Spanning 247.7 miles, this journey from Albion to Markham, Illinois, is a straightforward trek across the Midwest that takes roughly 5 hours and 1 minute. It is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $38 for fuel to cover the distance. Since the route is entirely contained within the state of Illinois, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. Whether you are heading north for business or personal travel, the path is direct and predictable. It serves as a practical connection between these two points, offering a reliable timeline for your planning purposes.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
123.9 miles from Albion, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
154.7 mi
2h 46m
IL 33
36.3 mi
53m
500E
24.1 mi
32m
South Van Buren Street
11 mi
15m
County Road 1100 East
6.7 mi
9m
Illinois Route 16
5.3 mi
7m
South West Street
2.5 mi
4m
Lincoln Avenue
2.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 154.7 mi, about 2h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albion, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on IL 15; IL 130
24 mi·32 min·500E
2
Continue on IL 130; IL 250
2.5 mi·4 min·South West Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on IL 130
6.7 mi·9 min·County Road 1100 East
4
Continue on IL 130
11 mi·15 min·South Van Buren Street
5
Turn right onto IL 33; IL 130
36 mi·53 min·IL 33; IL 130
6
Turn left onto IL 16
2.5 mi·4 min·Lincoln Avenue
7
Continue on IL 16
5.3 mi·7 min·Illinois Route 16
8
Continue on IL 16
0.4 mi·38 sec·Charleston Avenue East
9
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
10
Merge onto I 57
155 mi·2 hr 46 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·50 sec
Exit 345AToward I 80 East: IndianaUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 80
2.2 mi·3 min·I 80
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 154Toward Kedzie AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Kedzie Avenue
15
Turn left onto 163rd Street
64 ft·2 sec·163rd Street
16
Arrive at destination
163rd Street
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid potential traffic build-up as you approach the Markham area. You only need to plan for one major stop during the 247.7-mile trek, which gives you plenty of flexibility to stretch your legs when it suits your schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before starting the 154.7-mile stretch on I-57, as maintaining a steady pace helps optimize your $38 fuel budget. Because this is a single-day trip, use your one allotted stop to refuel and grab a snack so you can finish the drive in one consistent push. Planning your break in the middle of the interstate portion will help you stay alert for the final leg of the trip.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 123.9 miles from Albion, IL, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.7 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 54 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.9 miles or 2h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Markham, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Albion, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albion, IL
This is one driving day of about 247.7 miles and 5h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Albion, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 154.7 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 44.3 and 246.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
44.3 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|IL 33; IL 130
Turn right onto IL 33; IL 130
Navigation decision point
3
88.8 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Take the ramp toward I-57 North: Champaign
Navigation decision point
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
5
89.2 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
244 mi into trip|~4h 55m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Indiana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 345A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
7
246.7 mi into trip|~4h 59m in
Take the exit toward Kedzie Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 154
Toward Kedzie Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.73 one way
$77.45 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$42.52
$85.04
premium
$4.89
$47.67
$95.34
diesel
$5.61
$54.69
$109.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.3
0
$26.01
$11.89
Efficient EV
61.9
0
$21.67
$9.91
EV Truck/SUV
99.1
1
$34.68
$15.85
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 20, 2026
Origin
Albion, IL
Late night
in Albion on Tuesday
Local time
4:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Tuesday
Local time
4:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
8 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
5h 1m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 247.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily focused on highway travel, with 80% of your time spent on major routes like I-57, IL-33, and 500E. You will find yourself settling into a rhythm during the longest stretch of 154.7 miles along I-57, which makes up the core of the drive. The personality of this route is defined by efficient, high-speed interstate movement rather than winding local roads. As you progress toward the Chicago suburbs, the transition from smaller roads to the expansive interstate system dictates the pace of your journey. Expect a steady, predictable experience behind the wheel that favors speed and efficiency over varied terrain.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 154.7 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and IL 33. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 44.3 miles in near IL 33; IL 130.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 1m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 44.3 miles (IL 33; IL 130): Navigation decision point; at 88.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 89.2 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 154.7 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 44.3 miles (IL 33; IL 130): Navigation decision point; at 88.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 89.2 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Markham, IL before the return drive.
