Traffic in Evanston

In 2024, Evanston, IL, sees a predominant reliance on cars for commuting, with 100% of the population using this mode of transport.

The city's traffic data reveals significant CO2 emissions and inefficiencies, highlighting areas for potential improvement.

Average Commute Times

The average commute time in Evanston is 29 minutes, with most of this time spent driving.

  • Car - Car commuters spend approximately 25 minutes driving over an average distance of 20.92 miles.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
100%

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 1 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
13.0 miles
Walking
4.0 mins
Driving Car
25.0 mins
Total:
29.0 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
13.0 miles
Walking
4.0 mins
Driving Car
25.0 mins
Total:
29.0 mins

More Information

Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the fall as students return to Northwestern University.

Winter months can see slower traffic due to snow and ice, impacting commute times.

Commuter Pain Points

Limited public transportation options force reliance on cars, leading to congestion.

Parking availability and costs are ongoing concerns for Evanston commuters.

Best Travel Times

Commuters are advised to travel before 7 AM or after 7 PM to avoid peak traffic.

Midday travel between 10 AM and 2 PM typically experiences lighter traffic.

Event Impacts

Events at Northwestern University can significantly impact local traffic, especially during home games and graduation ceremonies.

The Evanston Arts Festival also draws large crowds, affecting downtown traffic flow.

Sustainability Efforts

Evanston is exploring bike-sharing programs to reduce car dependency.

The city is investing in electric vehicle charging stations to encourage eco-friendly transportation.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft have increased in popularity, offering alternatives to car ownership.

These services help reduce the number of vehicles on the road, potentially easing congestion.

Worldwide
United States

Traffic Rankings

The Traffic Index for the United States combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in United States, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.
Worst to BestUpdated: Oct, 2025
Full Traffic Rankings