How far is Markham, IL from Tower Lake, IL?

The driving distance from Markham, IL to Tower Lake, IL is about 59.8 miles (96.2 km), with a travel time of about 01h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 50 miles (80.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 44m 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
59.79 mi
01h 22m
Flight
49.98 mi
80.43 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
49.98 mi
Kilometers
80.43 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
59.79 mi
Kilometers
96.22 km
Drive Time
01h 22m

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 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tower Lake
Sun, Apr 19, 5:31 PM CDT
Return by in Markham
Sun, Apr 19, 6:53 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Markham
2026-04-19T16:08
Arrive Tower Lake
Sun, Apr 19, 5:31 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:22 AM to 11:22 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:46 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
Elmhurst
IL

A city in DuPage County, Illinois.

From Markham
29.9 mi
00h 41m
To Tower Lake
29.9 mi
00h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
52°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph WNW
Destination
50°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Markham and Tower Lake.

  1. 1

    Start on 163rd Street

    20 m · 10 sec · 163rd Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue

    2.3 mi · 4 min · Kedzie Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto West 147th Street

    1979 ft · 39 sec · West 147th Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto I 294 North: Wisconsin

    3218 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    20.8 mi · 26 min · Tri-State Tollway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Rockford, Milwaukee, Chicago

    98 m · 8 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.3 km · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 290 West: Rockford

    1.4 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Saint Charles Road West

    1751 ft · 43 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    13.4 mi · 17 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    8.9 mi · 12 min

  13. 13

    Continue on Lake Cook Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Lake Cook Road

  14. 14

    Continue on North Rand Road

    4.4 mi · 5 min · North Rand Road

  15. 15

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    2018 ft · 53 sec · West Main Street

  16. 16

    Continue on State Route 22

    1.1 mi · 2 min · State Route 22

  17. 17

    Turn right

    3.3 mi · 5 min

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Essex Drive

    23 m · 9 sec · Essex Drive

  19. 19

    Turn left onto North Gateway Drive

    93 m · 13 sec · North Gateway Drive

  20. 20

    Turn slight right onto East Tower Drive

    1308 ft · 58 sec · East Tower Drive

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Tower Drive

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
21 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
35.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
22.8 mi · 38%
Saint Charles Road West
22.6 mi · 38%
North Rand Road
4.42 mi · 7%
Kedzie Avenue
2.28 mi · 4%
State Route 22
1.09 mi · 2%
I 290 West
0.88 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Tri-State Tollway

Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

20.8 mi · 00h 26m

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 22m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.8 mi
50 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Elmhurst
00h 41m from Markham
Leave By
3:46 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Markham and Mostly Sunny near Tower Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Markham to Tower Lake?

The road trip is about 59.8 miles (96.2 km) and usually takes 01h 22m 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?

Elmhurst is a useful midpoint, sitting about 29.9 miles from Markham and 29.9 miles from Tower Lake.

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

The direct path is about 50 miles (80.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.8 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 3:46 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.96 one way or $15.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 18.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Markham and Mostly Sunny near Tower Lake.

Stop Ideas Near Elmhurst

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Elmhurst, 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 Elmhurst.

RAIL

La Grange Road

11 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

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

Glenview station

22 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Naperville

22 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Markham and Tower Lake. Straight-line distance: 49.98 mi (80.43 km).

Markham

#1 Markham

A city located in Cook County, Illinois.

Population13,400
Coordinates41.5936500, -87.6947700
Altitude189
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Tower Lake

Lake in Marquette County, Michigan, United States of America

Population1,283
Coordinates42.2319700, -88.1520200
Altitude238
CountryUnited States
Start: Markham (-87.69477, 41.59365)
End: Tower Lake (-88.15202, 42.23197)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 96 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 44m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.11 gal
7.99 L · about $7.96
Round trip
$15.91
4.22 gal · 15.98 L
Estimated CO2
18.8 kg one way
Round trip: 37.5 kg / 83 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $7.96 $15.91
Mid-grade $4.25 $8.97 $17.95
Premium $4.65 $9.82 $19.64
Diesel $5.30 $11.19 $22.38

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 · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Markham and Tower Lake. The current time is 16:08:54.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

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