How far is Evanston, IL from Rock Grove, IL?

The driving distance from Evanston, IL to Rock Grove, IL is about 116.4 miles (187.3 km), with a travel time of about 02h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 97.6 miles (157.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 55m 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
116.4 mi
02h 27m
Flight
97.64 mi
157.13 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
97.64 mi
Kilometers
157.13 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
116.4 mi
Kilometers
187.32 km
Drive Time
02h 27m

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 02h 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rock Grove
Thu, Apr 23, 3:43 AM CDT
Return by in Evanston
Thu, Apr 23, 6:10 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Evanston
2026-04-23T01:15
Arrive Rock Grove
Thu, Apr 23, 3:43 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:28 AM to 12:28 PM CDT

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

Leave by
1:34 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
Riley
IL

Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

From Evanston
58.1 mi
01h 13m
To Rock Grove
58.3 mi
01h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S
Destination
77°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Evanston and Rock Grove.

  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

    3.3 mi · 6 min · West Touhy Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn left onto South Dee Road

    1 mi · 2 min · South Dee Road

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Devon Avenue

    1.4 km · 2 min · Devon Avenue

  14. 14

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 West Toll

    1349 ft · 33 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    59.4 mi · 1 hr 4 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington

    1.1 km · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight right

    2475 ft · 30 sec

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

    26.8 mi · 31 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  20. 20

    Turn right onto South Rock City Road

    12.8 mi · 22 min · South Rock City Road

  21. 21

    At the end of the road, turn left onto East Rock Grove Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · East Rock Grove Road

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Rock Grove Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
22 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
59.4 mi · 51%
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
26.8 mi · 23%
South Rock City Road
12.8 mi · 11%
Oakton Street
3.96 mi · 3%
West Touhy Avenue
3.29 mi · 3%
I-39 South
3.26 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

59.4 mi · 01h 04m

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
02h 27m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.8 mi
97.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Riley
01h 13m from Evanston
Leave By
1:34 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Evanston and Mostly Sunny near Rock Grove.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Evanston to Rock Grove?

The road trip is about 116.4 miles (187.3 km) and usually takes 02h 27m 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?

Riley is a useful midpoint, sitting about 58.1 miles from Evanston and 58.3 miles from Rock Grove.

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

The direct path is about 97.6 miles (157.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.8 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 1:34 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $15.50 one way or $31.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 36.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Evanston and Mostly Sunny near Rock Grove.

Stop Ideas Near Riley

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

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

BUS

Rockford, Illinois

30 mi away
7559 Walton St.
BUS

South Beloit, Illinois

44 mi away
15766 Manchester Road
RAIL

Plano

59 mi away
101 West Main Street
RAIL

Naperville

61 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Evanston and Rock Grove. Straight-line distance: 97.64 mi (157.13 km).

Evanston

#1 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

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

#2 Rock Grove

Unincorporated community in Illinois

Population1,296
Coordinates42.4630700, -89.5120600
Altitude288
CountryUnited States
Start: Evanston (-87.69006, 42.04114)
End: Rock Grove (-89.51206, 42.46307)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 187 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 56m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.11 gal
15.55 L · about $15.50
Round trip
$31.00
8.22 gal · 31.1 L
Estimated CO2
36.5 kg one way
Round trip: 73.1 kg / 161 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $15.50 $31.00
Mid-grade $4.25 $17.48 $34.96
Premium $4.65 $19.13 $38.26
Diesel $5.30 $21.80 $43.60

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Evanston and Rock Grove. The current time is 01:15:18.

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.