How far is Lawrence, IL from Evanston, IL?

The driving distance from Lawrence, IL to Evanston, IL is about 75.2 miles (121 km), with a travel time of about 01h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 55.9 miles (90 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 09m 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
75.19 mi
01h 34m
Flight
55.95 mi
90.05 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lawrence.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
55.95 mi
Kilometers
90.05 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
75.19 mi
Kilometers
121.01 km
Drive Time
01h 34m

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 01h 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Evanston
Thu, Oct 15, 3:52 PM CDT
Return by in Lawrence
Thu, Oct 15, 5:27 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lawrence
2026-10-15T14:18
Arrive Evanston
Thu, Oct 15, 3:52 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 34m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:35 AM to 11:35 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:20 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lawrence
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
West Dundee
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Lawrence
35.2 mi
00h 47m
To Evanston
40 mi
00h 47m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Thursday

Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E
Destination
63°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    24 m · 13 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Oak Grove Road

    1050 ft · 34 sec · Oak Grove Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Lawrence Road

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Lawrence Road

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto Ramer Road

    994 ft · 29 sec · Ramer Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Lawrence Road

    2661 ft · 1 min · Lawrence Road

  6. 6

    Turn left

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  7. 7

    Turn right onto South Division Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South Division Street

  8. 8

    Turn right onto State Route 23

    10.6 mi · 16 min · State Route 23

  9. 9

    Turn left onto East Grant Highway

    4.4 mi · 6 min · East Grant Highway

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Grant Highway

    33 m · 2 sec · East Grant Highway

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto East Grant Highway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · East Grant Highway

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Grant Highway

    35 m · 2 sec · East Grant Highway

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto East Grant Highway

    1.1 km · 55 sec · East Grant Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

    2239 ft · 38 sec · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  15. 15

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 Toll West, I 90 Toll East: Chicago, Rockford

    1194 ft · 29 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 90 Toll East: Chicago

    2462 ft · 60 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    31 mi · 33 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Elmhurst Road

    2200 ft · 42 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Elmhurst Road North

    88 m · 9 sec

  20. 20

    Turn straight onto South Elmhurst Road

    1889 ft · 42 sec · South Elmhurst Road

  21. 21

    Turn right onto West Oakton Street

    645 ft · 13 sec · West Oakton Street

  22. 22

    Continue on West Oakton Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · West Oakton Street

  23. 23

    Continue on East Oakton Street

    6.1 mi · 13 min · East Oakton Street

  24. 24

    Continue on Oakton Street

    5.8 mi · 11 min · Oakton Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Asbury Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Asbury Avenue

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Dempster Street

    65 m · 9 sec · Dempster Street

  27. 27

    Turn uturn

    65 m · 18 sec

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
28 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
37.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
31 mi · 41%
State Route 23
10.6 mi · 14%
East Grant Highway
8.4 mi · 11%
East Oakton Street
6.12 mi · 8%
Oakton Street
5.79 mi · 8%
Lawrence Road
1.79 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

31 mi · 00h 33m

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
01h 34m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.3 mi
55.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
West Dundee
00h 47m from Lawrence
Leave By
3:20 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers leaving Lawrence and Showers And Thunderstorms near Evanston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 75.2 miles (121 km) and usually takes 01h 34m 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?

West Dundee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 35.2 miles from Lawrence and 40 miles from Evanston.

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

The direct path is about 55.9 miles (90 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.3 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 3:20 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.36 one way or $24.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 23.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near West Dundee

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

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

RAIL

Naperville

37 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Glenview station

39 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

La Grange Road

46 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

52 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lawrence and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 55.95 mi (90.05 km).

Lawrence

#1 Lawrence

Township in Lawrence County, Illinois

Population4,380
Coordinates42.4411300, -88.6412100
Altitude276
CountryUnited States
Evanston

#2 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: (-88.641279, 42.441089)
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 121 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 04m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.65 gal
10.04 L · about $12.36
Round trip
$24.72
5.3 gal · 20.08 L
Estimated CO2
23.6 kg one way
Round trip: 47.1 kg / 104 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $12.36 $24.72
Mid-grade $5.29 $14.02 $28.05
Premium $5.84 $15.47 $30.94
Diesel $6.57 $17.41 $34.83

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Lawrence and Evanston. The current time is 14:18:02.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.