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Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Markham, IL

Drive Time

51m

Distance

38.8 mi

62 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 48m ★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Des Plaines, IL, IL

Des Plaines, IL

Tom Fisk

Downtown Markham, IL, IL

Markham, IL

Stéphane Tendon

Trip Overview

The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Markham, IL covers 38.8 miles and takes about 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Tri-State Tollway, South Des Plaines River Road, Mile-Long Bridge for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33.9 miles on Tri-State Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.89 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

19.4 miles from Des Plaines, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 51m drive with frequent turns across 38.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tri-State Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 33.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Des Plaines River Road.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 38.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Des Plaines River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Des Plaines River Road

Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
2.3 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Merge onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
18.6 mi into trip | ~25m in | I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
37.1 mi into trip | ~48m in

Take the exit toward US 6: 159th Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 6B-A Toward US 6: 159th Street
6
37.4 mi into trip | ~48m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 6 West: 159th Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 6B Toward US 6 West: 159th Street

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Tri-State Tollway 33.9 mi 42m
South Des Plaines River Road 1.8 mi 3m
Mile-Long Bridge 0.9 mi 1m
Kedzie Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
West 159th Street 0.4 mi <1m
Henry Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
163rd Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Tri-State Tollway — 33.9 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Des Plaines, IL and Markham, IL.

1

Start on Henry Avenue

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Henry Avenue
2

Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

1.8 mi · 3 min · South Des Plaines River Road
3

Take the ramp slight right toward I 294 South: Indiana

0.4 mi · 55 sec · I 294 South: Indiana
4

Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

11 mi · 14 min · Tri-State Tollway
5

Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

4.8 mi · 5 min · Tri-State Tollway
6

Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

3.5 mi · 4 min · Tri-State Tollway
7

Continue on Mile-Long Bridge

0.9 mi · 1 min · Mile-Long Bridge
8

Continue on Tri-State Tollway

14 mi · 17 min · Tri-State Tollway
9

Take the exit slight right toward US 6: 159th Street

0.3 mi · 37 sec · US 6: 159th Street
10

Keep slight right to continue on US 6 West: 159th Street

0.4 mi · 54 sec · US 6 West: 159th Street
11

Turn straight onto West 159th Street

0.4 mi · 57 sec · West 159th Street
12

Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Kedzie Avenue
13

Turn right onto 163rd Street

66 ft · 3 sec · 163rd Street
14

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 19.4 miles from Des Plaines, IL, or about 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.9 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 38.8 miles or 51m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 19.4 miles or 26m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Markham, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Des Plaines, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Des Plaines, IL

This is one driving day of about 38.8 miles and 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Des Plaines, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Tri-State Tollway for about 33.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 19.4 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 26m into the drive

Downtown Berwyn, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Berwyn, IL

19 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Orland Park, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Berwyn, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.4 miles from Des Plaines, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Markham, IL

The final approach into Markham, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Markham, IL.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pullman National Historical Park

Pullman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...

6 mi from route ~16 min detour Free near mile 36.1
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.89 one way

$11.79 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $6.50 $12.99
premium $4.80 $7.32 $14.65
diesel $5.64 $8.62 $17.24

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.6 0 $4.07 $1.86
Efficient EV 9.7 0 $3.39 $1.55
EV Truck/SUV 15.5 0 $5.43 $2.48

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 4 hours ago

Origin

Des Plaines, IL

Morning in Des Plaines on Monday

Local time

7:17 AM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Markham, IL

Morning in Markham on Monday

Local time

7:17 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 15 mph 22% chance Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

16 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

51m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Markham, IL covers 38.8 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, South Des Plaines River Road, Mile-Long Bridge. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.4 miles from Des Plaines, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.89 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 38.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Des Plaines River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Des Plaines, IL to Markham, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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