Origin
Elmwood, IL
Evening in Elmwood on Wednesday
Local time
8:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmwood, IL to Markham, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 18m
Distance
171 mi
275 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 7m
★
6 AM
3h 19m
8 AM
3h 43m
10 AM
3h 27m
12 PM
3h 25m
3 PM
3h 28m
5 PM
3h 42m
8 PM
3h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmwood, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Markham, IL
Armando Ascorve
Trip Overview
This 171-mile drive from Elmwood, IL to Markham, IL can be completed in about 3 hours and 18 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The majority of your journey, 78%, will be on highways, primarily utilizing I-80 and I-74. With a fuel cost estimated at $26 and only one recommended stop, this route is efficient for those looking to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Both your origin and destination are within the Midwest region, so expect familiar Midwestern landscapes throughout. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip for a single day of travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
85.5 miles from Elmwood, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this 171-mile trip. You'll spend a significant 78% of your time on major interstates like I-80 and I-74, with County Road 1400 East offering a brief change of pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 93 miles on I-80, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. This route is designed for efficiency, prioritizing speed and directness over scenic detours, so settling in for a steady highway experience is key.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 93 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
737 ft
465 ft
Total Climb
439 ft
Total Descent
461 ft
Highest Point
737 ft
~158.7 mi in
Elevation Range
271 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and County Road 1400 East. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IL 8; IL 78 / North Magnolia Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 171 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IL 8; IL 78 / North Magnolia Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles (C-34 / North Bell School Road): Navigation decision point; at 76.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 8; IL 78 / North Magnolia Street
Turn left onto IL 8; IL 78 / North Magnolia Street
Navigation decision point
4
6.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
C-34 / North Bell School Road
Turn left onto C-34 / North Bell School Road
Navigation decision point
5
76.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 East: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Joliet
5
76.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
169.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 16m in
Take the exit toward Kedzie Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 154
Toward Kedzie Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 93 mi | 1h 44m |
| County Road 1400 East | 17.8 mi | 20m |
| I 74 | 15.4 mi | 16m |
| IL 6 | 9.9 mi | 12m |
| South 4th Street | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| I 180 | 8.9 mi | 9m |
| North State Route 29 | 6.1 mi | 7m |
| North Magnolia Street | 4.5 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 93 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmwood, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on IL 8; IL 78
99 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Turn left onto IL 8; IL 78
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
North Magnolia Street
3
Turn right onto West Tucker Road
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Tucker Road
4
Turn left onto C-34
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Bell School Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 74 East
6
Merge onto I 74
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 74
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward IL 6 North: Chillicothe
8
Merge onto IL 6
9.9 mi
·
12 min
·
IL 6
9
Continue on IL 29
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Galena Road
10
Continue on IL 29
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
North State Route 29
11
Continue on IL 29
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
South 4th Street
12
Continue on IL 29
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Railroad Street
13
Continue on IL 29
18 mi
·
20 min
·
County Road 1400 East
14
Merge onto I 180
8.9 mi
·
9 min
·
I 180
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 80 East: Joliet
16
Merge onto I 80
93 mi
·
1 hr 44 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 154
Toward Kedzie Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Kedzie Avenue
19
Turn left onto 163rd Street
64 ft
·
2 sec
·
163rd Street
20
Arrive at destination
163rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 18 minutes, this drive is ideally suited for a single-day trip. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive at your destination, Markham, IL, by midday. The estimated fuel cost of $26 makes budgeting straightforward. Keep an eye out for the 93-mile stretch on I-80; it's the longest continuous segment, so ensure you're fueled up and comfortable before embarking on it. With only one planned stop, flexibility is on your side if you need to adjust your schedule.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 85.5 miles from Elmwood, IL, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93 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 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.5 miles or 1h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 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 Elmwood, 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 Elmwood, IL
This is one driving day of about 171 miles and 3h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Elmwood, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 93 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 85.5 mi from Elmwood, IL · 1h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 85.5 miles from Elmwood, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93 miles.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.73 one way
$53.47 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.35 | $58.71 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.91 | $65.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.75 | $75.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.3 | 0 | $17.96 | $8.21 |
| Efficient EV | 42.8 | 0 | $14.96 | $6.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.4 | 0 | $23.94 | $10.94 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Markham, IL
Evening in Markham on Wednesday
Local time
8:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 15 mph
12% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
52°F
Custer, IL
86 mi in
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
9 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
3h 18m 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 Elmwood, IL to Markham, IL covers 171 miles and takes about 3h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, County Road 1400 East, I 74. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85.5 miles from Elmwood, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.73 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 171 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IL 8; IL 78 / North Magnolia Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles (C-34 / North Bell School Road): Navigation decision point; at 76.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Elmwood, IL to Markham, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 465 ft to 737 ft elevation with about 439 ft of total climbing.
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