How far is Moline, IL from Evanston, IL?

The driving distance from Moline, IL to Evanston, IL is about 172.7 miles (278 km), with a travel time of about 02h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 150.2 miles (241.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 58m 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
172.77 mi
02h 59m
Flight
150.17 mi
241.68 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Moline.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
150.17 mi
Kilometers
241.68 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
172.77 mi
Kilometers
278.05 km
Drive Time
02h 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 02h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Evanston
Thu, Apr 23, 1:29 AM CDT
Return by in Moline
Thu, Apr 23, 4:28 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Moline
2026-04-22T22:30
Arrive Evanston
Thu, Apr 23, 1:29 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:59 AM to 12:59 PM CDT

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

Leave by
12:32 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Moline
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
Flagg
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Moline
88 mi
01h 29m
To Evanston
84.7 mi
01h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph S
Destination
60°F
Wednesday

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 5th Avenue

    1231 ft · 41 sec · 5th Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 19th Street

    859 ft · 29 sec · 19th Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right

    1788 ft · 44 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    2.3 mi · 3 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 5 East

    1448 ft · 36 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto John Deere Road

    10.6 mi · 16 min · John Deere Road

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    1799 ft · 24 sec

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    43.8 mi · 47 min

  9. 9

    Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    91 mi · 1 hr 41 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford

    3128 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee

    1156 ft · 28 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    9.9 mi · 13 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 Moline and Evanston.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
26 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
95.7 mi · 55%
John Deere Road
54.8 mi · 32%
Tri-State Tollway
9.94 mi · 6%
Oakton Street
3.96 mi · 2%
East Touhy Avenue
2.99 mi · 2%
19th Street
2.79 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

91 mi · 01h 41m

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 59m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.5 mi
150.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Flagg
01h 29m from Moline
Leave By
12:32 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Moline and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Evanston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 172.7 miles (278 km) and usually takes 02h 59m 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?

Flagg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 88 miles from Moline and 84.7 miles from Evanston.

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

The direct path is about 150.2 miles (241.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:32 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.00 one way or $46.01 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Moline and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Evanston.

Stop Ideas Near Flagg

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

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

RAIL

Mendota station

39 mi away
783 Main Street
BUS

Rockford, Illinois

43 mi away
7559 Walton St.
RAIL

Plano

56 mi away
101 West Main Street
RAIL

Princeton

63 mi away
107 Bicentennial Dr.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Moline and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 150.17 mi (241.68 km).

Moline

#1 Moline

The largest city in Rock Island County, Illinois.

Population41,065
Coordinates41.5067000, -90.5151300
Altitude176
CountryUnited States
Evanston

#2 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: 5th Avenue (-90.515084, 41.506629)
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 278 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.1 gal
23.08 L · about $23.00
Round trip
$46.01
12.2 gal · 46.16 L
Estimated CO2
54.2 kg one way
Round trip: 108.4 kg / 239 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.00 $46.01
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.94 $51.89
Premium $4.65 $28.39 $56.78
Diesel $5.30 $32.35 $64.71

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Moline and Evanston. The current time is 22:30:06.

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.