How far is Orion, IL from Evanston, IL?

The driving distance from Orion, IL to Evanston, IL is about 178.5 miles (287.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 146.7 miles (236.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 05m 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
178.53 mi
03h 02m
Flight
146.72 mi
236.12 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Orion.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
146.72 mi
Kilometers
236.12 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
178.53 mi
Kilometers
287.32 km
Drive Time
03h 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 03h 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Evanston
Thu, Apr 23, 4:39 PM CDT
Return by in Orion
Thu, Apr 23, 7:41 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Orion
2026-04-23T13:36
Arrive Evanston
Thu, Apr 23, 4:39 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:03 AM to 11:03 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:54 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Orion
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
Flagg
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Orion
89.1 mi
01h 31m
To Evanston
89.5 mi
01h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
76°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 4th Street

    5 m · 6 sec · 4th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 10th Avenue

    1408 ft · 1 min · 10th Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  4. 4

    Turn right onto East 200th Street

    6.1 mi · 8 min · East 200th Street

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn right

    3.3 mi · 5 min

  6. 6

    Take the ramp left

    1397 ft · 34 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    5.1 mi · 5 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls

    135 mi · 2 hr 29 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  10. 10

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

    3128 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

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

    1156 ft · 28 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    9.9 mi · 13 min · Tri-State Tollway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Touhy Avenue

    635 ft · 16 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue

    2694 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Touhy Avenue East

    1749 ft · 43 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue

    3 mi · 6 min · East Touhy Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto North Harlem Avenue

    2643 ft · 50 sec · North Harlem Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto West Howard Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · West Howard Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto New Gross Point Road

    531 ft · 11 sec · New Gross Point Road

  20. 20

    Continue on Gross Point Road

    2627 ft · 55 sec · Gross Point Road

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Oakton Street

    4 mi · 8 min · Oakton Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Asbury Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Asbury Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Dempster Street

    65 m · 9 sec · Dempster Street

  24. 24

    Turn uturn

    65 m · 18 sec

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
25 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 88 East
135 mi · 76%
Tri-State Tollway
9.94 mi · 6%
East 200th Street
6.36 mi · 4%
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
5.08 mi · 3%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
4.74 mi · 3%
Oakton Street
3.96 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 88 East

Take the exit slight right toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls

135 mi · 02h 29m

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
03h 02m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.8 mi
146.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Flagg
01h 31m from Orion
Leave By
10:54 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Orion and Mostly Sunny near Evanston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 178.5 miles (287.3 km) and usually takes 03h 02m 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?

Flagg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 89.1 miles from Orion and 89.5 miles from Evanston.

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

The direct path is about 146.7 miles (236.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.8 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:54 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.76 one way or $47.51 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 56 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Orion and 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 Orion and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 146.72 mi (236.12 km).

Orion

#1 Orion

Village in Henry County, Illinois, United States

Population1,776
Coordinates41.3547600, -90.3815200
Altitude236
CountryUnited States
Evanston

#2 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: 4th Street (-90.381487, 41.35476)
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 287 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.3 gal
23.85 L · about $23.76
Round trip
$47.51
12.6 gal · 47.7 L
Estimated CO2
56 kg one way
Round trip: 112 kg / 247 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.76 $47.51
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.79 $53.59
Premium $4.65 $29.32 $58.64
Diesel $5.30 $33.42 $66.83

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Orion and Evanston. The current time is 13:36:39.

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.