Spanning 236.4 miles across Illinois, this trek from Colchester to Markham is a manageable journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 46 minutes behind the wheel. Because you are navigating local corridors rather than major interstates, plan on setting aside one full day to complete the transit comfortably. You should budget approximately $36 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Midwest locations. While the drive is straightforward enough to tackle in a single push, the turn-heavy nature of the route means you will want to stay alert. It is an ideal trip for those who prefer the pace of local roads over the high-speed monotony of the highway system.
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
118.2 miles from Colchester, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
143.8 mi
2h 38m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
80.2 mi
1h 30m
West Jackson Street
6.2 mi
10m
North Lafayette Street
1.6 mi
2m
East 1200th Street
1.2 mi
1m
Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
South Monmouth Street
0.7 mi
1m
Macomb Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 143.8 mi, about 2h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colchester, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on US 136
436 ft·7 sec·East North Street
2
Continue on US 136
0.6 mi·50 sec·Macomb Street
3
Continue on US 136
6.2 mi·10 min·West Jackson Street
4
Turn left onto US 136
0.1 mi·16 sec·North Johnson Street
5
Turn slight right onto US 136
0.2 mi·30 sec·West Calhoun Street
6
Turn left onto US 67
1.6 mi·2 min·North Lafayette Street
7
Continue on US 67
1.2 mi·1 min·East 1200th Street
8
Continue on US 67; IL 110
3.4 mi·4 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
9
Continue on US 67; IL 110
0.7 mi·1 min·South Monmouth Street
10
Continue on US 67; IL 110
45 mi·52 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110
31 mi·34 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·48 sec
Toward I 80 East: Chicago
13
Merge onto I 80
144 mi·2 hr 38 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
For the smoothest experience, plan your departure early in the morning to navigate local traffic patterns with ease. Since the route involves a single planned stop, use that break to stretch your legs and refuel before the final push toward Markham. Given that the entire 236.4-mile trek occurs on local roads, keep a close eye on your navigation to ensure you don't miss any of the frequent turns required along West Jackson Street or North Johnson Street. Flexibility is your best asset here, so don't feel pressured to rush the drive if you encounter unexpected road work or local congestion. Keep your $36 fuel budget handy and double-check your turn-by-turn directions before leaving Colchester to avoid unnecessary backtracking.
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 118.2 miles from Colchester, IL, or about 2h 19m 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 52 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.2 miles or 2h 19m 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 42m
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 Colchester, 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 Colchester, IL
This is one driving day of about 236.3 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Colchester, 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
3.6 mi from route
~9 min detour
$10 to $20
Annawan, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+13099355999
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 6.9 and 235.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
6.9 mi into trip|~11m in|US 136 / North Johnson Street
Turn left onto US 136 / North Johnson Street
Navigation decision point
6
59.4 mi into trip|~1h 14m 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
4
90.9 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80 East: Chicago
5
91.5 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
235.3 mi into trip|~4h 28m 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
$36.94 one way
$73.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$40.56
$81.12
premium
$4.89
$45.47
$90.95
diesel
$5.61
$52.17
$104.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.9
0
$24.81
$11.34
Efficient EV
59.1
0
$20.68
$9.45
EV Truck/SUV
94.5
1
$33.08
$15.12
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Colchester, IL
Late night
in Colchester on Tuesday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Tuesday
Local time
5:37 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
15 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 30m 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 very different experience than a typical interstate haul, as this route relies entirely on local streets like Macomb Street, West Jackson Street, and North Johnson Street. With zero percent of the trip spent on highways, you will be constantly engaged with the road rather than cruising on autopilot. The character of the drive is defined by its technical, turn-heavy profile, which demands your full attention as you transition between local segments. Because the road lacks long, uninterrupted stretches, you will find the pace remains steady but requires frequent adjustments. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that keeps you moving through the Illinois landscape at a deliberate, local speed.
95% 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: 143.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 6.9 miles in near US 136 / North Johnson Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 30m 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 6.9 miles (US 136 / North Johnson Street): Navigation decision point; at 59.4 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Colchester, IL to Markham, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rock Island along the way.
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.9 miles (US 136 / North Johnson Street): Navigation decision point; at 59.4 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Markham, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
