evanston and 19.1 miles from Lansing.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 33.8 miles (54.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:32 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.09 one way or $10.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Evanston and Mostly Sunny near Lansing.

Stop Ideas Near Chicago

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Chicago, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Chicago.

RAIL

Chicago Union Station

3 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

Summit

15 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.
RAIL

La Grange Road

19 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Hammond–Whiting station

21 mi away
1135 South Calumet Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Evanston and Lansing. Straight-line distance: 33.82 mi (54.43 km).

Evanston

#1 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Lansing

#2 Lansing

Village in Illinois, USA

Population27,059
Coordinates41.5647600, -87.5389300
Altitude192
CountryUnited States
Start: Evanston (-87.69006, 42.04114)
End: Lansing (-87.53893, 41.56476)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 62 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.35 gal
5.11 L · about $5.09
Round trip
$10.18
2.7 gal · 10.22 L
Estimated CO2
12 kg one way
Round trip: 24 kg / 53 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $5.09 $10.18
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.74 $11.48
Premium $4.65 $6.28 $12.57
Diesel $5.30 $7.16 $14.32

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

There is no time difference between Evanston and Lansing. The current time is 00:21:35.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.