This 171-mile drive from Elmwood, IL to Markham, IL can be completed in about 3 hours and 18 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The majority of your journey, 78%, will be on highways, primarily utilizing I-80 and I-74. With a fuel cost estimated at $26 and only one recommended stop, this route is efficient for those looking to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Both your origin and destination are within the Midwest region, so expect familiar Midwestern landscapes throughout. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip for a single day of travel.
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
85.5 miles from Elmwood, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
93 mi
1h 44m
County Road 1400 East
17.8 mi
20m
I 74
15.4 mi
16m
IL 6
9.9 mi
12m
South 4th Street
9.1 mi
10m
I 180
8.9 mi
9m
North State Route 29
6.1 mi
7m
North Magnolia Street
4.5 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 93 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmwood, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on IL 8; IL 78
99 ft·8 sec·West Main Street
2
Turn left onto IL 8; IL 78
4.5 mi·7 min·North Magnolia Street
3
Turn right onto West Tucker Road
2.0 mi·2 min·West Tucker Road
4
Turn left onto C-34
0.4 mi·30 sec·North Bell School Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 74 East
6
Merge onto I 74
15 mi·16 min·I 74
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward IL 6 North: Chillicothe
8
Merge onto IL 6
9.9 mi·12 min·IL 6
9
Continue on IL 29
0.4 mi·35 sec·North Galena Road
10
Continue on IL 29
6.1 mi·7 min·North State Route 29
11
Continue on IL 29
9.1 mi·10 min·South 4th Street
12
Continue on IL 29
1.1 mi·1 min·Railroad Street
13
Continue on IL 29
18 mi·20 min·County Road 1400 East
14
Merge onto I 180
8.9 mi·9 min·I 180
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward I 80 East: Joliet
16
Merge onto I 80
93 mi·1 hr 44 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 154Toward Kedzie AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Kedzie Avenue
19
Turn left onto 163rd Street
64 ft·2 sec·163rd Street
20
Arrive at destination
163rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 18 minutes, this drive is ideally suited for a single-day trip. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive at your destination, Markham, IL, by midday. The estimated fuel cost of $26 makes budgeting straightforward. Keep an eye out for the 93-mile stretch on I-80; it's the longest continuous segment, so ensure you're fueled up and comfortable before embarking on it. With only one planned stop, flexibility is on your side if you need to adjust your schedule.
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 85.5 miles from Elmwood, IL, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93 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 38 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.5 miles or 1h 41m 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 43m
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 Elmwood, 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 Elmwood, IL
This is one driving day of about 171 miles and 3h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Elmwood, 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 93 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 169.9 — 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|IL 8; IL 78 / North Magnolia Street
Turn left onto IL 8; IL 78 / North Magnolia Street
Navigation decision point
4
6.6 mi into trip|~10m in|C-34 / North Bell School Road
Turn left onto C-34 / North Bell School Road
Navigation decision point
5
76.5 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 East: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Joliet
5
76.9 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
169.9 mi into trip|~3h 16m 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
$26.73 one way
$53.47 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.35
$58.71
premium
$4.89
$32.91
$65.81
diesel
$5.61
$37.75
$75.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.3
0
$17.96
$8.21
Efficient EV
42.8
0
$14.96
$6.84
EV Truck/SUV
68.4
0
$23.94
$10.94
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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
Elmwood, IL
Morning
in Elmwood on Tuesday
Local time
7:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Markham, IL
Morning
in Markham on Tuesday
Local time
7:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 15 mph12% 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
66°F
Peru, IL
86 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
3h 18m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this 171-mile trip. You'll spend a significant 78% of your time on major interstates like I-80 and I-74, with County Road 1400 East offering a brief change of pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 93 miles on I-80, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. This route is designed for efficiency, prioritizing speed and directness over scenic detours, so settling in for a steady highway experience is key.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and County Road 1400 East. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IL 8; IL 78 / North Magnolia Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 171 miles you will encounter 13 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 (IL 8; IL 78 / North Magnolia Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles (C-34 / North Bell School Road): Navigation decision point; at 76.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 18m. Total distance: 171 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93 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: near the start (IL 8; IL 78 / North Magnolia Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles (C-34 / North Bell School Road): Navigation decision point; at 76.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Markham, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
