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Trip from Markham, IL to Garden Plain, IL

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

3h

Distance

147.3 mi

237 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 49m ★
6 AM
3h 0m
8 AM
3h 23m
10 AM
3h 8m
12 PM
3h 6m
3 PM
3h 9m
5 PM
3h 22m
8 PM
2h 54m

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 Markham, IL, IL

Markham, IL

Stéphane Tendon

Downtown Garden Plain, IL, IL

Garden Plain, IL

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Markham, IL to Garden Plain, IL covers 147.3 miles and takes about 3h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, Tri-State Tollway, Lincoln Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93.9 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.03 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

1 planned break

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

Midpoint

73.6 miles from Markham, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 147.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h drive with frequent turns across 147.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 93.9 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 2.3 miles in near IL 83 / West 147th Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 147.3 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 2.3 miles (IL 83 / West 147th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These 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
7
23.4 mi into trip | ~30m in

Take the exit toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 29 Toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
8
24.9 mi into trip | ~34m in

Keep slight right at fork toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 138 Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
8
49.6 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in | I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Markham, IL and Garden Plain, IL, road signs point toward 22Nd Street (Cermak Road), Rock Falls and Sterling.

22Nd Street (Cermak Road)

24.9 mi in | ~34m

Rock Falls

126.9 mi in | ~2h 27m

Sterling

126.9 mi in | ~2h 27m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway 93.9 mi 1h 44m
Tri-State Tollway 20.1 mi 24m
Lincoln Road 9.1 mi 12m
Garden Plain Road 8 mi 14m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway 7.8 mi 8m
Kedzie Avenue 2.3 mi 4m
East Lincoln Way 1.3 mi 2m
East Lincolnway 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway — 93.9 mi, about 1h 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Garden Plain, 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

20 mi · 24 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

1.5 mi · 3 min
Exit 29 Toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 138 Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road) Use the slight right lane.
8

Merge onto I 88; IL 110

24 mi · 29 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110

69 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 88; IL 110

1.1 mi · 1 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
11

Continue on I 88; IL 110

6.7 mi · 7 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Exit 41
12

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min
Toward US 30: Clinton, Rock Falls, Sterling
13

Continue on Lincoln Road

9.0 mi · 12 min · Lincoln Road
14

Continue on US 30

1.3 mi · 2 min · East Lincoln Way
15

Continue on US 30; IL 78

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Lincolnway
16

Continue on US 30; IL 78

0.2 mi · 24 sec · West Lincoln Way
17

Continue on US 30; IL 78

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Lincoln Road
18

Turn left onto Garden Plain Road

8.0 mi · 14 min · Garden Plain Road
19

Arrive at destination

Garden Plain Road

Trip Plan

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 73.6 miles from Markham, IL, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.9 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 32 miles or 43m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 73.6 miles or 1h 30m 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 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Garden Plain, 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 147.3 miles and 3h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Markham, 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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 93.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 73.6 mi from Markham, IL · 1h 30m into the drive

city on tripoints of DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Aurora, IL

74 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

Downers Grove, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

DeKalb, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.6 miles from Markham, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.9 miles.

Arriving in Garden Plain, IL

The final approach into Garden Plain, 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 Garden Plain, 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...

7 mi from route ~17 min detour Free near mile 5.1
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.03 one way

$46.06 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $25.28 $50.57
premium $4.89 $28.35 $56.69
diesel $5.61 $32.52 $65.04

Estimated Tolls: $6.85

Reagan Memorial Tollway (93.9 mi) $5.64
Tri-state Tollway (20.1 mi) $1.21

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Tolls

$7

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44.2 0 $15.47 $7.07
Efficient EV 36.8 0 $12.89 $5.89
EV Truck/SUV 58.9 0 $20.62 $9.43

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Markham, IL

Night in Markham on Thursday

Local time

9:31 PM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Garden Plain, IL

Night in Garden Plain on Thursday

Local time

9:31 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

51°F

Aurora, IL

74 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

19 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

3h 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 Garden Plain, IL covers 147.3 miles and takes about 3h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, Tri-State Tollway, Lincoln Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.6 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 $23.03 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 is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 147.3 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 2.3 miles (IL 83 / West 147th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Markham, IL and Garden Plain, IL, road signs point toward 22Nd Street (Cermak Road), Rock Falls and Sterling.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.

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