Bethalto, IL to Markham, IL is 261.3 miles and takes about 4h 53m via I 55, I 80, and State Route 140, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region for its entirety. It's primarily a highway drive, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. You'll encounter a high percentage of highway driving, so expect efficient travel. Consider this route if you need to get from point A to point B without many detours.
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
130.7 miles from Bethalto, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
219.9 mi
3h 56m
I 80
27.6 mi
34m
State Route 140
9.7 mi
13m
West State Street
0.8 mi
1m
Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
East Bethalto Drive
0.7 mi
1m
South Prairie Street
0.6 mi
1m
163rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 219.9 mi, about 3h 56m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,689 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,115
Quietest
2 AM
~152 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethalto, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on West Sherman Street
8 ft·1 sec·West Sherman Street
2
Turn right onto South Prairie Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Prairie Street
3
Turn left onto IL 140
0.7 mi·1 min·East Bethalto Drive
4
Continue on IL 140
9.6 mi·13 min·State Route 140
5
Continue on IL 140
0.8 mi·1 min·West State Street
6
Continue on IL 140
443 ft·13 sec·State Route 140
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
8
Merge onto I 55
97 mi·1 hr 44 min·I 55
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi·31 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 250AToward I 80 East: IndianaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 80
28 mi·34 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
For this 4-hour, 53-minute drive, starting in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Markham, IL. Since the route is mostly highway, you can cover the 261.3 miles efficiently. There's only one recommended stop, so plan your breaks accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point or when you feel you need to stretch. With a fuel cost estimated at $40, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the long 219.9-mile stretch on I 55, is a good idea. The bulk of your driving is on interstates, so be prepared for typical interstate traffic and exit patterns.
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 130.7 miles from Bethalto, IL, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 219.9 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 57 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.7 miles or 2h 26m 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 56m
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 Bethalto, 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 Bethalto, IL
This is one driving day of about 261.3 miles and 4h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Bethalto, 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 219.9 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.8 and 260.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
11.8 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
7
108.7 mi into trip|~2h 3m 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
138.1 mi into trip|~2h 34m 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
231.9 mi into trip|~4h 15m 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
260.3 mi into trip|~4h 50m 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
$38.59 one way
$77.18 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$42.60
$85.20
premium
$4.72
$48.52
$97.03
diesel
$4.80
$49.34
$98.68
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: 91.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.4
0
$27.44
$12.54
Efficient EV
65.3
0
$22.86
$10.45
EV Truck/SUV
104.5
1
$36.58
$16.72
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Bethalto, IL
Late night
in Bethalto on Sunday
Local time
5:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Sunday
Local time
5:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
85°F
Bloomington, IL
131 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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 53m 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.
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 261.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 98% of the travel on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 219.9 miles on I 55, which means you can cover a lot of ground without significant breaks in the highway. The transition to surface roads will occur near the end of your drive, where you'll encounter more local traffic and exits. Expect a consistent cruising speed for most of your travel.
98% 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: 219.9 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 80. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.8 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 261.3 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 108.7 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.1 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
824 ft524 ft
Total Climb
511 ft
Total Descent
415 ft
Highest Point
824 ft
~149.3 mi in
Elevation Range
300 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 Bethalto, IL to Markham, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 53m. Total distance: 261.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 219.9 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 108.7 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.1 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 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Markham, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
