How far is Evanston, IL from Makanda, IL?

The driving distance from Evanston, IL to Makanda, IL is about 353 miles (568.1 km), with a travel time of about 06h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 316.1 miles (508.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 40m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
353.03 mi
06h 50m
Flight
316.07 mi
508.67 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Evanston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
316.07 mi
Kilometers
508.67 km
Flight Time
00h 38m

Driving Distance

Road route
353.03 mi
Kilometers
568.14 km
Drive Time
06h 50m

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 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Makanda
Wed, Nov 4, 4:14 AM CST
Return by in Evanston
Wed, Nov 4, 11:04 AM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Evanston
2026-11-03T21:24
Arrive Makanda
Wed, Nov 4, 4:14 AM CST
Route Timing
06h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:50 PM to 2:20 PM CST

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
10:20 PM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Evanston
8:00 PM CST
Overnight-style route

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
Arcola
IL

Township in Douglas County, Illinois

From Evanston
176.7 mi
03h 25m
To Makanda
176.4 mi
03h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Tuesday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, Nov 3 6:00 AM CST
Wind
15 to 25 mph S
Destination
75°F
Tuesday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, Nov 3 6:00 AM CST
Wind
16 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

    200.8 mi · 3 hr 41 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

    65.7 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    37.4 mi · 40 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale

    1758 ft · 43 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale

    2421 ft · 59 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale

    913 ft · 22 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto West Deyoung Street

    3.4 mi · 4 min · West Deyoung Street

  20. 20

    Continue on IL-13

    11.1 mi · 17 min · IL-13

  21. 21

    Turn left onto South University Avenue

    2416 ft · 35 sec · South University Avenue

  22. 22

    Continue on South Illinois Avenue

    7.8 mi · 9 min · South Illinois Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Makanda Road

    1.6 km · 4 min · Makanda Road

  24. 24

    Keep slight right to continue on Makanda Road

    1.3 km · 3 min · Makanda Road

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on Baptist Hill Road

    23 m · 3 sec · Baptist Hill Road

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Baptist Hill Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
26 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
267 mi · 75%
Ken Gray Expressway
37.4 mi · 11%
IL-13
11.1 mi · 3%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.83 mi · 3%
South Illinois Avenue
7.78 mi · 2%
North Western Avenue
5.53 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

201 mi · 03h 41m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
06h 50m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.9 mi
316.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Arcola
03h 25m from Evanston
Leave By
10:20 PM CST
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers leaving Evanston and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers near Makanda.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 353 miles (568.1 km) and usually takes 06h 50m 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?

Arcola is a useful midpoint, sitting about 176.7 miles from Evanston and 176.4 miles from Makanda.

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

The direct path is about 316.1 miles (508.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.9 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 7:30 AM CST. 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 $58.64 one way or $117.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 110.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers around Evanston and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers near Makanda.

Stop Ideas Near Arcola

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Arcola, 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 Arcola.

RAIL

Mattoon station

23 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

48 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Effingham

66 mi away
401 West National Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

71 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Evanston and Makanda. Straight-line distance: 316.07 mi (508.67 km).

Evanston

#1 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

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

#2 Makanda

City in Illinois, United States of America

Population529
Coordinates37.6175500, -89.2089700
Altitude136
CountryUnited States
Start: Evanston (-87.69006, 42.04114)
End: Makanda (-89.20897, 37.61755)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 568 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.46 gal
47.16 L · about $58.64
Round trip
$117.27
24.92 gal · 94.32 L
Estimated CO2
110.7 kg one way
Round trip: 221.5 kg / 488 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.71 $58.64 $117.27
Mid-grade $5.32 $66.22 $132.45
Premium $5.87 $73.18 $146.36
Diesel $6.62 $82.54 $165.07

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 · Nov 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Evanston and Makanda. The current time is 21:24:19.

Distance to Other Cities

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