How far is Evanston, IL from Palos Heights, IL?

The driving distance from Evanston, IL to Palos Heights, IL is about 32.2 miles (51.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 26.3 miles (42.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 52m 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
32.27 mi
00h 56m
Flight
26.35 mi
42.41 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
26.35 mi
Kilometers
42.41 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
32.27 mi
Kilometers
51.94 km
Drive Time
00h 56m

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 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Palos Heights
Sun, Apr 19, 11:56 AM CDT
Return by in Evanston
Sun, Apr 19, 12:53 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Evanston
2026-04-19T11:00
Arrive Palos Heights
Sun, Apr 19, 11:56 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:56 AM to 10:56 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:38 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
16.2 mi
00h 28m
To Palos Heights
16.2 mi
00h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
51°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph WNW
Destination
52°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Evanston and Palos Heights.

  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

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55: Saint Louis, DuSable Lake Shore Drive

    3134 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

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

    2604 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Stevenson Expressway

    4.9 mi · 7 min · Stevenson Expressway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue

    1530 ft · 39 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto South Cicero Avenue

    6.5 mi · 11 min · South Cicero Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto West 93rd Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · West 93rd Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Southwest Highway

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Southwest Highway

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Harlem Avenue

    2.1 mi · 5 min · Harlem Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn left onto West 123rd Street

    25 m · 11 sec · West 123rd Street

  21. 21

    Turn left

    13 m · 3 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
22 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
68.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Cicero Avenue
6.53 mi · 20%
North Western Avenue
5.53 mi · 17%
Stevenson Expressway
4.92 mi · 15%
Kennedy Expressway
3.57 mi · 11%
Southwest Highway
2.47 mi · 8%
Harlem Avenue
2.1 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

South Cicero Avenue

Turn left onto South Cicero Avenue

6.53 mi · 00h 11m

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 56m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.9 mi
26.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chicago
00h 28m from Evanston
Leave By
4:38 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Evanston and Mostly Sunny near Palos Heights.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Evanston to Palos Heights?

The road trip is about 32.2 miles (51.9 km) and usually takes 00h 56m 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 16.2 miles from Evanston and 16.2 miles from Palos Heights.

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

The direct path is about 26.3 miles (42.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:38 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.30 one way or $8.60 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Palos Heights. Straight-line distance: 26.35 mi (42.41 km).

Evanston

#1 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Palos Heights

#2 Palos Heights

City in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Population12,375
Coordinates41.6680900, -87.7964400
Altitude190
CountryUnited States
Start: Evanston (-87.69006, 42.04114)
End: Palos Heights (-87.79644, 41.66809)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 52 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.14 gal
4.31 L · about $4.30
Round trip
$8.60
2.28 gal · 8.62 L
Estimated CO2
10.1 kg one way
Round trip: 20.3 kg / 45 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.30 $8.60
Mid-grade $4.25 $4.85 $9.70
Premium $4.65 $5.31 $10.61
Diesel $5.30 $6.05 $12.09

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Evanston and Palos Heights. The current time is 11:00:12.

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.