How far is Waukegan, IL from Markham, IL?

The driving distance from Waukegan, IL to Markham, IL is about 277.4 miles (446.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 18m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 222.3 miles (357.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
277.4 mi
05h 18m
Flight
222.35 mi
357.84 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waukegan.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
222.35 mi
Kilometers
357.84 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
277.4 mi
Kilometers
446.44 km
Drive Time
05h 18m

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 05h 18m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Markham
Wed, Apr 15, 6:28 PM CDT
Return by in Waukegan
Wed, Apr 15, 11:46 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waukegan
2026-04-15T13:09
Arrive Markham
Wed, Apr 15, 6:28 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 18m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:19 AM to 1:19 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:22 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waukegan
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Chenoa
IL

City in Illinois

From Waukegan
138.7 mi
02h 39m
To Markham
138.8 mi
02h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Overnight

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SW
Destination
79°F
Wednesday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 16 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Jackson Street

    2647 ft · 1 min · North Jackson Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Glen Rock Avenue

    2495 ft · 1 min · Glen Rock Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Belvidere Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Belvidere Road

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Belvidere Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago

    1511 ft · 37 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    13.9 mi · 16 min · Tri-State Tollway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    22.7 mi · 29 min · Tri-State Tollway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis

    1 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    2295 ft · 56 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

    119.4 mi · 2 hr 13 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

    64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville

    36.8 mi · 39 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 72 Business East, US 67 North: Jacksonville

    1 km · 1 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    6 mi · 7 min

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Markham Road

    1.1 mi · 4 min · Markham Road

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Markham Road

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
119 mi · 43%
I 55 South
65.3 mi · 24%
Tri-State Tollway
42.6 mi · 15%
I 72 West
36.8 mi · 13%
I 72 Business East
6.58 mi · 2%
Belvidere Road
2.15 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

119 mi · 02h 13m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 18m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+55.1 mi
222.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chenoa
02h 39m from Waukegan
Leave By
6:22 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Waukegan and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Showers And Thunderstorms near Markham.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 277.4 miles (446.4 km) and usually takes 05h 18m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Chenoa is a useful midpoint, sitting about 138.7 miles from Waukegan and 138.8 miles from Markham.

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

The direct path is about 222.3 miles (357.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 55.1 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:22 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.92 one way or $73.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Waukegan and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Showers And Thunderstorms near Markham.

Stop Ideas Near Chenoa

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

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

RAIL

Pontiac station

17 mi away
721 West Washington St.
RAIL

Uptown Station

34 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Dwight station

46 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Gilman

61 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waukegan and Markham. Straight-line distance: 222.35 mi (357.84 km).

Waukegan

#1 Waukegan

The second most populous city in Lake County, Illinois.

Population85,453
Coordinates42.3636300, -87.8447900
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Markham

City in Morgan County, Illinois, United States

Population12,165
Coordinates39.7458800, -90.3279000
Altitude181
CountryUnited States
Start: Waukegan (-87.84479, 42.36363)
End: Markham (-90.3279, 39.74588)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 446 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.79 gal
37.05 L · about $36.92
Round trip
$73.84
19.58 gal · 74.1 L
Estimated CO2
87 kg one way
Round trip: 174 kg / 384 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $36.92 $73.84
Mid-grade $4.25 $41.64 $83.27
Premium $4.65 $45.56 $91.13
Diesel $5.30 $51.93 $103.85

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Waukegan and Markham. The current time is 13:09:28.

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.