Markham, IL to Avena, IL is 212 miles and takes about 3h 55m via I 57 and I 70, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Illinois. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, this trip is ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll primarily be on major interstates, making for a straightforward and efficient transit between your starting point and destination. It’s a practical route if you're looking to cover ground without extensive planning.
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
106 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
187.1 mi
3h 22m
I 70
15.8 mi
17m
East Cumberland Road
4.1 mi
7m
I 80
2.3 mi
3m
County Road 1750 East
0.6 mi
2m
Interstate Drive
0.6 mi
1m
Kedzie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
163rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 187.1 mi, about 3h 22m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,241 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,621
Quietest
2 AM
~245 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Avena, 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
187 mi·3 hr 22 min·I 57
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
16 mi·17 min·I 70
Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 76Toward St Elmo
9
Turn right onto Interstate Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Interstate Drive
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 40
4.1 mi·7 min·East Cumberland Road
11
Turn right onto County Road 1750 East
0.6 mi·2 min·County Road 1750 East
12
Arrive at destination
County Road 1750 East
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 55-minute drive, leaving in the morning is a good strategy to ensure you have ample daylight. You can comfortably complete this trip in one day, so there's no need to plan for an overnight stay unless you wish to break up the drive. With only one recommended stop, plan your fuel and rest breaks strategically. The longest stretch without a significant change is 187.1 miles on I 57, so ensure you're fueled up before embarking on that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as services can be spread out on interstates.
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 106 miles from Markham, IL, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 187.1 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 47 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Avena, 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 212 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 187.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 207.3 — 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
190.7 mi into trip|~3h 27m in|I 70
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
5
206.5 mi into trip|~3h 44m in
Take the exit toward St Elmo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 76
Toward St Elmo
5
207.3 mi into trip|~3h 46m in|US 40 / East Cumberland Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 40 / East Cumberland Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.31 one way
$62.62 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$34.56
$69.13
premium
$4.72
$39.36
$78.72
diesel
$4.80
$40.03
$80.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.6
0
$22.26
$10.18
Efficient EV
53
0
$18.55
$8.48
EV Truck/SUV
84.8
1
$29.68
$13.57
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Monday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Smoke
NE 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 6:38PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:26PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Avena, IL
Late night
in Avena on Monday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 1 to 7 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 6:38PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:26PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
4 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 55m 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?
This route is almost entirely highway driving, with 97% of the 212 miles on interstates like I 57 and I 70. You'll experience a long stretch of 187.1 miles on I 57 before transitioning to East Cumberland Road. Expect a consistent cruising speed for the majority of the trip, with the highway portion offering minimal interruptions. The shift to surface roads will likely occur closer to your destination.
97% 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: 187.1 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 70. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 55m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 190.7 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The longest stretch is about 187.1 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 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 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 190.7 miles (I 70): 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 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Avena, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
