How far is Petersburg, IL from Evanston, IL?

The driving distance from Petersburg, IL to Evanston, IL is about 217.9 miles (350.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 179.8 miles (289.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 25m 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
217.89 mi
03h 42m
Flight
179.75 mi
289.28 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Petersburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
179.75 mi
Kilometers
289.28 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
217.89 mi
Kilometers
350.66 km
Drive Time
03h 42m

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 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Evanston
Sun, Apr 19, 10:42 AM CDT
Return by in Petersburg
Sun, Apr 19, 2:25 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Petersburg
2026-04-19T07:00
Arrive Evanston
Sun, Apr 19, 10:42 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:43 AM to 11:43 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
9:34 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Petersburg
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Rooks Creek
IL

Township in Livingston County, Illinois

From Petersburg
107.1 mi
01h 51m
To Evanston
110.7 mi
01h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 15 mph WNW
Destination
51°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South 6th Street

    1532 ft · 49 sec · South 6th Street

  2. 2

    Continue on South 6th Street

    734 ft · 21 sec · South 6th Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Old Salem Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Old Salem Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Athens Blacktop Road

    6.6 mi · 10 min · Athens Blacktop Road

  5. 5

    Continue on North Main Street

    1186 ft · 46 sec · North Main Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto East Hargrave Street

    2666 ft · 2 min · East Hargrave Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Springfield Road

    1789 ft · 60 sec · Springfield Road

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn right

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Turn left onto County Road 11 N

    3.6 mi · 6 min · County Road 11 N

  10. 10

    Continue on Dinius Road

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Dinius Road

  11. 11

    Continue on County Highway 2

    1748 ft · 34 sec · County Highway 2

  12. 12

    Take the ramp slight left

    2341 ft · 57 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    17.2 mi · 18 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

    29.4 mi · 31 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

    130.4 mi · 2 hr 27 min

  16. 16

    Continue on Stevenson Expressway

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Stevenson Expressway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward Damen Avenue, Ashland Avenue

    912 ft · 24 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on Damen Avenue

    1372 ft · 34 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Ashland Market Place, South Damen Avenue

    134 m · 13 sec

  20. 20

    Turn straight onto South Damen Avenue

    2.4 mi · 5 min · South Damen Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn right onto West Ogden Avenue

    1.2 km · 1 min · West Ogden Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn left onto South Ashland Avenue

    4.1 mi · 8 min · South Ashland Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn slight left onto North Lincoln Avenue

    2.1 mi · 4 min · North Lincoln Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left onto West Leland Avenue

    119 m · 11 sec · West Leland Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn right onto North Western Avenue

    3.6 mi · 7 min · North Western Avenue

  26. 26

    Continue on Asbury Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Asbury Avenue

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Dempster Street

    65 m · 9 sec · Dempster Street

  28. 28

    Turn uturn

    65 m · 18 sec

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Petersburg 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
29 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
160 mi · 73%
County Highway 2
17.9 mi · 8%
Athens Blacktop Road
6.63 mi · 3%
South Ashland Avenue
4.08 mi · 2%
North Western Avenue
3.65 mi · 2%
Stevenson Expressway
3.63 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

130 mi · 02h 27m

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 42m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.1 mi
179.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rooks Creek
01h 51m from Petersburg
Leave By
9:34 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Petersburg 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 Petersburg to Evanston?

The road trip is about 217.9 miles (350.7 km) and usually takes 03h 42m 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?

Rooks Creek is a useful midpoint, sitting about 107.1 miles from Petersburg and 110.7 miles from Evanston.

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

The direct path is about 179.8 miles (289.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.1 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 9:34 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.00 one way or $58.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Petersburg and Mostly Sunny near Evanston.

Stop Ideas Near Rooks Creek

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

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

RAIL

Pontiac station

5 mi away
721 West Washington St.
RAIL

Dwight station

33 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Uptown Station

48 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Gilman

61 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Petersburg and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 179.75 mi (289.28 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Petersburg

City in Menard County, Illinois

Population2,190
Coordinates40.0117200, -89.8481700
Altitude156
CountryUnited States
Evanston

#2 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: IL 97 (-89.848388, 40.011717)
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 351 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.69 gal
29.1 L · about $29.00
Round trip
$58.00
15.38 gal · 58.2 L
Estimated CO2
68.3 kg one way
Round trip: 136.7 kg / 301 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $29.00 $58.00
Mid-grade $4.25 $32.71 $65.41
Premium $4.65 $35.79 $71.58
Diesel $5.30 $40.79 $81.58

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Petersburg and Evanston. The current time is 07:00:00.

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.