Traveling from Markham to Atwood covers 146.1 miles through the heart of the Midwest. You should plan for a drive time of approximately 2 hours and 47 minutes, making this an easy candidate for a single-day excursion. Budget roughly $22 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Illinois locations. Since the trip is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you have additional plans at your destination. By utilizing a combination of local roads and major interstates, you can reach your goal efficiently while keeping travel stress to a minimum.
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
73.1 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
124.7 mi
2h 14m
County Road 950 North
8.8 mi
12m
US 45
8 mi
11m
I 80
2.3 mi
3m
Main Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Kedzie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
163rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
North Main Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 124.7 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Atwood, 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
2.3 mi·3 min·I 80
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 151AToward I 57 South: MemphisUse the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Merge onto I 57
125 mi·2 hr 14 min·I 57
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 220Toward US 45: Tolono, Pesotum, Tuscola
8
Turn straight onto US 45
8.0 mi·11 min·US 45
9
Turn right
0.2 mi·30 sec
10
Turn straight onto US 36
8.8 mi·12 min·County Road 950 North
11
Turn right onto Main Street
0.6 mi·59 sec·Main Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
To ensure a smooth journey, try to depart early in the morning to avoid the heaviest traffic patterns associated with the local road segments. You only need to plan for one stop along the way, which provides the perfect opportunity to stretch your legs and refresh your fuel supply. Keep a close eye on your navigation during the initial phase on Kedzie Avenue, as the high number of turns requires careful monitoring of your route. Since this is a straightforward 146.1-mile trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace based on local conditions. Always double-check your vehicle's fuel levels before leaving Markham so you can comfortably manage the $22 estimated cost without needing to hunt for stations in a hurry.
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 73.1 miles from Markham, IL, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124.7 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 32 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.1 miles or 1h 20m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atwood, 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 146.1 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Markham, 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 124.7 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 128.3 — 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
7
3.3 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward I 57 South: Memphis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 151A
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
5
3.6 mi into trip|~5m in|I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
128.3 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 45: Tolono, Pesotum, Tuscola
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 220
Toward US 45: Tolono, Pesotum, Tuscola
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.84 one way
$45.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.08
$50.16
premium
$4.89
$28.12
$56.23
diesel
$5.61
$32.26
$64.51
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: 51.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.8
0
$15.34
$7.01
Efficient EV
36.5
0
$12.78
$5.84
EV Truck/SUV
58.4
0
$20.45
$9.35
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 16, 2026
Origin
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Sunday
Local time
5:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Atwood, IL
Late night
in Atwood on Sunday
Local time
5:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
5 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
2h 47m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 turn-heavy local drive that requires your full attention as you navigate away from the Markham area. You will transition onto I-80 West and I-57 South to make headway, though the route maintains a 0% highway share according to our data profile. Because the longest stretch of uninterrupted driving on Kedzie Avenue is 0 miles, you will find yourself making frequent adjustments rather than settling into a monotonous interstate cruise. The character of the road changes significantly as you move from the initial local segments onto the larger arterial highways. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that demands constant engagement with the road layout.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 124.7 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and County Road 950 North. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Kedzie Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 47m 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: near the start (Kedzie Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Markham, IL and Atwood, IL, road signs point toward Pesotum and Tuscola.
The longest stretch is about 124.7 miles on I 57. 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 3.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Atwood, IL before heading back.
