How far is Makanda, IL from Evanston, IL?

The driving distance from Makanda, IL to Evanston, IL is about 356.4 miles (573.5 km), with a travel time of about 06h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 316.1 miles (508.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST.
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
356.34 mi
06h 00m
Flight
316.07 mi
508.67 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Makanda.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
316.07 mi
Kilometers
508.67 km
Flight Time
00h 38m

Driving Distance

Road route
356.34 mi
Kilometers
573.48 km
Drive Time
06h 00m

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 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Evanston
Wed, Nov 4, 2:37 AM CST
Return by in Makanda
Wed, Nov 4, 8:38 AM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Makanda
2026-11-03T20:36
Arrive Evanston
Wed, Nov 4, 2:37 AM CST
Route Timing
06h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:01 PM to 1:31 PM CST

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

Leave by
11:58 PM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Makanda
8:00 PM CST
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 Makanda
176.5 mi
03h 00m
To Evanston
179.9 mi
03h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Tuesday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, Nov 3 6:00 AM CST
Wind
16 to 20 mph S
Destination
70°F
Tuesday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, Nov 3 6:00 AM CST
Wind
15 to 25 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Baptist Hill Road

    23 m · 3 sec · Baptist Hill Road

  2. 2

    Continue on Makanda Road

    1.8 mi · 7 min · Makanda Road

  3. 3

    Turn right

    8.1 mi · 9 min

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Walnut Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · West Walnut Street

  5. 5

    Continue on East Main Street

    9.7 mi · 14 min · East Main Street

  6. 6

    Continue on West Deyoung Street

    3.3 mi · 4 min · West Deyoung Street

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight left

    1.2 mi · 3 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

    41.3 mi · 45 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    67.5 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    195.2 mi · 3 hr 34 min

  11. 11

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  12. 12

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

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

  13. 13

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Kennedy Expressway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Damen Avenue

    875 ft · 24 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto North Damen Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Damen Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn slight left onto North Clybourn Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto North Western Avenue

    5.5 mi · 11 min · North Western Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on Asbury Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Asbury Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Dempster Street

    65 m · 9 sec · Dempster Street

  20. 20

    Turn uturn

    65 m · 18 sec

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Makanda 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
21 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
195 mi · 55%
Ken Gray Expressway
109 mi · 31%
East Main Street
9.74 mi · 3%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi · 2%
North Western Avenue
5.53 mi · 2%
West Deyoung Street
4.57 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 00m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.3 mi
316.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Arcola
03h 00m from Makanda
Leave By
11:58 PM CST
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers leaving Makanda and Mostly Cloudy then 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 Makanda to Evanston?

The road trip is about 356.4 miles (573.5 km) and usually takes 06h 00m 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 176.5 miles from Makanda and 179.9 miles from Evanston.

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

The direct path is about 316.1 miles (508.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.3 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST. 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 $59.15 one way or $118.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 111.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers around Makanda and Mostly Cloudy then 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 Makanda and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 316.07 mi (508.67 km).

Makanda

#1 Makanda

City in Illinois, United States of America

Population529
Coordinates37.6175500, -89.2089700
Altitude136
CountryUnited States
Evanston

#2 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: Baptist Hill Road (-89.208955, 37.617574)
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 573 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 56m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.57 gal
47.6 L · about $59.15
Round trip
$118.31
25.14 gal · 95.2 L
Estimated CO2
111.7 kg one way
Round trip: 223.4 kg / 493 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.71 $59.15 $118.31
Mid-grade $5.32 $66.81 $133.62
Premium $5.87 $73.82 $147.65
Diesel $6.62 $83.26 $166.53

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 · Nov 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Makanda and Evanston. The current time is 20:36:54.

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.