How far is Evanston, IL from Milton, IL?

The driving distance from Evanston, IL to Milton, IL is about 294.1 miles (473.3 km), with a travel time of about 05h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 252.5 miles (406.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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
294.11 mi
05h 46m
Flight
252.46 mi
406.29 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
252.46 mi
Kilometers
406.29 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
294.11 mi
Kilometers
473.33 km
Drive Time
05h 46m

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 05h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Milton
Tue, Apr 14, 11:49 PM CDT
Return by in Evanston
Wed, Apr 15, 5:35 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Evanston
2026-04-14T18:02
Arrive Milton
Tue, Apr 14, 11:49 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:46 AM to 1:46 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:28 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Evanston
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Bloomington
IL

The second most populous city in McLean County, Illinois.

From Evanston
147.1 mi
02h 53m
To Milton
147.1 mi
02h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph SSW
Destination
85°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 16 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 mi · 2 min · Asbury Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Oakton Street

    4 mi · 7 min · Oakton Street

  6. 6

    Turn slight left onto Gross Point Road

    2627 ft · 52 sec · Gross Point Road

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto New Gross Point Road

    531 ft · 15 sec · New Gross Point Road

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Howard Street

    1222 ft · 35 sec · Howard Street

  9. 9

    Turn left onto North Lehigh Avenue

    37 m · 2 sec · North Lehigh Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn right onto West Gross Point Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · West Gross Point Road

  11. 11

    Turn slight right onto West Touhy Avenue

    4 mi · 8 min · West Touhy Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn left onto South Des Plaines River Road

    56 m · 4 sec · South Des Plaines River Road

  13. 13

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 294 South: Indiana

    2265 ft · 55 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    11.5 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis

    1 km · 1 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    2295 ft · 56 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

    119.4 mi · 2 hr 13 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

    64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    62.6 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville

    1756 ft · 43 sec

  23. 23

    Turn right onto East State Street

    1 km · 1 min · East State Street

  24. 24

    Continue on State Route 140

    9.6 mi · 13 min · State Route 140

  25. 25

    Continue on East Bethalto Drive

    1.8 mi · 4 min · East Bethalto Drive

  26. 26

    Continue on East MacArthur Drive

    1.4 mi · 3 min · East MacArthur Drive

  27. 27

    Continue on West Macarthur Drive

    1.3 mi · 2 min · West Macarthur Drive

  28. 28

    Continue on College Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · College Avenue

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Worden Avenue

    1611 ft · 1 min · Worden Avenue

  30. 30

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Brown Street

    147 m · 19 sec · Brown Street

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Dorothy Avenue

    77 m · 13 sec · Dorothy Avenue

  32. 32

    Turn right onto Ethel Avenue

    124 m · 18 sec · Ethel Avenue

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Ethel Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
33 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 South
128 mi · 43%
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
119 mi · 41%
Tri-State Tollway
17.5 mi · 6%
State Route 140
9.61 mi · 3%
West Touhy Avenue
4.03 mi · 1%
Oakton Street
3.96 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

119 mi · 02h 13m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
05h 46m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.6 mi
252.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bloomington
02h 53m from Evanston
Leave By
5:28 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Evanston and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Milton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 294.1 miles (473.3 km) and usually takes 05h 46m 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?

Bloomington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 147.1 miles from Evanston and 147.1 miles from Milton.

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

The direct path is about 252.5 miles (406.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.6 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 5:28 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.14 one way or $78.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 92.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Evanston and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Milton.

Stop Ideas Near Bloomington

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Bloomington and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 3 mi away

City Hall - Town of Normal

Normal , IL
11 Uptown Circle, Normal, IL 61761
Parking lot
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Meeting point 1.9 mi away

City of Bloomington, Illinois

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
Rating 3.6/5 8 reviews City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 1.9 mi away

Bloomington Finance Department

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
City tax office

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Uptown Station

3 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Lincoln

49 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Pontiac station

53 mi away
721 West Washington St.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

62 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Evanston and Milton. Straight-line distance: 252.46 mi (406.29 km).

Evanston

#1 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Milton

Town in Illinois, USA

Population259
Coordinates38.8989400, -90.1423300
Altitude158
CountryUnited States
Start: Evanston (-87.69006, 42.04114)
End: Milton (-90.14233, 38.89894)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 473 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.38 gal
39.29 L · about $39.14
Round trip
$78.29
20.76 gal · 78.58 L
Estimated CO2
92.2 kg one way
Round trip: 184.5 kg / 407 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $39.14 $78.29
Mid-grade $4.25 $44.15 $88.29
Premium $4.65 $48.31 $96.62
Diesel $5.30 $55.06 $110.11

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 14, 2026

There is no time difference between Evanston and Milton. The current time is 18:02:57.

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.