Evanston travel guide

Evanston Tourism | Evanston Guide

You're Going to Love Evanston

With a population of 74,486, Evanston is a must-see destination in Illinois, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Evanston deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Where to Eat in Evanston

If you’re looking for affordable options, The Stained Glass (1735 Benson Avenue) and Oceanique (505 Main St) are great picks.

When to visit Evanston

Evanston in January
Estimated hotel price
$125
1 night at 3-star hotel
Evanston in January
Estimated hotel price
$125
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Evanston

Plane

When flying to Evanston, you’ll arrive at Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD), which is located 12 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Evanston departs from Charlotte and takes around 2h.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Evanston. The train journey from Evanston to Milwaukee takes 1h 19m and costs around $20 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from South Bend, expect to pay about $38 for a 1h 54m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Evanston is to pick up a car rental from Chicago, which is about 12 miles from Evanston. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Turo, among others, in Chicago.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Evanston, including Bus, Amtrak and Tornado Bus. From Milwaukee, the bus ride to Evanston takes 80 miles and will cost you around $76. From Milwaukee, the ticket costs about $38 for a journey of 80 miles.

Plane

When flying to Evanston, you’ll arrive at Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD), which is located 12 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Evanston departs from Charlotte and takes around 2h.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Evanston. The train journey from Evanston to Milwaukee takes 1h 19m and costs around $20 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from South Bend, expect to pay about $38 for a 1h 54m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Evanston is to pick up a car rental from Chicago, which is about 12 miles from Evanston. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Turo, among others, in Chicago.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Evanston, including Bus, Amtrak and Tornado Bus. From Milwaukee, the bus ride to Evanston takes 80 miles and will cost you around $76. From Milwaukee, the ticket costs about $38 for a journey of 80 miles.

Airports near Evanston

Airlines serving Evanston

Lufthansa
Good (4,697 reviews)
KLM
Good (846 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,590 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,596 reviews)
Air France
Good (980 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,116 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,962 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,437 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,941 reviews)
Finnair
Good (863 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,729 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (833 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (1,587 reviews)
Spirit Airlines
Good (4,552 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (1,356 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (766 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (771 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (486 reviews)
Avianca
Good (1,326 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (976 reviews)
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Where to stay in popular areas of Evanston

Most booked hotels in Evanston

Loews Chicago O'Hare Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, 819 reviews)
$204+
The Westin O'Hare
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 400 reviews)
$204+
Hyatt House Chicago/Evanston
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 282 reviews)
$236+
Graduate Evanston
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 664 reviews)
$161+
Hyatt Regency Ohare Chicago
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, 962 reviews)
$147+
Hilton Garden Inn Chicago North Shore/Evanston
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 401 reviews)
$165+

Renting a car in Evanston

Renting a car in Evanston costs $65 per day, on average, or $131 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Evanston (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Evanston is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Ford Fusion or similar) are, on average, 62% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Evanston costs $65 per day, on average, or $131 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Evanston (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Evanston is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Ford Fusion or similar) are, on average, 62% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.