If you are planning a trip from Markham to Bremen, you are looking at a 156.8-mile journey through the Illinois Midwest. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 17 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. With a fuel budget of approximately $24, the trip is quite economical for a solo driver or a small group. You will primarily navigate via North 5th Street, IL 3, and IL 255. Because the total duration is manageable, you can easily complete the drive in one day without the need for an overnight stay, though you should plan for at least one stop to break up the travel time.
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
78.4 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North 5th Street
26.4 mi
31m
IL 3
23.3 mi
28m
IL 255
19.5 mi
22m
US Highway 67
18.6 mi
20m
I 255
14.9 mi
17m
New Missouri Avenue
8.8 mi
10m
United States Route 67
8.1 mi
9m
Main Street
8 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
North 5th Street
— 26.4 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Bremen, IL.
1
Start on Markham Road
1.1 mi·4 min·Markham Road
2
Turn right onto US 67; IL 104
19 mi·20 min·US Highway 67
3
Continue on US 67
2.3 mi·2 min·1440 E
4
Continue on US 67
1.4 mi·1 min·North State Street
5
Continue on US 67
2.4 mi·2 min·South State Avenue
6
Continue on US 67
1.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
7
Continue on US 67
8.1 mi·9 min·United States Route 67
8
Continue on US 67
26 mi·31 min·North 5th Street
9
Continue on IL 255
20 mi·22 min·IL 255
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 255
15 mi·17 min·I 255
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 17AToward IL 15 East: BellevilleUse the right lane.
12
Continue on IL 15
8.8 mi·10 min·New Missouri Avenue
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
14
Keep slight right at fork
150 ft·3 sec
15
Turn right onto IL 159
7.2 mi·10 min·South Illinois Street
16
Continue on IL 159
6.1 mi·9 min·State Route 159
17
Continue on IL 156; IL 159
0.2 mi·19 sec·North Main Street
18
Continue on IL 159
0.2 mi·13 sec·N Main St
19
Continue on IL 159
8.0 mi·11 min·Main Street
20
Continue on IL 3
23 mi·28 min·IL 3
21
Turn left onto IL 150
6.1 mi·10 min·State Street
22
Turn slight left onto Chester Road
0.2 mi·34 sec·Chester Road
23
Arrive at destination
Chester Road
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan your departure to avoid peak local traffic, as the mix of highway and local roads can be sensitive to congestion. Since the entire trip takes just over three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your pace or take a longer break at your one planned stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge when transitioning between IL 3 and IL 255, as these segments are where you will cover the most ground. To keep your travel stress-free, aim to complete the drive in one go, but don't hesitate to pull over during that 26.4-mile stretch on North 5th Street if you need a quick reset. Having your $24 fuel budget ready in advance will help you keep your logistics simple.
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 78.4 miles from Markham, IL, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.4 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 34 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.4 miles or 1h 33m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bremen, 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 156.8 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 North 5th Street for about 26.4 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 105.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
1.1 mi into trip|~4m in|US 67; IL 104 / US Highway 67
Turn right onto US 67; IL 104 / US Highway 67
Navigation decision point
7
96.1 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward IL 15 East: Belleville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 17A
Toward IL 15 East: Belleville
3
105.2 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
105.5 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
3
105.5 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|IL 159 / South Illinois Street
Turn right onto IL 159 / South Illinois Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.51 one way
$49.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.92
$53.83
premium
$4.89
$30.17
$60.35
diesel
$5.61
$34.62
$69.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47
0
$16.46
$7.53
Efficient EV
39.2
0
$13.72
$6.27
EV Truck/SUV
62.7
0
$21.95
$10.04
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 14, 2026
Origin
Markham, IL
Afternoon
in Markham on Sunday
Local time
1:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bremen, IL
Afternoon
in Bremen on Sunday
Local time
1:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
34 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
3h 17m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This mixed-drive route balances efficiency with local navigation, as roughly 58% of your time will be spent on highways. You will experience a variety of road types, transitioning from surface streets to more open stretches as you traverse the state. Your longest continuous segment is a 26.4-mile stretch along North 5th Street, which serves as a significant portion of your initial drive. As you move from the initial roads onto IL 3 and IL 255, the pace of the trip shifts, requiring you to remain alert to changing speed limits and traffic patterns. It is a straightforward route that avoids the monotony of a purely interstate-focused itinerary.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.4 mi on North 5th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near US 67; IL 104 / US Highway 67.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 17m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (US 67; IL 104 / US Highway 67): Navigation decision point; at 96.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The longest stretch is about 26.4 miles on North 5th Street. 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 1.1 miles (US 67; IL 104 / US Highway 67): Navigation decision point; at 96.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Bremen, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
