Ina to Markham is 266.4 miles and takes about 4h 50m via I 57 and I 80, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on interstates, making it a good option for a single-day transit. With only one recommended stop and a highway-heavy profile, this route is designed for efficiency rather than leisurely exploration.
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
133.2 miles from Ina, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
181.3 mi
3h 15m
Ken Gray Expressway
80.4 mi
1h 27m
I 80
2.2 mi
3m
Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
West 3rd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
South Oak Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
163rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 181.3 mi, about 3h 15m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,001 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,389
Quietest
2 AM
~168 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 99 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 Ina, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on IL 37
20 ft·5 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·West 3rd Street
3
Turn slight right onto South Oak Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·South Oak Street
4
Keep slight left at fork onto North Avenue
0.2 mi·29 sec·North Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
6
Merge onto I 57
13 mi·14 min·Ken Gray Expressway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
181 mi·3 hr 15 min·I 57
Toward I 57 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·50 sec
Exit 345AToward I 80 East: IndianaUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 80
2.2 mi·3 min·I 80
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 154Toward Kedzie AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Kedzie Avenue
13
Turn left onto 163rd Street
64 ft·2 sec·163rd Street
14
Arrive at destination
163rd Street
Trip Plan
Consider leaving early in the morning to maximize daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic closer to Markham. With a relatively short duration of under five hours, this is easily a one-day trip, so you have flexibility in your departure time. The longest stretch without a major change in direction is 181.3 miles on I 57, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you hit that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $41, and it's always wise to top up before extended highway cruising.
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 133.2 miles from Ina, IL, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.3 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 59 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.2 miles or 2h 25m 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 57m
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 Ina, 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 Ina, IL
This is one driving day of about 266.4 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Ina, 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 57 for about 181.3 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 0 and 265.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West 3rd Street
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|North Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto North Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
81.3 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
262.6 mi into trip|~4h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Indiana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 345A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
7
265.4 mi into trip|~4h 48m 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
$44.44 one way
$88.88 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$48.30
$96.60
premium
$5.26
$55.16
$110.31
diesel
$6.18
$64.81
$129.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.9
0
$27.97
$12.79
Efficient EV
66.6
0
$23.31
$10.66
EV Truck/SUV
106.6
1
$37.30
$17.05
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Ina, IL
Morning
in Ina on Tuesday
Local time
6:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Clear
ENE 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Markham, IL
Morning
in Markham on Tuesday
Local time
6:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
SSW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
30 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 50m 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.
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 266.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 99% of your time on highways, with the bulk of the driving, 181.3 miles, occurring on I 57. The transition from highway to non-highway driving will be minimal, occurring near your destination in Markham. Expect a high number of exits and merges as you navigate the interstate system for almost the entire trip.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 181.3 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 3rd Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 266.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (North Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 81.3 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 50m. Total distance: 266.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 181.3 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 38 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 38 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (North Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 81.3 miles (I 57): 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Markham, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
