Markham, IL to Coral, IL is 77.1 miles and takes about 1h 34m via Jane Addams Memorial Tollway and Tri-State Tollway, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip entirely within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest region. Given its relatively short distance and primarily surface road profile after the initial tollways, it's well-suited for a single-day excursion. You'll find this route offers a practical way to travel between these two locations without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.5 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
35.3 mi
38m
Tri-State Tollway
31.1 mi
39m
East Grant Highway
5.1 mi
7m
Kedzie Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
0.5 mi
<1m
West 147th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
163rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 35.3 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Coral, 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
35 mi·37 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 42Toward US 20: Hampshire, MarengoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 20
0.5 mi·53 sec·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
14
Continue on US 20
0.7 mi·55 sec·East Grant Highway
15
Enter roundabout onto US 20
90 ft·1 sec·East Grant Highway
16
Continue on US 20
3.3 mi·4 min·East Grant Highway
17
Enter roundabout onto US 20
198 ft·3 sec·East Grant Highway
18
Continue on US 20
1.1 mi·1 min·East Grant Highway
19
Arrive at destination
US 20
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours and a fuel cost estimated at $12, this route offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart anytime during the day and still complete the trip comfortably. There are no specifically recommended stops based on the data, so you can decide on breaks as needed. Keep in mind the longest stretch on a highway is 35.3 miles; plan your fuel stops accordingly, though with the relatively short overall distance, this shouldn't be a major concern. Since this is a same-day trip, you have the advantage of not needing to book overnight accommodations.
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 38.5 miles from Markham, IL, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.3 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 17 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.5 miles or 50m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coral, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Markham, IL
This is one driving day of about 77.1 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Markham, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 35.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 71 — 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
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
8
71 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 20: Hampshire, Marengo
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 42
Toward US 20: Hampshire, Marengo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.76 one way
$23.52 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$12.96
$25.91
premium
$4.81
$14.59
$29.18
diesel
$5.40
$16.40
$32.80
Estimated Tolls: $4.33
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(35.2 mi)$2.46
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
$12
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.1
0
$8.10
$3.70
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.75
$3.08
EV Truck/SUV
30.8
0
$10.79
$4.93
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 24, 2026
Origin
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Sunday
Local time
1:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Chance Rain Showers
NW 10 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 2:23PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 2:23PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
Coral, IL
Late night
in Coral on Sunday
Local time
1:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Partly Sunny
NW 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 2:23PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 2:23PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
58°F
Elmhurst, IL
39 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
3 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 34m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway and Tri-State Tollway making up a portion of your travel. You'll experience 35.3 miles on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, which is the longest continuous stretch on a highway. After exiting the tollway system, you'll transition to East Grant Highway and other surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Expect a mix of highway cruising and local road driving.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.3 mi on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.1 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 2.7 miles: 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; at 34.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Coral, IL, road signs point toward Chicago, Rockford and Marengo.
Chicago
34.4 mi in|~45m
Rockford
34.4 mi in|~45m
Marengo
71 mi in|~1h 25m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 77.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.3 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.33 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.
Yes — we found about 13 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Coral, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles: 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; at 34.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Coral, IL before heading back.
