How far is Red Bud, IL from Evanston, IL?

The driving distance from Red Bud, IL to Evanston, IL is about 334.7 miles (538.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 31m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 291.2 miles (468.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 03m 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
334.7 mi
05h 31m
Flight
291.22 mi
468.67 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Red Bud.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
291.22 mi
Kilometers
468.67 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
334.7 mi
Kilometers
538.65 km
Drive Time
05h 31m

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 31m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Evanston
Fri, Oct 16, 1:05 AM CDT
Return by in Red Bud
Fri, Oct 16, 6:37 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Red Bud
2026-10-15T19:33
Arrive Evanston
Fri, Oct 16, 1:05 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 31m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:32 AM to 1:32 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
5:56 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Red Bud
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
McLean
IL

Village in McLean County, Illinois, United States

From Red Bud
163.8 mi
02h 45m
To Evanston
170.9 mi
02h 45m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph SW
Destination
63°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Red Bud and Evanston.

  1. 1

    Start on West Market Street

    17 m · 8 sec · West Market Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    6.4 mi · 10 min · North Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on N Main St

    810 ft · 14 sec · N Main St

  4. 4

    Continue on North Main Street

    1163 ft · 20 sec · North Main Street

  5. 5

    Continue on State Route 159

    6.1 mi · 9 min · State Route 159

  6. 6

    Continue on South Main Street

    8.3 mi · 13 min · South Main Street

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Illinois Street

    54 m · 4 sec · North Illinois Street

  8. 8

    Exit the rotary onto North Illinois Street

    9.8 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street

  9. 9

    Continue on South Morrison Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · South Morrison Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on Vandalia Street

    2.8 mi · 5 min · Vandalia Street

  11. 11

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North, I 70 East

    2235 ft · 55 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    3.8 mi · 4 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City

    107.9 mi · 1 hr 57 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

    120.8 mi · 2 hr 14 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin

    1.6 mi · 3 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin

    1694 ft · 41 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    11.7 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward Touhy Avenue

    635 ft · 16 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue

    2694 ft · 1 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on Touhy Avenue East

    1749 ft · 43 sec

  23. 23

    Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue

    3 mi · 6 min · East Touhy Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left onto North Harlem Avenue

    2643 ft · 50 sec · North Harlem Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn right onto West Howard Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · West Howard Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto New Gross Point Road

    531 ft · 11 sec · New Gross Point Road

  27. 27

    Continue on Gross Point Road

    2627 ft · 55 sec · Gross Point Road

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Oakton Street

    4 mi · 8 min · Oakton Street

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Asbury Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Asbury Avenue

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Dempster Street

    65 m · 9 sec · Dempster Street

  31. 31

    Turn uturn

    65 m · 18 sec

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Red Bud 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
32 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
262 mi · 78%
Tri-State Tollway
16.6 mi · 5%
North Illinois Street
9.78 mi · 3%
South Main Street
8.3 mi · 2%
North Main Street
6.62 mi · 2%
State Route 159
6.14 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

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

121 mi · 02h 14m

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 31m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.5 mi
291.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
McLean
02h 45m from Red Bud
Leave By
5:56 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Red Bud and Showers And Thunderstorms near Evanston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Red Bud to Evanston?

The road trip is about 334.7 miles (538.7 km) and usually takes 05h 31m 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?

McLean is a useful midpoint, sitting about 163.8 miles from Red Bud and 170.9 miles from Evanston.

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

The direct path is about 291.2 miles (468.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.5 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 5:56 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $55.09 one way or $110.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 105 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Red Bud and Showers And Thunderstorms near Evanston.

Stop Ideas Near McLean

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around McLean and the surrounding midpoint area.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
Scenic stop 3.1 mi away

Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!

Atlanta , IL
865 SW Arch St, Atlanta, IL 61723, United States
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Tourist attraction
City of Lincoln
Meeting point 14.2 mi away

City of Lincoln

Lincoln , IL
700 Broadway St, Lincoln, IL 62656
Rating 3.8/5 4 reviews City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to McLean.

RAIL

Lincoln

25 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Uptown Station

27 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

59 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway
RAIL

Springfield station

70 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Red Bud and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 291.22 mi (468.67 km).

Red Bud

#1 Red Bud

City in Randolph County, Illinois, United States

Population3,442
Coordinates38.2117200, -89.9942700
Altitude144
CountryUnited States
Evanston

#2 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: West Market Street (-89.99427, 38.211728)
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 539 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 09m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.81 gal
44.71 L · about $55.09
Round trip
$110.19
23.62 gal · 89.42 L
Estimated CO2
105 kg one way
Round trip: 209.9 kg / 463 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $55.09 $110.19
Mid-grade $5.29 $62.50 $125.00
Premium $5.84 $68.93 $137.87
Diesel $6.57 $77.60 $155.21

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 Red Bud and Evanston. The current time is 19:33:55.

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.