How far is Evanston, IL from Wood River, IL?
The driving distance from Evanston, IL to Wood River, IL is about 293.7 miles (472.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 44m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 253.5 miles (408 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 29m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 44m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
The second most populous city in McLean County, Illinois.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Rain Showers
Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Evanston and Wood River.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston and Wood River.
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1
Start on the route
60 m · 22 sec
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2
At the end of the road, turn left
43 m · 16 sec
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3
At the end of the road, turn left onto Dempster Street
65 m · 15 sec · Dempster Street
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4
Turn left onto Asbury Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · Asbury Avenue
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5
Turn right onto Oakton Street
4 mi · 7 min · Oakton Street
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6
Turn slight left onto Gross Point Road
2627 ft · 52 sec · Gross Point Road
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7
Turn straight onto New Gross Point Road
531 ft · 15 sec · New Gross Point Road
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8
Turn right onto Howard Street
1222 ft · 35 sec · Howard Street
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9
Turn left onto North Lehigh Avenue
37 m · 2 sec · North Lehigh Avenue
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10
Turn right onto West Gross Point Road
1.4 km · 2 min · West Gross Point Road
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11
Turn slight right onto West Touhy Avenue
4 mi · 8 min · West Touhy Avenue
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12
Turn left onto South Des Plaines River Road
56 m · 4 sec · South Des Plaines River Road
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13
Take the ramp slight right toward I 294 South: Indiana
2265 ft · 55 sec
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14
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
11.5 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
1 km · 1 min
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18
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
2295 ft · 56 sec
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19
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
119.4 mi · 2 hr 13 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min
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21
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
62.6 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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22
Take the exit slight right toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
1756 ft · 43 sec
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23
Turn right onto East State Street
1 km · 1 min · East State Street
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24
Continue on State Route 140
9.6 mi · 13 min · State Route 140
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25
Continue on East Bethalto Drive
1.8 mi · 4 min · East Bethalto Drive
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26
Turn left onto North Bellwood Drive
1.5 km · 2 min · North Bellwood Drive
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27
Continue on South Bellwood Drive
1.1 km · 1 min · South Bellwood Drive
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28
Continue on Vaughn Road
1.7 mi · 3 min · Vaughn Road
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29
Continue on North Central Avenue
1376 ft · 34 sec · North Central Avenue
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30
Turn right onto Madison Avenue
1.6 km · 1 min · Madison Avenue
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31
Turn slight right
63 m · 8 sec
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32
Turn slight right onto South Wood River Avenue
67 m · 8 sec · South Wood River Avenue
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33
Turn right onto East Ferguson Avenue
50 m · 7 sec · East Ferguson Avenue
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34
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Ferguson Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Evanston and Wood River.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
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.
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.
Rain Showers leaving Evanston and Showers And Thunderstorms near Wood River.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Evanston to Wood River?
The road trip is about 293.7 miles (472.7 km) and usually takes 05h 44m 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 146.9 miles from Evanston and 146.9 miles from Wood River.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 253.5 miles (408 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.2 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 5:30 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.11 one way or $78.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 92.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Rain Showers around Evanston and Showers And Thunderstorms near Wood River.
Stop Ideas Near Bloomington
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City Hall - Town of Normal
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington Finance Department
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Bloomington.
Uptown Station
Lincoln
Pontiac station
Peoria, Illinois
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Evanston and Wood River. Straight-line distance: 253.54 mi (408.04 km).
#1 Evanston
A city in Cook County, Illinois.
| Population | 72,683 |
| Coordinates | 42.0411400, -87.6900600 |
| Altitude | 187 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Wood River
City in Illinois, United States
| Population | 10,002 |
| Coordinates | 38.8611600, -90.0976100 |
| Altitude | 133 |
| Country | United States |
End: Wood River (-90.09761, 38.86116)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 473 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 47m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 20m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 52m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 53m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 11m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 39m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $39.11 | $78.21 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $44.10 | $88.21 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $48.26 | $96.52 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $55.00 | $110.00 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.