How far is Murphysboro, IL from Evanston, IL?

The driving distance from Murphysboro, IL to Evanston, IL is about 347.6 miles (559.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 308.1 miles (495.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 52m 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
347.61 mi
05h 56m
Flight
308.06 mi
495.78 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Murphysboro.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
308.06 mi
Kilometers
495.78 km
Flight Time
00h 37m

Driving Distance

Road route
347.61 mi
Kilometers
559.42 km
Drive Time
05h 56m

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 05h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Evanston
Thu, Oct 15, 7:18 PM CDT
Return by in Murphysboro
Fri, Oct 16, 1:14 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Murphysboro
2026-10-15T13:21
Arrive Evanston
Thu, Oct 15, 7:18 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:56 AM to 1:56 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
5:08 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Murphysboro
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Tuscola
IL

City in Illinois

From Murphysboro
173.7 mi
02h 58m
To Evanston
173.9 mi
02h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
1 to 12 mph S
Destination
60°F
Thursday

Rain

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North 11th Street

    20 m · 8 sec · North 11th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Walnut Street

    2741 ft · 1 min · Walnut Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North 2nd Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · North 2nd Street

  4. 4

    Turn right

    11.3 mi · 16 min

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Cambria Road

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Cambria Road

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Herrin Road

    67 m · 4 sec · Herrin Road

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto Herrin Road

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Herrin Road

  8. 8

    Continue on West Herrin Street

    3.1 mi · 5 min · West Herrin Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Herrin Road

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Herrin Road

  10. 10

    Take the ramp left

    1275 ft · 31 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

    36.7 mi · 40 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    67.5 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    195.2 mi · 3 hr 34 min

  14. 14

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  15. 15

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

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

  16. 16

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Kennedy Expressway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward Damen Avenue

    875 ft · 24 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto North Damen Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Damen Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn slight left onto North Clybourn Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn right onto North Western Avenue

    5.5 mi · 11 min · North Western Avenue

  21. 21

    Continue on Asbury Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Asbury Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Dempster Street

    65 m · 9 sec · Dempster Street

  23. 23

    Turn uturn

    65 m · 18 sec

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Murphysboro 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
24 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
195 mi · 56%
Ken Gray Expressway
104 mi · 30%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi · 2%
Herrin Road
7.08 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

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
05h 56m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39.5 mi
308.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tuscola
02h 58m from Murphysboro
Leave By
5:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Murphysboro and Rain near Evanston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 347.6 miles (559.4 km) and usually takes 05h 56m 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?

Tuscola is a useful midpoint, sitting about 173.7 miles from Murphysboro and 173.9 miles from Evanston.

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

The direct path is about 308.1 miles (495.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.5 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 5:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $57.24 one way or $114.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 109 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Tuscola

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

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

RAIL

Illinois Terminal

35 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Mattoon station

36 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

58 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

66 mi away
379 Lynch Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Murphysboro and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 308.06 mi (495.78 km).

Murphysboro

#1 Murphysboro

Town in Illinois

Population7,384
Coordinates37.7645000, -89.3350900
Altitude128
CountryUnited States
Evanston

#2 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: North 11th Street (-89.335302, 37.764502)
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 559 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.27 gal
46.43 L · about $57.24
Round trip
$114.48
24.54 gal · 92.86 L
Estimated CO2
109 kg one way
Round trip: 218.1 kg / 481 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $57.24 $114.48
Mid-grade $5.29 $64.93 $129.87
Premium $5.84 $71.62 $143.24
Diesel $6.57 $80.63 $161.25

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 Murphysboro and Evanston. The current time is 13:21:50.

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.