How far is Trenton, IL from Evanston, IL?

The driving distance from Trenton, IL to Evanston, IL is about 304.1 miles (489.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 259.5 miles (417.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 06m 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
304.07 mi
05h 03m
Flight
259.51 mi
417.64 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Trenton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
259.51 mi
Kilometers
417.64 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
304.07 mi
Kilometers
489.35 km
Drive Time
05h 03m

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 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Evanston
Wed, Apr 15, 8:35 PM CDT
Return by in Trenton
Thu, Apr 16, 1:38 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Trenton
2026-04-15T15:32
Arrive Evanston
Wed, Apr 15, 8:35 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:03 AM to 1:03 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
6:54 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Trenton
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
Savoy
IL

Town

From Trenton
150.6 mi
02h 31m
To Evanston
153.4 mi
02h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Overnight

Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 3:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 mph SW
Destination
74°F
Today

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 7:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Broadway

    1425 ft · 25 sec · East Broadway

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Madison Street

    9 mi · 15 min · North Madison Street

  3. 3

    Continue on New Trenton Road

    1054 ft · 31 sec · New Trenton Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Broadway

    1 mi · 2 min · Broadway

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route

    76 m · 5 sec

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout

    38 m · 3 sec

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto Poplar Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Poplar Street

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward US Highway 40

    12 m · 1 sec · US Highway 40

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 40

    3.3 mi · 5 min · US Highway 40

  10. 10

    Take the ramp right toward I-70 East: Effingham

    67.9 mi · 1 hr 14 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    195.2 mi · 3 hr 34 min

  12. 12

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  13. 13

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

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

  14. 14

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Kennedy Expressway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Damen Avenue

    875 ft · 24 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto North Damen Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Damen Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn slight left onto North Clybourn Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto North Western Avenue

    5.5 mi · 11 min · North Western Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on Asbury Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Asbury Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Dempster Street

    65 m · 9 sec · Dempster Street

  21. 21

    Turn uturn

    65 m · 18 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Trenton 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
22 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
0 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
195 mi · 64%
I-70 East
67.9 mi · 22%
North Madison Street
8.95 mi · 3%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi · 3%
North Western Avenue
5.53 mi · 2%
Kennedy Expressway
3.69 mi · 1%
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
05h 03m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.6 mi
259.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Savoy
02h 31m from Trenton
Leave By
6:54 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Trenton 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 Trenton to Evanston?

The road trip is about 304.1 miles (489.4 km) and usually takes 05h 03m 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?

Savoy is a useful midpoint, sitting about 150.6 miles from Trenton and 153.4 miles from Evanston.

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

The direct path is about 259.5 miles (417.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.6 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 6:54 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.46 one way or $80.93 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms around Trenton and Showers And Thunderstorms near Evanston.

Stop Ideas Near Savoy

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

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

RAIL

Illinois Terminal

7 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

29 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

53 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Mattoon station

65 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Trenton and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 259.51 mi (417.64 km).

Trenton

#1 Trenton

City in Illinois

Population2,566
Coordinates38.6056000, -89.6820400
Altitude151
CountryUnited States
Evanston

#2 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: East Broadway (-89.682038, 38.605531)
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 489 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 04m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 47m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.73 gal
40.62 L · about $40.46
Round trip
$80.93
21.46 gal · 81.24 L
Estimated CO2
95.4 kg one way
Round trip: 190.7 kg / 420 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $40.46 $80.93
Mid-grade $4.25 $45.63 $91.27
Premium $4.65 $49.94 $99.87
Diesel $5.30 $56.91 $113.82

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Trenton and Evanston. The current time is 15:32:07.

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.