How far is Gifford, IL from Evanston, IL?

The driving distance from Gifford, IL to Evanston, IL is about 139.5 miles (224.5 km), with a travel time of about 02h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 121.1 miles (194.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 24m 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
139.53 mi
02h 42m
Flight
121.12 mi
194.93 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Gifford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
121.12 mi
Kilometers
194.93 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
139.53 mi
Kilometers
224.55 km
Drive Time
02h 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 02h 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Evanston
Tue, May 5, 5:45 AM CDT
Return by in Gifford
Tue, May 5, 8:28 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gifford
2026-05-05T03:03
Arrive Evanston
Tue, May 5, 5:45 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:42 AM to 12:42 PM CDT

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

Leave by
1:06 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Gifford
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
Kankakee
IL

City in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States

From Gifford
70.6 mi
01h 21m
To Evanston
68.9 mi
01h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 14 mph WNW
Destination
51°F
Tuesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NNE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South Main Street

    2531 ft · 1 min · South Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto County Road 3000 North

    5.1 mi · 7 min · County Road 3000 North

  3. 3

    Continue on Grove Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Grove Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Klein Avenue

    1821 ft · 31 sec · Klein Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on East Champaign Avenue

    1.7 mi · 3 min · East Champaign Avenue

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward I-57 North: Kankakee

    2320 ft · 49 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    108.2 mi · 2 hr 1 min

  8. 8

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

  10. 10

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Kennedy Expressway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Damen Avenue

    875 ft · 24 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto North Damen Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Damen Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn slight left onto North Clybourn Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North Western Avenue

    5.5 mi · 11 min · North Western Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on Asbury Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Asbury Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Dempster Street

    65 m · 9 sec · Dempster Street

  17. 17

    Turn uturn

    65 m · 18 sec

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-57 North
109 mi · 78%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi · 6%
North Western Avenue
5.53 mi · 4%
County Road 3000 North
5.07 mi · 4%
Kennedy Expressway
3.69 mi · 3%
Dan Ryan Expressway
3.33 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I-57 North

Merge slight left

108 mi · 02h 01m

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 42m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.4 mi
121.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kankakee
01h 21m from Gifford
Leave By
1:06 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Gifford and Chance Rain Showers near Evanston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 139.5 miles (224.5 km) and usually takes 02h 42m 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?

Kankakee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 70.6 miles from Gifford and 68.9 miles from Evanston.

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

The direct path is about 121.1 miles (194.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.4 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 1:06 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.55 one way or $37.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 43.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Gifford and Chance Rain Showers near Evanston.

Stop Ideas Near Kankakee

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

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

RAIL

Kankakee

199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Gilman

41 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.
RAIL

Dwight station

48 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

49 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gifford and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 121.12 mi (194.93 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Gifford

Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

Population1,035
Coordinates40.3058700, -88.0211500
Altitude243
CountryUnited States
Evanston

#2 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: South Main Street (-88.02137, 40.305869)
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 225 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 47m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 44m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.92 gal
18.64 L · about $18.55
Round trip
$37.11
9.84 gal · 37.28 L
Estimated CO2
43.7 kg one way
Round trip: 87.4 kg / 193 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $18.55 $37.11
Mid-grade $4.25 $20.92 $41.85
Premium $4.65 $22.90 $45.80
Diesel $5.30 $26.10 $52.19

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 · May 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Gifford and Evanston. The current time is 03:03:31.

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.