How far is Evanston, IL from Oak Forest, IL?

The driving distance from Evanston, IL to Oak Forest, IL is about 36.2 miles (58.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 30.4 miles (48.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 54m 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
36.2 mi
00h 57m
Flight
30.41 mi
48.94 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
30.41 mi
Kilometers
48.94 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
36.2 mi
Kilometers
58.26 km
Drive Time
00h 57m

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 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Oak Forest
Fri, Apr 24, 5:19 AM CDT
Return by in Evanston
Fri, Apr 24, 6:16 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Evanston
2026-04-24T04:22
Arrive Oak Forest
Fri, Apr 24, 5:19 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:57 AM to 10:57 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:36 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
18.1 mi
00h 28m
To Oak Forest
18.1 mi
00h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Friday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Fri, Apr 24 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SW
Destination
73°F
Friday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Fri, Apr 24 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Evanston and Oak Forest.

  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

    10 mi · 14 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6: 159th Street

    1696 ft · 41 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on US 6 West: 159th Street

    1866 ft · 53 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto West 159th Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · West 159th Street

  17. 17

    Continue on West 159th Street

    620 ft · 30 sec · West 159th Street

  18. 18

    Turn right

    19 m · 10 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left

    36 m · 9 sec

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
55.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
9.99 mi · 28%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.83 mi · 24%
North Western Avenue
5.53 mi · 15%
Kennedy Expressway
3.57 mi · 10%
Dan Ryan Expressway
2.42 mi · 7%
West 159th Street
1.84 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

9.99 mi · 00h 14m

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 57m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.8 mi
30.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chicago
00h 28m from Evanston
Leave By
4:36 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Evanston and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Oak Forest.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Evanston to Oak Forest?

The road trip is about 36.2 miles (58.3 km) and usually takes 00h 57m 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 18.1 miles from Evanston and 18.1 miles from Oak Forest.

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

The direct path is about 30.4 miles (48.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.8 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 4:36 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.83 one way or $9.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Oak Forest. Straight-line distance: 30.41 mi (48.94 km).

Evanston

#1 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Oak Forest

#2 Oak Forest

City in Cook County, Illinois

Population26,884
Coordinates41.6028100, -87.7439400
Altitude205
CountryUnited States
Start: Evanston (-87.69006, 42.04114)
End: Oak Forest (-87.74394, 41.60281)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 58 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.28 gal
4.84 L · about $4.83
Round trip
$9.65
2.56 gal · 9.68 L
Estimated CO2
11.4 kg one way
Round trip: 22.8 kg / 50 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.83 $9.65
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.44 $10.89
Premium $4.65 $5.96 $11.91
Diesel $5.30 $6.79 $13.58

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 24, 2026

There is no time difference between Evanston and Oak Forest. The current time is 04:22:21.

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.