Colona, IL to Markham, IL is 149.8 miles and takes about 2h 47m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Illinois on mostly highway. Expect a straightforward drive that should be manageable for a single day, especially if you're aiming to arrive before evening. The relatively short distance and clear highway path make it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without extensive planning.
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
74.9 miles from Colona, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
144.5 mi
2h 40m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
3.3 mi
3m
Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Cleveland Road
0.7 mi
1m
163rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 144.5 mi, about 2h 40m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~796 veh/hr typical
· worst 971
Quietest
2 AM
~137 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 47 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 Colona, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on Cleveland Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Cleveland Road
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
3
Merge onto I 80; IL 110
3.3 mi·3 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
145 mi·2 hr 40 min·I 80
Toward I 80 East: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 154Toward Kedzie AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Kedzie Avenue
7
Turn left onto 163rd Street
64 ft·2 sec·163rd Street
8
Arrive at destination
163rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 47m duration, departing Colona in the morning should allow you to reach Markham with plenty of daylight. This is a single-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time and can make a single brief stop if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $23, and it's wise to fill up before hitting the more congested areas around Chicago. The 144.5-mile stretch on I 80 means you'll have long periods without needing to exit, so ensure you're comfortable before heading onto that segment.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.9 miles from Colona, IL, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.5 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 33 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.9 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 16m
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 Colona, 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 Colona, IL
This is one driving day of about 149.8 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Colona, 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 144.5 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 149 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
1 mi into trip|~1m in|I 80; IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Merge onto I 80; IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
4.3 mi into trip|~5m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 East: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 East: Chicago
7
148.8 mi into trip|~2h 45m 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
3
149 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|Kedzie Avenue
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.85 one way
$45.71 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$25.17
$50.34
premium
$4.81
$28.34
$56.69
diesel
$5.40
$31.86
$63.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.9
0
$15.73
$7.19
Efficient EV
37.5
0
$13.11
$5.99
EV Truck/SUV
59.9
0
$20.97
$9.59
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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 26, 2026
Origin
Colona, IL
Late night
in Colona on Sunday
Local time
4:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Partly Cloudy
E 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Sunday
Local time
4:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Mostly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
ENE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
43°F
Ottawa, IL
75 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
5 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
2h 47m 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.
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 149.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 99% highway, meaning you'll spend almost all of your time on I 80. You'll experience a longest stretch of 144.5 miles on I 80, which is a significant portion of the trip. As you approach Markham, the highway will eventually transition to surface roads, with Kedzie Avenue being one of the main arteries. Expect a high number of exits as you near the Chicago metropolitan area.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 144.5 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Colona, IL to Markham, IL is easy. At 2h 47m with 99% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 80; IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 4.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 149.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 144.5 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 80; IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 4.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Markham, IL before heading back.
