If you are planning a trip from Markham to Annawan, you are looking at a 122.6-mile journey across the Illinois landscape. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 17 minutes behind the wheel for this straightforward Midwest trek. Because of the manageable distance, this route works perfectly as a simple day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You should budget approximately $19 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating this path involves transitioning from local streets like Kedzie Avenue onto I-80 West before finishing on IL-78. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from the suburbs to the heart of the state efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.3 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
120.7 mi
2h 13m
Kedzie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
North Canal Street
0.5 mi
<1m
East 2750 Street
0.1 mi
<1m
163rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 120.7 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Annawan, IL.
1
Start on 163rd Street
64 ft·6 sec·163rd Street
2
Turn right onto Kedzie Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Kedzie Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 West
4
Merge onto I 80
121 mi·2 hr 13 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward IL 78: Prophetstown, Kewanee
6
Turn left onto IL 78
0.1 mi·14 sec·East 2750 Street
7
Continue on IL 78
0.5 mi·50 sec·North Canal Street
8
Arrive at destination
IL 78
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 2-hour and 17-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid peak traffic. Aim to fill your tank before leaving Markham, as the $19 fuel estimate is based on a standard trip without unnecessary detours. Keep a close eye on your navigation when transitioning from Kedzie Avenue to the interstate, as the turn-heavy nature of the route requires quick adjustments. Since there are no formal stops listed, plan your own breaks early if you prefer to stretch your legs mid-trip. A smart strategy is to check local road conditions on IL-78 before you leave to ensure the final leg of your journey is as smooth as possible.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 61.3 miles from Markham, IL, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.7 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 27 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.3 miles or 1h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Annawan, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Markham, 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 Markham, IL
This is one driving day of about 122.6 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Markham, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 120.7 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 121.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Kedzie Avenue
Turn right onto Kedzie Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 West
Navigation decision point
Toward I 80 West
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
121.7 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward IL 78: Prophetstown, Kewanee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 78: Prophetstown, Kewanee
5
121.9 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|IL 78 / East 2750 Street
Turn left onto IL 78 / East 2750 Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.17 one way
$38.33 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.04
$42.09
premium
$4.89
$23.59
$47.19
diesel
$5.61
$27.07
$54.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.8
0
$12.87
$5.88
Efficient EV
30.7
0
$10.73
$4.90
EV Truck/SUV
49
0
$17.16
$7.85
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 15 mph22% 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
Destination
Annawan, IL
Late night
in Annawan on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 15 mph8% 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
65°F
Ottawa, IL
61 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
1 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 17m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will spend time on I-80 West, the route lacks a high highway share, meaning you will frequently transition between different types of roadways. The character of the trip shifts as you move away from urbanized local roads and onto the specific flow of IL-78. You will find that the journey requires more active steering and navigation than a standard highway-heavy sprint. Because there are no designated stops required, the drive maintains a consistent pace throughout the 122.6-mile stretch.
98% 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: 120.7 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Kedzie Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Kedzie Avenue.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Markham, IL to Annawan, IL is easy. At 2h 17m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Kedzie Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 120.7 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (Kedzie Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Annawan, IL before heading back.
