Origin
Markham, IL
Late night in Markham on Friday
Local time
12:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Markham, IL to Carol Stream, IL
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h
Distance
40.2 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Markham, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Carol Stream, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Markham, IL to Carol Stream, IL covers 40.2 miles and takes about 1h 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, North Avenue, Kingery Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.7 miles on Tri-State Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.28 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 40.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h drive with frequent turns across 40.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 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 21.7 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 2.3 miles in near IL 83 / West 147th Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.2 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 2.3 miles (IL 83 / West 147th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 24.1 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
IL 83 / West 147th Street
Turn right onto IL 83 / West 147th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
2.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Turn left toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 8
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
6
24.1 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
24.9 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward IL 38 West: Roosevelt Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 30B
Toward IL 38 West: Roosevelt Road
6
27.2 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward IL 83 North: Kingery Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Highway
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 21.7 mi | 26m |
| North Avenue | 9.1 mi | 16m |
| Kingery Highway | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Kedzie Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Roosevelt Road | 2 mi | 2m |
| Kuhn Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West 147th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Thunderbird Trail | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 21.7 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Carol Stream, IL.
1
Start on 163rd Street
64 ft
·
10 sec
·
163rd Street
2
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Kedzie Avenue
3
Turn right onto IL 83
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
West 147th Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 294
21 mi
·
25 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 30B
Toward IL 38 West: Roosevelt Road
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto IL 38
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Roosevelt Road
Use the right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Highway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto IL 83
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Kingery Highway
11
Turn left onto IL 64
3.7 mi
·
7 min
·
North Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on IL 64
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
North Avenue
Use the left / uturn lanes.
13
Turn right onto Kuhn Road
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Kuhn Road
14
Turn right onto Thunderbird Trail
202 ft
·
10 sec
·
Thunderbird Trail
15
Turn right onto Aztec Drive
160 ft
·
8 sec
·
Aztec Drive
16
Turn left onto West Thunderbird Trail
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
West Thunderbird Trail
17
Arrive at destination
West Thunderbird Trail
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.1 mi from Markham, IL · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.1 miles from Markham, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Carol Stream, IL
The final approach into Carol Stream, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.28 one way
$12.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.90 | $13.80 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.74 | $15.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.88 | $17.75 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.30
Tri-state Tollway
(21.7 mi)
$1.30
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.22 | $1.93 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.52 | $1.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.63 | $2.57 |
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.
Destination
Carol Stream, IL
Late night in Carol Stream on Friday
Local time
12:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Elmhurst, IL
20 mi in
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
18 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
1h 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 Carol Stream, IL covers 40.2 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, North Avenue, Kingery Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.1 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 $6.28 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.2 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 2.3 miles (IL 83 / West 147th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 24.1 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Markham, IL to Carol Stream, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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