Markham, IL to Cobden, IL is 329.2 miles and takes about 6h 4m via I 57, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, entirely within Illinois, making it a straightforward drive. With 98% of the route on highways, expect a mostly efficient transit. This is a solid option if you need to get from the Chicago area down to Southern Illinois efficiently, without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
164.6 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
252.8 mi
4h 32m
Ken Gray Expressway
61.7 mi
1h 6m
East Vienna Street
4.6 mi
6m
US 51
4.4 mi
5m
I 80
2.3 mi
3m
Wing Hill Road
1.1 mi
4m
Kedzie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
East Ash Street
0.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 252.8 mi, about 4h 32m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,073 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,461
Quietest
2 AM
~180 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 99 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 Cobden, 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 left at fork onto I 57
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
62 mi·1 hr 6 min·Ken Gray Expressway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward IL 146: Anna, Vienna
10
Turn right onto IL 146
388 ft·6 sec·770N
11
Continue on IL 146
4.6 mi·6 min·East Vienna Street
12
Turn right onto US 51
4.4 mi·5 min·US 51
13
Turn left onto Wing Hill Road
1.1 mi·4 min·Wing Hill Road
14
Continue on East Ash Street
0.5 mi·2 min·East Ash Street
15
Turn left onto South Jefferson Road
413 ft·20 sec·South Jefferson Road
16
Turn right onto East Maple
392 ft·17 sec·East Maple
17
Arrive at destination
East Maple
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Markham to avoid any potential traffic. Since it's a single-day trip, you can be flexible with stops, but the longest stretch on I 57 is over 250 miles, so plan for a break around that mark. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the highway segments, as services can be spaced out. Your estimated fuel cost is around $52, so budget accordingly and ensure you have enough gas before heading into the more rural sections of Southern Illinois.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 164.6 miles from Markham, IL, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 252.8 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 72 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.6 miles or 2h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cobden, 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 329.2 miles and 6h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 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 252.8 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 318.3 — 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 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
5
318 mi into trip|~5h 44m in
Take the exit toward IL 146: Anna, Vienna
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 146: Anna, Vienna
5
318.3 mi into trip|~5h 45m in|IL 146 / 770N
Turn right onto IL 146 / 770N
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.91 one way
$109.83 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$59.68
$119.37
premium
$5.26
$68.16
$136.32
diesel
$6.18
$80.08
$160.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
EV Charging Along Route
15 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
ChargePoint Charging Station
Mattoon, Illinois
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Effingham, Illinois
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Effingham, Illinois
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Champaign, Illinois
Tesla
1 DCFC
Electrify America Charging Station
Effingham, Illinois
Electrify America
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Mattoon, Illinois
Blink
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Savoy, Illinois
EV Connect
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Champaign, Illinois
Blink
1 DCFC
Blink: 4
ChargePoint: 3
Tesla: 3
Other: 2
Electrify America: 1
EV Connect: 1
Tesla Destination: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.8
1
$34.57
$15.80
Efficient EV
82.3
0
$28.81
$13.17
EV Truck/SUV
131.7
1
$46.09
$21.07
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Monday
Local time
5:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Clear
SSW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Cobden, IL
Late night
in Cobden on Monday
Local time
5:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
50°F
Brownstown, IL
165 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
1 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
6h 4m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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?
You'll be on highways for 98% of this 329.2-mile trip, primarily on I 57. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 252.8 miles, so settle in for some consistent cruising. You'll transition to surface roads like East Vienna Street near the end of your drive. Given the highway share, expect a relatively smooth flow with fewer interruptions until you reach your final destination.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 252.8 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. 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 329.2 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 190.7 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 4m. Total distance: 329.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 4m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 252.8 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 45 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cobden, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 45 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cobden, IL before the return drive.
