Markham, IL to Andalusia, IL is 168.2 miles and takes about 3h 8m via I 80 and I 280, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Illinois, making it a straightforward drive. With a high percentage of highway driving, you can expect a relatively quick transit between these two points. This route is best suited for those looking for an efficient way to travel between these Illinois locations without extensive detours.
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
84.1 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
I 80
143.5 mi
2h 38m
I 280
16.7 mi
17m
78th Avenue West
4.5 mi
6m
Centennial Expressway
1.5 mi
1m
6th Avenue East
0.6 mi
<1m
Kedzie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
2nd Street East
<0.1 mi
<1m
163rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 143.5 mi, about 2h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Andalusia, 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
144 mi·2 hr 38 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 280
9.6 mi·10 min·I 280
Toward I 74 West, I 280 West: Moline, Rock Island
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 280
7.1 mi·7 min·I 280
Toward I 280 West: Des Moines
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·55 sec
Exit 11AToward IL 92 West: Andalusia
8
Merge onto IL 92
1.5 mi·1 min·Centennial Expressway
9
Turn right onto IL 92
4.5 mi·6 min·78th Avenue West
10
Continue on IL 92
0.6 mi·54 sec·6th Avenue East
11
Turn left onto 2nd Street East
69 ft·3 sec·2nd Street East
12
Arrive at destination
2nd Street East
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 8m duration, departing in the morning allows ample time for the drive and any brief stops you might need. The estimated fuel cost is $26, so plan accordingly. Since this is a single-day trip with no overnight requirement, you have flexibility in your departure time. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 143.5-mile stretch on I 80, as services might be less frequent in certain sections. A good time to leave would be mid-morning to avoid rush hour if you're starting from a more urban area within Markham.
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 84.1 miles from Markham, IL, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 143.5 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 37 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.1 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Andalusia, 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 168.2 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 80 for about 143.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
$1 to $10
Atkinson, Illinois
Hours: 10:30 am–1 pm
+13099367527
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 163.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
6
144.6 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|I 280
Keep slight left at fork onto I 280 toward I 74 West, I 280 West: Moline, Rock Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West, I 280 West: Moline, Rock Isla...
5
154.2 mi into trip|~2h 50m in|I 280
Keep slight left at fork onto I 280 toward I 280 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 280 West: Des Moines
5
161.2 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward IL 92 West: Andalusia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 11A
Toward IL 92 West: Andalusia
4
163.1 mi into trip|~3h 1m in|IL 92 / 78th Avenue West
Turn right onto IL 92 / 78th Avenue West
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.30 one way
$52.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.87
$57.74
premium
$4.89
$32.37
$64.74
diesel
$5.61
$37.14
$74.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.5
0
$17.66
$8.07
Efficient EV
42.1
0
$14.72
$6.73
EV Truck/SUV
67.3
0
$23.55
$10.76
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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 21, 2026
Origin
Markham, IL
Morning
in Markham on Tuesday
Local time
8:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Andalusia, IL
Morning
in Andalusia on Tuesday
Local time
8:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Peru, IL
84 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
12 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 8m 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?
This route is almost entirely highway, with 96% of the drive on major roads. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 143.5 miles on I 80, indicating a long period of uninterrupted highway cruising. The transition to surface roads, like 78th Avenue West, will occur near the end of your trip. Expect a consistent driving experience with frequent exits on the main interstates.
96% 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: 143.5 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 280. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near I 80.
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 168.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.6 miles (I 280): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 154.2 miles (I 280): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Andalusia, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rock Island along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 168.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 143.5 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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.
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 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.6 miles (I 280): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 154.2 miles (I 280): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Andalusia, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
