How far is Granite City, IL from Evanston, IL?

The driving distance from Granite City, IL to Evanston, IL is about 305 miles (490.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 264.5 miles (425.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
305 mi
04h 59m
Flight
264.54 mi
425.73 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Granite City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
264.54 mi
Kilometers
425.73 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
305 mi
Kilometers
490.85 km
Drive Time
04h 59m

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 04h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Evanston
Sun, May 31, 11:25 AM CDT
Return by in Granite City
Sun, May 31, 4:25 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Granite City
2026-05-31T06:26
Arrive Evanston
Sun, May 31, 11:25 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:00 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Granite City
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Burns
IL

Township in Henry County, Illinois

From Granite City
151.8 mi
02h 29m
To Evanston
153.2 mi
02h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Sunday

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 mph SE
Destination
68°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Granite City and Evanston.

  1. 1

    Start on Niedringhaus Avenue

    1307 ft · 37 sec · Niedringhaus Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Madison Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Madison Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Nameoki Road

    3.4 mi · 6 min · Nameoki Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right toward I 270 East: Effingham

    2142 ft · 43 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    9.8 mi · 11 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55 North: Chicago, Springfield

    1668 ft · 47 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    107.2 mi · 1 hr 56 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

    29.4 mi · 31 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

    120.8 mi · 2 hr 14 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin

    1.6 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin

    1694 ft · 41 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    11.7 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Touhy Avenue

    635 ft · 16 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue

    2694 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Touhy Avenue East

    1749 ft · 43 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue

    3 mi · 6 min · East Touhy Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto North Harlem Avenue

    2643 ft · 50 sec · North Harlem Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right onto West Howard Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · West Howard Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto New Gross Point Road

    531 ft · 11 sec · New Gross Point Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Gross Point Road

    2627 ft · 55 sec · Gross Point Road

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Oakton Street

    4 mi · 8 min · Oakton Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Asbury Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Asbury Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Dempster Street

    65 m · 9 sec · Dempster Street

  25. 25

    Turn uturn

    65 m · 18 sec

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
26 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
258 mi · 85%
Tri-State Tollway
16.6 mi · 5%
I 270 East
10.3 mi · 3%
Oakton Street
3.96 mi · 1%
Nameoki Road
3.36 mi · 1%
East Touhy Avenue
2.99 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

121 mi · 02h 14m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
04h 59m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.5 mi
264.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Burns
02h 29m from Granite City
Leave By
7:00 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Granite City and Partly Sunny near Evanston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Granite City to Evanston?

The road trip is about 305 miles (490.8 km) and usually takes 04h 59m 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?

Burns is a useful midpoint, sitting about 151.8 miles from Granite City and 153.2 miles from Evanston.

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

The direct path is about 264.5 miles (425.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.5 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 7:00 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.58 one way or $81.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms around Granite City and Partly Sunny near Evanston.

Stop Ideas Near Burns

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Burns and the surrounding midpoint area.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
Scenic stop 14.9 mi away

Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!

Atlanta , IL
865 SW Arch St, Atlanta, IL 61723, United States
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Tourist attraction
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Meeting point 4.1 mi away

City of Bloomington, Illinois

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
Rating 3.6/5 8 reviews City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 4.1 mi away

Bloomington Finance Department

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
City tax office
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 6.2 mi away

City Hall - Town of Normal

Normal , IL
11 Uptown Circle, Normal, IL 61761
Parking lot

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Burns.

RAIL

Uptown Station

12 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Lincoln

43 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Pontiac station

61 mi away
721 West Washington St.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

67 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Granite City and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 264.54 mi (425.73 km).

Granite City

#1 Granite City

Township in Madison County, Illinois

Population25,662
Coordinates38.7014400, -90.1487200
Altitude129
CountryUnited States
Evanston

#2 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: Niedringhaus Avenue (-90.14872, 38.701518)
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 491 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 09m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 48m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.76 gal
40.74 L · about $40.58
Round trip
$81.15
21.52 gal · 81.48 L
Estimated CO2
95.6 kg one way
Round trip: 191.2 kg / 422 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $40.58 $81.15
Mid-grade $4.25 $45.76 $91.52
Premium $4.65 $50.08 $100.15
Diesel $5.30 $57.07 $114.14

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 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Granite City and Evanston. The current time is 06:26:07.

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.