This 256.1-mile journey from Carthage, IL, to Markham, IL, is planned for a 4-hour and 4-minute drive. It's a route best suited for a single day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of $39. You'll be navigating primarily local roads, indicated by the "Turn-heavy local drive" profile and 0% highway share. This drive through the Midwest offers a more intimate experience of the Illinois landscape rather than a high-speed interstate transit. With only one recommended stop, you can easily manage your time and arrive at your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
128.3 miles from Carthage, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
143.8 mi
2h 38m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
101.4 mi
1h 55m
US 136
3.8 mi
7m
North Lafayette Street
1.6 mi
2m
East 1200th Street
1.2 mi
1m
Buchanan Street
0.8 mi
1m
Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
South Monmouth Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 143.8 mi, about 2h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carthage, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on IL 94
62 ft·6 sec·North Madison Street
2
Turn left onto US 136; IL 94
0.8 mi·1 min·Buchanan Street
3
Continue on US 136; IL 94
0.6 mi·51 sec·E County Road 1500
4
Take the ramp
84 ft·3 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto US 136
0.4 mi·52 sec·US 136
6
Merge onto US 136; IL 110; IL 336
21 mi·24 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·55 sec
8
Turn right onto US 136
3.4 mi·6 min·US 136
9
Turn left onto US 136
0.1 mi·16 sec·North Johnson Street
10
Turn slight right onto US 136
0.2 mi·30 sec·West Calhoun Street
11
Turn left onto US 67
1.6 mi·2 min·North Lafayette Street
12
Continue on US 67
1.2 mi·1 min·East 1200th Street
13
Continue on US 67; IL 110
3.4 mi·4 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
14
Continue on US 67; IL 110
0.7 mi·1 min·South Monmouth Street
15
Continue on US 67; IL 110
45 mi·52 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110
31 mi·34 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi·48 sec
Toward I 80 East: Chicago
18
Merge onto I 80
144 mi·2 hr 38 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 154Toward Kedzie AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Kedzie Avenue
21
Turn left onto 163rd Street
64 ft·2 sec·163rd Street
22
Arrive at destination
163rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 4-minute estimated duration for this 256.1-mile drive, starting your trip in the morning is advisable to allow for a relaxed pace. Plan for your single recommended stop to break up the journey, and keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially since you'll be on local roads for the entire route. The "Turn-heavy local drive" profile suggests you'll want to stay alert and possibly pre-program your GPS to minimize any missed turns. The $39 fuel cost is a good estimate to budget for.
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 128.3 miles from Carthage, IL, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 143.8 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 56 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.3 miles or 2h 31m 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 2m
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 Carthage, 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 Carthage, IL
This is one driving day of about 256.5 miles and 4h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Carthage, 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 80 for about 143.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway reset
3.7 mi from route
~9 min detour
$10 to $20
Sheffield, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18154548023
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 255.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 136; IL 94 / Buchanan Street
Turn left onto US 136; IL 94 / Buchanan Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
79.6 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
5
111.7 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
255.5 mi into trip|~4h 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
$40.10 one way
$80.20 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$44.03
$88.06
premium
$4.89
$49.36
$98.72
diesel
$5.61
$56.63
$113.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77
0
$26.93
$12.31
Efficient EV
64.1
0
$22.44
$10.26
EV Truck/SUV
102.6
1
$35.91
$16.42
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 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
Carthage, IL
Late night
in Carthage on Tuesday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Tuesday
Local time
4:03 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
2 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
4h 54m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a "Turn-heavy local drive" for the entirety of this 256.1-mile trip, as there's no highway travel involved. Your journey along Buchanan Street and E County Road 1500, and parts of the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, will likely involve frequent turns and a more engaged driving experience. Since there's no longest uninterrupted stretch noted, be prepared for a continuous series of changes in direction and speed. This route prioritizes a direct, though not necessarily fast, connection between your origin and destination.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 143.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 136; IL 94 / Buchanan Street.
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 256.5 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (US 136; IL 94 / Buchanan Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 79.6 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Carthage, IL to Markham, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rock Island along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 54m. Total distance: 256.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 143.8 miles on I 80. 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: near the start (US 136; IL 94 / Buchanan Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 79.6 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
