Origin
Lake of the Woods, IL
Morning in Lake of the Woods on Sunday
Local time
8:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake of the Woods, IL to Markham, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 13m
Distance
118.3 mi
190 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 4m
★
6 AM
2h 14m
8 AM
2h 32m
10 AM
2h 20m
12 PM
2h 18m
3 PM
2h 21m
5 PM
2h 31m
8 PM
2h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake of the Woods, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Markham, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Trip Overview
Lake of the Woods, IL to Markham, IL is 118.3 miles and takes about 2h 13m via I 57, I 74, and I 80, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, a straightforward journey through the Midwest. Given its short duration, it’s a convenient option for a single-day excursion, requiring minimal planning. Expect a direct, highway-focused experience designed for efficient travel between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.1 miles from Lake of the Woods, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 106.9 mi | 1h 55m |
| I 74 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| I 80 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| North Prairieview Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Kedzie Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| County Road 50 | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| North Lake of the Woods Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 163rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 106.9 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake of the Woods, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on this road
138 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
301 ft
·
23 sec
3
Turn right onto North Lake of the Woods Road
453 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Lake of the Woods Road
4
Turn right onto County Road 50
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road 50
5
At end of road, turn right onto North Prairieview Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North Prairieview Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 74 East: Champaign
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 74
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
I 74
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 179
Toward I 57: Chicago, Memphis
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 179
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
10
Merge onto I 57
107 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 345A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 80
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
I 80
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 154
Toward Kedzie Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Kedzie Avenue
15
Turn left onto 163rd Street
64 ft
·
2 sec
·
163rd Street
16
Arrive at destination
163rd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short, single-day drive of just over 2 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will get you to Markham with plenty of time to spare for any activities. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 106.9-mile stretch on I 57, as services can be spaced out. The $18 fuel budget suggests this is an economical trip, so plan for a quick stop around the halfway point if needed for a break or to top off your tank.
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 59.1 miles from Lake of the Woods, IL, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.9 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 26 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.1 miles or 1h 7m 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 48m
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 Lake of the Woods, 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 Lake of the Woods, IL
This is one driving day of about 118.3 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Lake of the Woods, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 106.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 59.1 miles from Lake of the Woods, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 106.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 117.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
County Road 50
Turn right onto County Road 50
Navigation decision point
6
6.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 57: Chicago, Memphis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 179
Toward I 57: Chicago, Memphis
6
6.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 179
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
114.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Indiana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 345A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
7
117.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 11m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.49 one way
$36.99 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.31 | $40.61 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.77 | $45.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.12 | $52.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.5 | 0 | $12.42 | $5.68 |
| Efficient EV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.35 | $4.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.3 | 0 | $16.56 | $7.57 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Morning in Markham on Sunday
Local time
8:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°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
16 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
2h 13m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the journey on major interstates. You'll spend most of your time on I 57, I 74, and I 80, designed for speed and directness. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 106.9 miles on I 57, meaning you can cover significant ground without frequent exits. The character remains consistent for the majority of the trip, prioritizing efficient transit over varied scenery.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.9 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 74. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near County Road 50.
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 14 significant decision points across 118.3 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 0.2 miles (County Road 50): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lake of the Woods, IL to Markham, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Memphis
6.6 mi in
|
~10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 118.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 106.9 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Markham, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (County Road 50): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Markham, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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