If you are planning a trip from Markham to Loran, expect a journey covering 150.8 miles of Illinois landscape. The drive typically takes about 3 hours and 12 minutes, making it a manageable day trip that fits easily into a single day of travel. You should budget approximately $23 for fuel to complete this trek. Navigating this route involves a mix of local roads like Kedzie Avenue and West 147th Street, combined with a segment on I-294 North. Since both locations are situated within the Midwest, you will stay firmly within the familiar terrain of the region. It is a straightforward excursion for those looking to traverse the state without needing an overnight stay.
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
75.4 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
59.7 mi
1h 4m
Tri-State Tollway
31.1 mi
39m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
29.6 mi
34m
West Pearl City Road
9.7 mi
17m
West Loran Road
4 mi
9m
US 20 Business
3.6 mi
5m
I 39
2.6 mi
2m
Kedzie Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 59.7 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Loran, 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
10 mi·13 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 40Toward I 190 West, I 90: O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Rockford, River RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chicago
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 Toll West: RockfordUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 90
0.2 mi·12 sec·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
60 mi·1 hr 3 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
13
Merge onto I 39; US 51
0.5 mi·30 sec·I 39; US 51
14
Continue on I 39; US 20; US 51
2.1 mi·2 min·I 39; US 20; US 51
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20
30 mi·34 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
16
Take the exit onto US 20 Business
3.6 mi·5 min·US 20 Business
Toward US 20 BUS: Freeport
17
Turn slight right onto US 20 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·South Galena Avenue
18
Turn left onto East Empire Street
2.2 mi·4 min·East Empire Street
19
Continue on West Pearl City Road
0.9 mi·1 min·West Pearl City Road
20
Enter roundabout onto West Pearl City Road
131 ft·2 sec·West Pearl City Road
21
Continue on West Pearl City Road
8.8 mi·15 min·West Pearl City Road
22
At end of road, turn left onto IL 73
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
23
Continue on IL 73
1.1 mi·1 min·IL 73
24
Turn right onto West Loran Road
4.0 mi·9 min·West Loran Road
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
26
Turn straight onto South Loran Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·South Loran Road
27
Turn right onto Center Street
98 ft·4 sec·Center Street
28
Arrive at destination
Center Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 3-hour journey, you have the flexibility to plan your departure time to suit your personal schedule. While the route is short enough to drive in one go, building in at least one planned stop will help keep you refreshed during the 150.8-mile transit. Keep a close eye on your navigation throughout the trip, as the heavy reliance on local roads means you will need to watch for turn signals more often than on a typical interstate drive. Make sure to double-check your fuel levels before heading out to ensure that $23 estimate covers your needs comfortably. Staying alert for changing road signs is the best way to navigate the turn-heavy segments efficiently.
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 75.4 miles from Markham, IL, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.7 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 33 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.4 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Loran, 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 150.8 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 59.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 34.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
34.4 mi into trip|~45m in
Take the exit toward I 190 West, I 90: O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Rockford, River 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 40
Toward I 190 West, I 90: O'Hare International A...
7
34.6 mi into trip|~45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chi...
7
34.9 mi into trip|~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.58 one way
$47.15 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.89
$51.77
premium
$4.89
$29.02
$58.04
diesel
$5.61
$33.29
$66.59
Estimated Tolls: $6.04
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(59.5 mi)$4.17
Tri-state Tollway
(31.1 mi)$1.87
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
$24
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.2
0
$15.83
$7.24
Efficient EV
37.7
0
$13.20
$6.03
EV Truck/SUV
60.3
0
$21.11
$9.65
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Tuesday
Local time
3:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Loran, IL
Late night
in Loran on Tuesday
Local time
3:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
2 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 12m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies on local navigation, featuring a 0% highway share according to the data. You will find yourself transitioning through various local thoroughfares rather than settling into a long, uninterrupted stretch of high-speed pavement. The character of the road changes frequently as you leave the suburban environment of Markham and head toward the destination in Loran. Because the path is defined by frequent turns, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience rather than a passive cruise.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.7 mi on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 2.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 150.8 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 34.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Loran, IL, road signs point toward Chicago and Rockford.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 150.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.7 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.04 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Loran, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 34.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Loran, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
