How far is Evanston, IL from Murphysboro, IL?

The driving distance from Evanston, IL to Murphysboro, IL is about 347.1 miles (558.6 km), with a travel time of about 06h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 308.1 miles (495.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
347.12 mi
06h 42m
Flight
308.06 mi
495.78 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
308.06 mi
Kilometers
495.78 km
Flight Time
00h 37m

Driving Distance

Road route
347.12 mi
Kilometers
558.64 km
Drive Time
06h 42m

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 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Murphysboro
Thu, Oct 15, 8:59 PM CDT
Return by in Evanston
Fri, Oct 16, 3:41 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Evanston
2026-10-15T14:17
Arrive Murphysboro
Thu, Oct 15, 8:59 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:42 PM to 2:12 PM CDT

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

Leave by
10:36 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Evanston
8:00 PM CDT
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
Tuscola
IL

City in Illinois

From Evanston
173.7 mi
03h 21m
To Murphysboro
173.4 mi
03h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph SE
Destination
86°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
1 to 12 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    32.7 mi · 35 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Johnston City, Herrin

    1506 ft · 39 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Herrin Road

    3.1 mi · 5 min · Herrin Road

  18. 18

    Continue on East Herrin Street

    3.1 mi · 5 min · East Herrin Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Herrin Road

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Herrin Road

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Cambria Road

    11 m · 1 sec · Cambria Road

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto Cambria Road

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Cambria Road

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Russell Street

    11.3 mi · 16 min · Russell Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto North 2nd Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · North 2nd Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Walnut Street

    2911 ft · 1 min · Walnut Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto North 11th Street

    20 m · 3 sec · North 11th Street

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 11th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
267 mi · 77%
Ken Gray Expressway
32.7 mi · 9%
Russell Street
11.3 mi · 3%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.83 mi · 3%
Herrin Road
6.59 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 42m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39 mi
308.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tuscola
03h 21m from Evanston
Leave By
10:36 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Evanston and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Murphysboro.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 347.1 miles (558.6 km) and usually takes 06h 42m 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?

Tuscola is a useful midpoint, sitting about 173.7 miles from Evanston and 173.4 miles from Murphysboro.

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

The direct path is about 308.1 miles (495.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 39 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 $57.15 one way or $114.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 108.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Evanston and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Murphysboro.

Stop Ideas Near Tuscola

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

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

RAIL

Illinois Terminal

35 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Mattoon station

36 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

58 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

66 mi away
379 Lynch Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Evanston and Murphysboro. Straight-line distance: 308.06 mi (495.78 km).

Evanston

#1 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

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

#2 Murphysboro

Town in Illinois

Population7,384
Coordinates37.7645000, -89.3350900
Altitude128
CountryUnited States
Start: Evanston (-87.69006, 42.04114)
End: Murphysboro (-89.33509, 37.7645)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 559 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.25 gal
46.37 L · about $57.15
Round trip
$114.29
24.5 gal · 92.74 L
Estimated CO2
108.9 kg one way
Round trip: 217.7 kg / 480 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $57.15 $114.29
Mid-grade $5.29 $64.83 $129.65
Premium $5.84 $71.50 $143.01
Diesel $6.57 $80.49 $160.99

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Evanston and Murphysboro. The current time is 14:17:12.

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.