Markham to Fairfield is 55.7 miles and takes about 1h 17m via Tri-State Tollway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest. It's a relatively short trip, suitable for a quick drive or as part of a larger excursion. Expect a mix of driving conditions, making it a straightforward option for most vehicles.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tri-State Tollway
22.9 mi
28m
I 290
13.4 mi
17m
IL 53
8.9 mi
11m
Quentin Road
3.7 mi
6m
Kedzie Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
North Rand Road
1.5 mi
1m
Lake Cook Road
0.7 mi
1m
West 147th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 22.9 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Fairfield, 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
1.5 mi·1 min·North Rand Road
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto V62
3.7 mi·6 min·Quentin Road
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto V77
0.2 mi·22 sec·Old McHenry Road
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
V77
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 27.9 miles from Markham, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 40.7 — 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
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.64 one way
$17.27 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg20 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$9.47
$18.94
premium
$4.93
$10.81
$21.61
diesel
$5.60
$12.28
$24.56
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.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 63% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
16.7
0
$5.85
$2.67
Efficient EV
13.9
0
$4.87
$2.23
EV Truck/SUV
22.3
0
$7.80
$3.56
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (63% 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 Aug 22, 2026
Origin
Markham, IL
Afternoon
in Markham on Friday
Local time
12:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 5 mph40% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued August 21 at 8:13PM CDT until August 21 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued August 21 at 8:12PM CDT until August 22 at 2:15AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Fairfield, IL
Afternoon
in Fairfield on Friday
Local time
12:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
WSW 5 mph41% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued August 21 at 8:13PM CDT until August 21 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued August 21 at 8:12PM CDT until August 22 at 2:15AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
85°F
Elmhurst, IL
28 mi in
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 17m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 40% of this 55.7-mile drive is on highways. You'll spend the longest stretch, 22.9 miles, on the Tri-State Tollway. The remaining portion transitions to surface roads, offering a different driving experience. Be prepared for the shift from higher-speed tollway cruising to more local traffic patterns as you approach your destination.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.9 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.7 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
856 ft599 ft
Total Climb
294 ft
Total Descent
58 ft
Highest Point
856 ft
~55.7 mi in
Elevation Range
257 ft
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 Fairfield, IL, road signs point toward Milwaukee, Chicago and Saint Charles Road West.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 55.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.9 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.37 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state 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.
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 Fairfield, 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 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.
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 Fairfield, IL before heading back.
