Traveling from Ashland to Markham covers 201 miles of Illinois terrain, clocking in at approximately 3 hours and 54 minutes of driving time. This route is primarily highway-focused, utilizing I-55, I-80, and I-55 Business to connect the two locations. Because the trip is straightforward, it is perfectly manageable as a single-day journey, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend around $31 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly option for your transit across the Midwest. Since you are staying within the same state, the transition between regions is seamless and familiar. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive designed for efficiency rather than sightseeing.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
100.5 miles from Ashland, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
123.2 mi
2h 12m
I 80
27.6 mi
34m
I 55 Business
21.4 mi
23m
IL 125
11.9 mi
17m
North Peoria Road
5.3 mi
8m
IL 97
5 mi
7m
Veterans Parkway
4.2 mi
6m
Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 123.2 mi, about 2h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ashland, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on West Washington Street
194 ft·13 sec·West Washington Street
2
Turn left onto South Yates Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·South Yates Street
3
Turn right onto East Fremont Street
0.3 mi·37 sec·East Fremont Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto IL 125
11 mi·16 min·IL 125
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on IL 125
0.9 mi·1 min·IL 125
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on IL 97
5.0 mi·7 min·IL 97
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn left onto IL 4
4.2 mi·6 min·Veterans Parkway
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on I 55 Business
5.3 mi·8 min·North Peoria Road
Use the left lane.
9
Take the exit onto I 55 Business
21 mi·23 min·I 55 Business
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi·31 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
94 mi·1 hr 40 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, PeoriaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 250AToward I 80 East: IndianaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 80
28 mi·34 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 154Toward Kedzie AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Kedzie Avenue
16
Turn left onto 163rd Street
64 ft·2 sec·163rd Street
17
Arrive at destination
163rd Street
Trip Plan
To keep your 3-hour and 54-minute drive stress-free, aim to leave during off-peak hours to avoid the inevitable slowdowns as you approach the Markham area. Since the itinerary suggests one planned stop, use that break strategically to refuel and stretch your legs before tackling the final leg of the journey. Given that the route is heavily reliant on I-55 and I-80, check for real-time traffic updates before you depart to account for potential construction or accidents on these major arteries. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so adjust your pace based on the flow of traffic. A helpful tip for this specific route is to monitor your fuel levels before hitting the 123.2-mile stretch on I-55, ensuring you aren't caught low on gas between interchanges.
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 100.5 miles from Ashland, IL, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.2 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 44 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.5 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
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 Ashland, 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 Ashland, IL
This is one driving day of about 201 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Ashland, 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 55 for about 123.2 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 200 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|IL 125
At end of road, turn right onto IL 125
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
48.4 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
8
77.8 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
7
171.7 mi into trip|~3h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Indiana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 250A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
7
200 mi into trip|~3h 52m 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
$31.42 one way
$62.85 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.50
$69.00
premium
$4.89
$38.68
$77.36
diesel
$5.61
$44.38
$88.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.3
0
$21.10
$9.65
Efficient EV
50.3
0
$17.59
$8.04
EV Truck/SUV
80.4
1
$28.14
$12.86
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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 Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Ashland, IL
Late night
in Ashland on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 15 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
68°F
Bloomington, IL
101 mi in
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
3h 54m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With 96% of the journey spent on highways, this trip is built for steady, consistent cruising. You will experience a significant stretch of open road, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted segment of 123.2 miles on I-55. The personality of this drive is functional and direct, favoring high-speed interstate travel over winding local backroads. As you move toward the Chicago suburbs, expect the environment to shift from rural stretches to the more congested infrastructure typical of the Illinois interstate system. Staying focused is key during the long interstate segments, as the landscape remains relatively uniform throughout the majority of your time behind the wheel.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 123.2 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 80. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near IL 125.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 201 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (IL 125): Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
848 ft552 ft
Total Climb
495 ft
Total Descent
509 ft
Highest Point
848 ft
~86.2 mi in
Elevation Range
296 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ashland, IL to Markham, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 54m. Total distance: 201 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 123.2 miles on I 55. 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.
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 Markham, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.6 miles (IL 125): Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Markham, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
