Traveling from Markham to Bethany covers 174.1 miles across the Illinois landscape. You can expect a drive time of approximately 3 hours and 21 minutes, making this a manageable one-day trip. With a fuel budget of roughly $26, it is a budget-friendly way to cross the Midwest. You will primarily utilize I-57 and I-72 to navigate between these two points. Since the entire trip is contained within Illinois, the regional culture remains consistent throughout your journey. Whether you are heading out for a quick weekend getaway or a short-term visit, this route offers a straightforward path that avoids the need for an overnight stay.
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
87.1 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
109.4 mi
1h 58m
I 72
36.6 mi
39m
North State Route 121
12.8 mi
17m
IL 48
5.3 mi
8m
US 36
3.1 mi
4m
I 80
2.3 mi
3m
South Mount Zion Road
2.1 mi
3m
Kedzie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 109.4 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Bethany, 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
109 mi·1 hr 58 min·I 57
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 235BToward I 72 West: Decatur
8
Merge onto I 72
37 mi·39 min·I 72
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 144Toward IL 48: Oreana, Decatur
10
Turn left onto IL 48
5.3 mi·8 min·IL 48
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 36; IL 121
3.1 mi·4 min·US 36; IL 121
12
Continue on IL 121
2.1 mi·3 min·South Mount Zion Road
13
Continue on IL 121
13 mi·17 min·North State Route 121
14
Turn right onto North Washington Street
0.3 mi·1 min·North Washington Street
15
Turn left onto West Main Street
138 ft·11 sec·West Main Street
16
Turn left onto North Lincoln Street
56 ft·4 sec·North Lincoln Street
17
Turn right
101 ft·7 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this drive is easily completed in a single session, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Aim to hit the road early to avoid potential congestion on the main interstate arteries. Since the trip includes only one planned stop, use that break strategically to stretch your legs and refuel before finishing the final leg of the drive. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will stay around $26, so budgeting is simple. For the smoothest experience, prioritize your main transition points between I-57, I-72, and North State Route 121 to ensure you stay on track throughout the 3-hour journey.
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 87.1 miles from Markham, IL, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.4 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 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.1 miles or 1h 36m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethany, 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 174.1 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 109.4 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 3.3 and 174.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
5
113 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 72 West: Decatur
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 235B
Toward I 72 West: Decatur
6
150.1 mi into trip|~2h 44m in
Take the exit toward IL 48: Oreana, Decatur
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 144
Toward IL 48: Oreana, Decatur
5
174.1 mi into trip|~3h 21m in|North Lincoln Street
Turn left onto North Lincoln Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.22 one way
$54.44 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.88
$59.77
premium
$4.89
$33.50
$67.01
diesel
$5.61
$38.44
$76.88
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: 60.9 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
52.2
0
$18.28
$8.36
Efficient EV
43.5
0
$15.23
$6.96
EV Truck/SUV
69.6
0
$24.37
$11.14
Gas CO2
61 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 20, 2026
Origin
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bethany, IL
Late night
in Bethany on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
13 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 21m 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 trip defined by efficiency, as 97% of your travel takes place on major highways. You will spend the bulk of your time on the interstate, including a significant 109.4-mile stretch along I-57. This makes for a predictable, highway-focused drive that favors steady speeds over winding backroads. Once you transition off the interstates and onto North State Route 121, the pace shifts slightly as you approach your destination. The experience is largely a functional interstate grind, ideal for those who prefer straightforward navigation and consistent road conditions.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.4 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 72. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in.
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 174.1 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: at 3.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 113 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
799 ft620 ft
Total Climb
361 ft
Total Descent
323 ft
Highest Point
799 ft
~87.1 mi in
Elevation Range
179 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Markham, IL to Bethany, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Decatur along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 21m. Total distance: 174.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109.4 miles on I 57. 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: at 3.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 113 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Bethany, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
