Origin
Markham, IL
Evening in Markham on Sunday
Local time
5:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Markham, IL to Chicago, IL
Drive Time
33m
Distance
22.2 mi
36 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Markham, IL
Mike Tyurin
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head from Markham into the heart of Chicago, you are looking at a straightforward 22.2-mile journey. Expect to spend about 33 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect quick day trip that requires no overnight stays. With a fuel budget of just $3, this is an incredibly economical route to navigate. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Midwest, you will remain in a familiar regional landscape throughout the commute. It serves as a practical connection between the suburban environment of Markham and the urban center of Chicago. Ultimately, this drive is about efficiency rather than a long-haul adventure.
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
11.1 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is defined as a turn-heavy local drive, favoring surface streets over high-speed interstate cruising. You will navigate your way using Kedzie Avenue, West 159th Street, and I-57 North to complete the transit. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a steady pace rather than long stretches of open road. There is no significant uninterrupted highway time, as the longest stretch consists of 0 miles on Kedzie Avenue. You will find that the personality of this drive is dictated by local traffic patterns and frequent turns through the metropolitan landscape.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 10.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Kedzie Avenue.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 22.2 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: near the start (Kedzie Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Kedzie Avenue
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
15 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none lane.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Roa...
8
21.2 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 53A
Toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road
6
21.5 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
South Canalport Avenue
Turn left onto South Canalport Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
21.8 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
West Cermak Road
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 10.1 mi | 13m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| West 159th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Kedzie Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Canalport Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Halsted Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 10.1 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on 163rd Street
64 ft
·
10 sec
·
163rd Street
2
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Kedzie Avenue
Use the none lane.
3
Turn left onto US 6
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West 159th Street
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 57 North: Chicago, I-294 North
5
Merge onto I 57
10 mi
·
13 min
·
I 57
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Use the none lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 53A
Toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn slight left onto South Ruble Street
243 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Ruble Street
10
Turn slight left
75 ft
·
4 sec
11
Turn left onto South Canalport Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
Use the none lane.
12
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Halsted Street
13
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Cermak Road
Use the none lane.
14
Turn left
152 ft
·
11 sec
15
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a short, 33-minute commute, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time to avoid peak traffic congestion. You will not need to plan for any stops along the way, as the route is short enough to drive in one go. Keep in mind that since you are navigating local streets rather than a major interstate, your travel time may fluctuate based on local signal timing and volume. If you want to ensure the smoothest experience, check local traffic reports before heading out on Kedzie Avenue or West 159th Street. Utilizing this direct path allows you to reach your destination quickly while keeping your fuel costs to a minimal $3.
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 11.1 miles from Markham, IL, or about 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.1 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 22.2 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11.1 miles or 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chicago, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Markham, 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 Markham, IL
This is one driving day of about 22.2 miles and 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Markham, 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 I 57 for about 10.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.1 mi from Markham, IL · 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 22.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 11.1 miles from Markham, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chicago, IL
The final approach into Chicago, 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 Chicago, 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
$3.37 one way
$6.74 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $3.72 | $7.43 |
| premium | $4.80 | $4.19 | $8.38 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.93 | $9.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.33 | $1.07 |
| Efficient EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.94 | $0.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.11 | $1.42 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Chicago, IL
Evening in Chicago on Sunday
Local time
5:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
54°F
Lansing, IL
11 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
8 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
33m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Markham, IL to Chicago, IL covers 22.2 miles and takes about 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Dan Ryan Expressway (Express), Dan Ryan Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.1 miles from Markham, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.37 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 11 significant decision points across 22.2 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: near the start (Kedzie Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Markham, IL to Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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