How far is Thornton, IL from Evanston, IL?
The driving distance from Thornton, IL to Evanston, IL is about 39.1 miles (63 km), with a travel time of about 01h 02m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 32.9 miles (53 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 04m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 01h 02m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
The third most populous city in the United States and the center of the Chicago metropolitan area.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny then Rain Likely
Mostly Cloudy then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Thornton and Evanston.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thornton and Evanston.
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1
Start on Margaret Street
1512 ft · 46 sec · Margaret Street
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2
Turn right onto Williams Street
1.3 mi · 3 min · Williams Street
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3
Continue on State Street
2.5 mi · 5 min · State Street
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4
Continue on South Indiana Avenue
2.5 mi · 5 min · South Indiana Avenue
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5
At the end of the road, turn left onto East 130th Street
102 m · 7 sec · East 130th Street
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6
Continue on South Indiana Avenue
1552 ft · 32 sec · South Indiana Avenue
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7
Turn left onto East 127th Street
635 ft · 16 sec · East 127th Street
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8
Turn right onto South Michigan Avenue
3.5 mi · 7 min · South Michigan Avenue
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9
Turn left onto South Wabash Avenue
52 m · 5 sec · South Wabash Avenue
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10
Take the ramp slight left toward I 94 West
1515 ft · 37 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto Bishop Ford Freeway
824 ft · 13 sec · Bishop Ford Freeway
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12
Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway
3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
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14
Continue on Kennedy Expressway
3.7 mi · 6 min · Kennedy Expressway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward Damen Avenue
875 ft · 24 sec
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16
Turn right onto North Damen Avenue
1.1 km · 1 min · North Damen Avenue
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17
Turn slight left onto North Clybourn Avenue
1.1 km · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue
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18
Turn right onto North Western Avenue
5.5 mi · 11 min · North Western Avenue
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19
Continue on Asbury Avenue
1.5 mi · 3 min · Asbury Avenue
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20
Turn right onto Dempster Street
65 m · 9 sec · Dempster Street
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21
Turn uturn
65 m · 18 sec
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Thornton and Evanston.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi · 00h 11m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A comfortable day-trip route
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
Partly Sunny then Rain Likely leaving Thornton and Mostly Cloudy then Scattered 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 Thornton to Evanston?
The road trip is about 39.1 miles (63 km) and usually takes 01h 02m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Chicago is a useful midpoint, sitting about 17.3 miles from Thornton and 21.8 miles from Evanston.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 32.9 miles (53 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:26 PM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.20 one way or $10.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Rain Likely around Thornton and Mostly Cloudy then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms near Evanston.
Stop Ideas Near Chicago
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Chicago.
Chicago Union Station
Summit
La Grange Road
Hammond–Whiting station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Thornton and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 32.96 mi (53.04 km).
#1 Thornton
Village in Cook County, Illinois, USA
| Population | 2,367 |
| Coordinates | 41.5680900, -87.6081000 |
| Altitude | 182 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Evanston
A city in Cook County, Illinois.
| Population | 72,683 |
| Coordinates | 42.0411400, -87.6900600 |
| Altitude | 187 |
| Country | United States |
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 63 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 18m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 58m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 46m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 39m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 33m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 29m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $5.20 | $10.41 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $5.87 | $11.74 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $6.42 | $12.85 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $7.32 | $14.64 |
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 · May 12, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.