How far is Shields, IL from Evanston, IL?

The driving distance from Shields, IL to Evanston, IL is about 292.1 miles (470.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 252.7 miles (406.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 55m 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
292.09 mi
04h 57m
Flight
252.71 mi
406.7 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Shields.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
252.71 mi
Kilometers
406.7 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
292.09 mi
Kilometers
470.07 km
Drive Time
04h 57m

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 04h 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Evanston
Thu, Apr 23, 5:03 AM CDT
Return by in Shields
Thu, Apr 23, 10:00 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Shields
2026-04-23T00:05
Arrive Evanston
Thu, Apr 23, 5:03 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:58 AM to 12:58 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
7:04 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Shields
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
Thomasboro
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Shields
139.1 mi
02h 28m
To Evanston
153 mi
02h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 18 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 Shields and Evanston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Papertown Lane

    14 m · 4 sec · North Papertown Lane

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 2350 North

    570 ft · 25 sec · 2350 North

  3. 3

    Continue on East Depeche Road

    1.1 km · 2 min · East Depeche Road

  4. 4

    Continue on County Highway 15

    2659 ft · 1 min · County Highway 15

  5. 5

    Continue on County Road 1450N

    1.2 km · 2 min · County Road 1450N

  6. 6

    Continue on County Highway 15

    1794 ft · 49 sec · County Highway 15

  7. 7

    Continue on County Road 1430N

    1125 ft · 31 sec · County Road 1430N

  8. 8

    Continue on County Road 1420N

    1.4 km · 2 min · County Road 1420N

  9. 9

    Turn left onto County Highway 13

    3.2 mi · 8 min · County Highway 13

  10. 10

    Continue on County Road 250E

    4.8 mi · 11 min · County Road 250E

  11. 11

    Continue on County Highway 13

    2.5 mi · 6 min · County Highway 13

  12. 12

    Continue on Fairfield Road

    1.6 mi · 4 min · Fairfield Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Fairfield Street

    999 ft · 27 sec · Fairfield Street

  14. 14

    Turn slight left onto South Main Street

    1078 ft · 32 sec · South Main Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Front Street

    635 ft · 17 sec · Front Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Church Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · Church Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Xenia Iola Road

    1309 ft · 36 sec · Xenia Iola Road

  18. 18

    Turn right

    7.6 mi · 9 min

  19. 19

    Turn left onto County Road 925 E

    16.2 mi · 24 min · County Road 925 E

  20. 20

    Continue on United States Route 45

    14.9 mi · 22 min · United States Route 45

  21. 21

    Turn right onto West Fayette Avenue

    1123 ft · 33 sec · West Fayette Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn left onto South 3rd Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South 3rd Street

  23. 23

    Take the ramp right toward I-57 North, I-70 East: Champaign, Terre Haute

    2624 ft · 1 min

  24. 24

    Merge slight left

    1.3 km · 55 sec

  25. 25

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    195.2 mi · 3 hr 34 min

  26. 26

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  27. 27

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

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

  28. 28

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Kennedy Expressway

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward Damen Avenue

    875 ft · 24 sec

  30. 30

    Turn right onto North Damen Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Damen Avenue

  31. 31

    Turn slight left onto North Clybourn Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue

  32. 32

    Turn right onto North Western Avenue

    5.5 mi · 11 min · North Western Avenue

  33. 33

    Continue on Asbury Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Asbury Avenue

  34. 34

    Turn right onto Dempster Street

    65 m · 9 sec · Dempster Street

  35. 35

    Turn uturn

    65 m · 18 sec

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Shields 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
36 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
195 mi · 67%
County Road 925 E
16.2 mi · 6%
United States Route 45
14.9 mi · 5%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi · 3%
County Highway 13
5.68 mi · 2%
North Western Avenue
5.53 mi · 2%
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
04h 57m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39.4 mi
252.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thomasboro
02h 28m from Shields
Leave By
7:04 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Shields 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 Shields to Evanston?

The road trip is about 292.1 miles (470.1 km) and usually takes 04h 57m 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?

Thomasboro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 139.1 miles from Shields and 153 miles from Evanston.

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

The direct path is about 252.7 miles (406.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.4 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 7:04 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.88 one way or $77.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 91.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Thomasboro

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

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

RAIL

Rantoul

8 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

15 mi away
45 East University Ave.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

49 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Gilman

60 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Shields and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 252.71 mi (406.7 km).

Shields

#1 Shields

Township in Lake County, Illinois

Population36,451
Coordinates38.4678300, -88.7133900
Altitude150
CountryUnited States
Evanston

#2 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: North Papertown Lane (-88.713223, 38.46783)
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 470 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.31 gal
39.02 L · about $38.88
Round trip
$77.76
20.62 gal · 78.04 L
Estimated CO2
91.6 kg one way
Round trip: 183.2 kg / 404 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $38.88 $77.76
Mid-grade $4.25 $43.85 $87.70
Premium $4.65 $47.98 $95.97
Diesel $5.30 $54.68 $109.37

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 Shields and Evanston. The current time is 00:05:31.

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.