This 73.2-mile drive from Markham, IL to McCullom Lake, IL will take you about 1 hour and 42 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll navigate a mix of major roads, including the Tri-State Tollway and I-290, with 31% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $11. Since this is a relatively short drive within the Midwest region of Illinois, you won't need to worry about overnight stops. It's a straightforward trip that gets you from one point to another efficiently.
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
36.6 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route. You'll spend a good portion of your time on higher-speed roads, with a longest uninterrupted stretch of 22.9 miles on the Tri-State Tollway. The 31% highway share means you'll experience some faster travel, interspersed with stretches on roads like North Rand Road. This blend suggests a drive that transitions from potentially busy tollways to more local, but still efficient, thoroughfares as you approach your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 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 22.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in.
Route Complexity10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 73.2 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: 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; at 25.3 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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.
8
25.3 mi into trip|~33m in|I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Take the exit onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Rockford, Milwaukee, Chicago
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 31
Toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Roc...
7
25.3 mi into trip|~33m in|I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 290 West, I 294 North: Rockford, Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 31
Toward I 290 West, I 294 North: Rockford, Milwa...
6
40.7 mi into trip|~54m in|IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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 McCullom Lake, IL, road signs point toward Milwaukee, Chicago and Saint Charles Road West.
Milwaukee
25.3 mi in|~33m|via I 294
Chicago
25.3 mi in|~33m|via I 294
Saint Charles Road West
27 mi in|~36m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tri-State Tollway
22.9 mi
28m
North Rand Road
14.3 mi
18m
I 290
13.4 mi
17m
IL 53
8.9 mi
11m
Elm Street
2.7 mi
5m
Kedzie Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
West Belvidere Road
1.9 mi
3m
McCullom Lake Road
1.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 22.9 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and McCullom Lake, 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 8Toward I 294 North: WisconsinUse 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
1.2 mi·1 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto I 294
321 ft·7 sec·Tri-State Tollway
Exit 31Toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Rockford, Milwaukee, ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
0.8 mi·1 min·Tri-State Tollway
Exit 31Toward I 290 West, I 294 North: Rockford, Milwaukee
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 290 West: Rockford
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward Saint Charles Road West
11
Merge onto I 290
13 mi·17 min·I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
8.9 mi·11 min·IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on Lake Cook Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Lake Cook Road
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on US 12
14 mi·18 min·North Rand Road
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.6 mi·46 sec·US 12; IL 59
16
Turn left onto IL 120
1.9 mi·3 min·West Belvidere Road
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on IL 120
1.1 mi·1 min·Rand Road
18
Continue on IL 120
2.7 mi·5 min·Elm Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto IL 31
0.6 mi·56 sec·Richmond Road
20
Turn left onto McCullom Lake Road
1.7 mi·4 min·McCullom Lake Road
Use the left lane.
21
Turn left onto Eastwood Drive
332 ft·20 sec·Eastwood Drive
22
Turn left onto Parkview Drive
11 ft·0 sec·Parkview Drive
23
Arrive at destination
Parkview Drive
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 42-minute drive, leaving in the morning or early afternoon will help you avoid the worst of the Chicago area traffic. With no designated stops, you have the flexibility to add brief breaks as needed, perhaps for fuel, which is estimated at $11 for the trip. Keep an eye out for transitions between the major highways and local roads, as these can sometimes involve more complex intersections. Since it’s a single-day journey, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
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 36.6 miles from Markham, IL, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.9 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 73.2 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.6 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near McCullom Lake, 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 73.2 miles and 1h 42m.
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 Tri-State Tollway for about 22.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.6 mi from Markham, IL
· 49m into the drive
The midpoint is around 36.6 miles from Markham, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in McCullom Lake, IL
The final approach into McCullom Lake, 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 McCullom Lake, 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
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.44 one way
$22.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.57
$25.13
premium
$4.89
$14.09
$28.17
diesel
$5.61
$16.16
$32.32
Estimated Tolls: $1.37
Tri-state Tollway
(22.9 mi)$1.37
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
$11
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22
0
$7.69
$3.51
Efficient EV
18.3
0
$6.41
$2.93
EV Truck/SUV
29.3
0
$10.25
$4.68
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 days ago
Origin
Markham, IL
Evening
in Markham on Tuesday
Local time
5:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
McCullom Lake, IL
Evening
in McCullom Lake on Tuesday
Local time
5:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
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
4 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 42m 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 McCullom Lake, IL covers 73.2 miles and takes about 1h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, North Rand Road, I 290. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.6 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 $11.44 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 17 significant decision points across 73.2 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: 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; at 25.3 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Markham, IL and McCullom Lake, IL, road signs point toward Milwaukee, Chicago and Saint Charles Road West.
