How far is Markham, IL from Highwood, IL?

The driving distance from Markham, IL to Highwood, IL is about 49.7 miles (80 km), with a travel time of about 01h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 42.3 miles (68.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
49.72 mi
01h 09m
Flight
42.29 mi
68.06 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Markham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
42.29 mi
Kilometers
68.06 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
49.72 mi
Kilometers
80.01 km
Drive Time
01h 09m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Highwood
Thu, Oct 15, 3:26 PM CDT
Return by in Markham
Thu, Oct 15, 4:35 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Markham
2026-10-15T14:16
Arrive Highwood
Thu, Oct 15, 3:26 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:10 AM to 11:10 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:10 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Markham
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Chicago
IL

The third most populous city in the United States and the center of the Chicago metropolitan area.

From Markham
24.9 mi
00h 34m
To Highwood
24.9 mi
00h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph SSE
Destination
59°F
Thursday

Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Markham and Highwood.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Markham and Highwood.

  1. 1

    Start on 163rd Street

    20 m · 10 sec · 163rd Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue

    2627 ft · 52 sec · Kedzie Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West 159th Street

    2883 ft · 1 min · West 159th Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 57 North: Chicago, I-294 North

    2747 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    10.1 mi · 14 min

  6. 6

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

  8. 8

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    8.2 mi · 12 min · Kennedy Expressway

  9. 9

    Continue on Edens Expressway

    13.5 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway

    3 mi · 3 min · Skokie Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Central Avenue East

    1471 ft · 36 sec

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto Deerfield Road

    617 ft · 14 sec · Deerfield Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Central Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · Central Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Green Bay Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Green Bay Road

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Prairie Avenue

    71 m · 7 sec · Prairie Avenue

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Prairie Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Markham and Highwood.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
16 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
32.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Edens Expressway
13.5 mi · 27%
I 57 North
10.6 mi · 21%
Kennedy Expressway
8.16 mi · 16%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi · 16%
Dan Ryan Expressway
3.33 mi · 7%
Skokie Highway
2.96 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Edens Expressway

Continue on Edens Expressway

13.5 mi · 00h 17m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 09m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.4 mi
42.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chicago
00h 34m from Markham
Leave By
4:10 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Markham and Rain Showers near Highwood.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Markham to Highwood?

The road trip is about 49.7 miles (80 km) and usually takes 01h 09m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Chicago is a useful midpoint, sitting about 24.9 miles from Markham and 24.9 miles from Highwood.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 42.3 miles (68.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.4 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:10 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.16 one way or $16.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Markham and Rain Showers near Highwood.

Stop Ideas Near Chicago

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Chicago, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Chicago.

RAIL

Chicago Union Station

3 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

Summit

15 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.
RAIL

La Grange Road

19 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Hammond–Whiting station

21 mi away
1135 South Calumet Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Markham and Highwood. Straight-line distance: 42.29 mi (68.06 km).

Markham

#1 Markham

A city located in Cook County, Illinois.

Population13,400
Coordinates41.5936500, -87.6947700
Altitude189
CountryUnited States
Highwood

#2 Highwood

City in Illinois

Population5,301
Coordinates42.1997500, -87.8092300
Altitude206
CountryUnited States
Start: Markham (-87.69477, 41.59365)
End: Highwood (-87.80923, 42.19975)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 80 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 42m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.75 gal
6.64 L · about $8.16
Round trip
$16.33
3.5 gal · 13.28 L
Estimated CO2
15.6 kg one way
Round trip: 31.1 kg / 69 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $8.16 $16.33
Mid-grade $5.29 $9.26 $18.52
Premium $5.84 $10.21 $20.43
Diesel $6.57 $11.50 $23.00

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Markham and Highwood. The current time is 14:16:23.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.