How far is Jonesboro, IL from Evanston, IL?

The driving distance from Jonesboro, IL to Evanston, IL is about 361.8 miles (582.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 328 miles (527.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
361.85 mi
06h 02m
Flight
327.98 mi
527.83 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jonesboro.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
327.98 mi
Kilometers
527.83 km
Flight Time
00h 39m

Driving Distance

Road route
361.85 mi
Kilometers
582.34 km
Drive Time
06h 02m

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 06h 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Evanston
Fri, May 1, 8:18 PM CDT
Return by in Jonesboro
Sat, May 2, 2:21 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jonesboro
2026-05-01T14:15
Arrive Evanston
Fri, May 1, 8:18 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:03 PM to 1:33 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:54 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jonesboro
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Arcola
IL

Township in Douglas County, Illinois

From Jonesboro
179.9 mi
03h 01m
To Evanston
181.9 mi
03h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 mph N
Destination
49°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NNE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    11 m · 3 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Public Square

    6 m · 8 sec · Public Square

  3. 3

    Continue on Public Square

    39 m · 6 sec · Public Square

  4. 4

    Merge sharp left onto Public Square

    111 m · 8 sec · Public Square

  5. 5

    Turn slight right onto Broad Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Broad Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto East Vienna Street

    5.8 mi · 8 min · East Vienna Street

  7. 7

    Continue on 770N

    1338 ft · 28 sec · 770N

  8. 8

    Take the ramp left

    1462 ft · 36 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

    65.6 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    67.5 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    195.2 mi · 3 hr 34 min

  12. 12

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  13. 13

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

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

  14. 14

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Kennedy Expressway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Damen Avenue

    875 ft · 24 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto North Damen Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Damen Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn slight left onto North Clybourn Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto North Western Avenue

    5.5 mi · 11 min · North Western Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on Asbury Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Asbury Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Dempster Street

    65 m · 9 sec · Dempster Street

  21. 21

    Turn uturn

    65 m · 18 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Jonesboro 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
22 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
195 mi · 54%
Ken Gray Expressway
133 mi · 37%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi · 2%
East Vienna Street
5.76 mi · 2%
North Western Avenue
5.53 mi · 2%
Kennedy Expressway
3.69 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 57 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

195 mi · 03h 34m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 02m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.8 mi
328 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Arcola
03h 01m from Jonesboro
Leave By
11:54 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Jonesboro and Mostly Sunny then Slight 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 Jonesboro to Evanston?

The road trip is about 361.8 miles (582.3 km) and usually takes 06h 02m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Arcola is a useful midpoint, sitting about 179.9 miles from Jonesboro and 181.9 miles from Evanston.

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

The direct path is about 328 miles (527.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.8 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $48.16 one way or $96.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 113.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Jonesboro and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Evanston.

Stop Ideas Near Arcola

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

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

RAIL

Mattoon station

23 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

48 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Effingham

66 mi away
401 West National Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

71 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jonesboro and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 327.98 mi (527.83 km).

Jonesboro

#1 Jonesboro

City in Union County, Illinois, United States

Population1,677
Coordinates37.4517200, -89.2681400
Altitude172
CountryUnited States
Evanston

#2 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: Public Square (-89.268226, 37.451677)
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 582 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.77 gal
48.33 L · about $48.16
Round trip
$96.31
25.54 gal · 96.66 L
Estimated CO2
113.5 kg one way
Round trip: 227 kg / 500 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $48.16 $96.31
Mid-grade $4.25 $54.31 $108.62
Premium $4.65 $59.43 $118.86
Diesel $5.30 $67.73 $135.46

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 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Jonesboro and Evanston. The current time is 14:15:32.

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.