How far is Villa Grove, IL from Evanston, IL?

The driving distance from Villa Grove, IL to Evanston, IL is about 174.5 miles (280.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 152.5 miles (245.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 26m 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
174.46 mi
03h 13m
Flight
152.51 mi
245.44 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Villa Grove.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
152.51 mi
Kilometers
245.44 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
174.46 mi
Kilometers
280.76 km
Drive Time
03h 13m

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 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Evanston
Sun, Apr 19, 6:36 AM CDT
Return by in Villa Grove
Sun, Apr 19, 9:49 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Villa Grove
2026-04-19T03:23
Arrive Evanston
Sun, Apr 19, 6:36 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:13 AM to 11:13 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
10:34 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Villa Grove
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
Clifton
IL

Village in Chebanse Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, USA

From Villa Grove
84.4 mi
01h 36m
To Evanston
90 mi
01h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 to 18 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 Villa Grove and Evanston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Villa Grove and Evanston.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    21 m · 7 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Adams Street

    151 m · 27 sec · West Adams Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Sycamore Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Sycamore Street

  4. 4

    Continue on County Road 1600 E

    8.1 mi · 14 min · County Road 1600 E

  5. 5

    Continue on South Lincoln Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South Lincoln Street

  6. 6

    Continue on County Road 1600 East

    5.6 mi · 10 min · County Road 1600 East

  7. 7

    Continue on South High Cross Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · South High Cross Road

  8. 8

    Continue on North High Cross Road

    2733 ft · 1 min · North High Cross Road

  9. 9

    Turn left onto East University Avenue

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East University Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    2344 ft · 42 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 74 West: Bloomington

    3242 ft · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    3.8 mi · 5 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit straight toward Neil Street

    1391 ft · 34 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on North Neil Street

    752 ft · 26 sec · North Neil Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto East Marketview Drive

    1336 ft · 38 sec · East Marketview Drive

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North Market Street

    3 mi · 4 min · North Market Street

  17. 17

    Take the ramp right toward I-57 North: Kankakee

    1642 ft · 40 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    117.8 mi · 2 hr 11 min

  19. 19

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  20. 20

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

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

  21. 21

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Kennedy Expressway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward Damen Avenue

    875 ft · 24 sec

  23. 23

    Turn right onto North Damen Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Damen Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn slight left onto North Clybourn Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn right onto North Western Avenue

    5.5 mi · 11 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 Villa Grove 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
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-57 North
118 mi · 68%
County Road 1600 E
8.08 mi · 5%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi · 5%
County Road 1600 East
5.55 mi · 3%
North Western Avenue
5.53 mi · 3%
I 74 West
4.44 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I-57 North

Merge slight left

118 mi · 02h 11m

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 13m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22 mi
152.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clifton
01h 36m from Villa Grove
Leave By
10:34 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny leaving Villa Grove 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 Villa Grove to Evanston?

The road trip is about 174.5 miles (280.8 km) and usually takes 03h 13m 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?

Clifton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.4 miles from Villa Grove and 90 miles from Evanston.

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

The direct path is about 152.5 miles (245.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 22 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 10:34 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.23 one way or $46.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny around Villa Grove and Mostly Sunny near Evanston.

Stop Ideas Near Clifton

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

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

RAIL

Gilman

20 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.
RAIL

Kankakee

21 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Dwight station

45 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Pontiac station

59 mi away
721 West Washington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Villa Grove and Evanston. Straight-line distance: 152.51 mi (245.44 km).

Villa Grove

#1 Villa Grove

City in Douglas County, Illinois, United States

Population2,414
Coordinates39.8628100, -88.1622700
Altitude198
CountryUnited States
Evanston

#2 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: (-88.162126, 39.862812)
End: (-87.689971, 42.041051)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 281 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.16 gal
23.3 L · about $23.23
Round trip
$46.46
12.32 gal · 46.6 L
Estimated CO2
54.7 kg one way
Round trip: 109.5 kg / 241 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.23 $46.46
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.20 $52.40
Premium $4.65 $28.67 $57.34
Diesel $5.30 $32.67 $65.35

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 Villa Grove and Evanston. The current time is 03:23:22.

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.