Markham, IL to Dayton, IL is 149.3 miles and takes about 2h 46m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, starting and ending in Illinois. It's a straightforward trip that’s almost entirely on the highway, making it a quick and efficient option. You'll spend most of your time on I 80, so expect a consistent driving experience. Plan for a single day to complete this journey comfortably.
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
74.7 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
147.1 mi
2h 42m
Cleveland Road
0.8 mi
1m
Kedzie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Dayton Corner B Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
163rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 147.1 mi, about 2h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Dayton, 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 right at fork onto I 80
3.5 mi·3 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: Davenport
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward Colona
7
Turn left onto Cleveland Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Cleveland Road
8
Turn right onto Dayton Corner B Street
115 ft·5 sec·Dayton Corner B Street
9
Arrive at destination
Dayton Corner B Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 46 minutes, this route is easily manageable as a single-day trip. Consider departing in the morning to allow for any unexpected delays. With a fuel cost estimated at $22, it's a budget-friendly drive. Since the longest stretch on I 80 covers nearly the entire distance, plan your fuel stops before you get too far onto the interstate, as services might be more spaced out compared to local roads. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when you're over 140 miles into your drive.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.7 miles from Markham, IL, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 147.1 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 33 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.7 miles or 1h 23m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dayton, 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 149.3 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 147.1 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 148.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Kedzie Avenue
Turn right onto Kedzie Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 West
Navigation decision point
Toward I 80 West
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.
5
144.6 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 West: Davenport
4
148.1 mi into trip|~2h 44m in
Take the exit toward Colona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Colona
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.34 one way
$46.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.63
$51.26
premium
$4.89
$28.73
$57.46
diesel
$5.61
$32.96
$65.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.2 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
44.8
0
$15.68
$7.17
Efficient EV
37.3
0
$13.06
$5.97
EV Truck/SUV
59.7
0
$20.90
$9.56
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dayton, IL
Late night
in Dayton on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
17 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
2h 46m 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with 98% of the route utilizing major roads like I 80. You'll encounter a predominantly interstate driving experience for the majority of the 149.3 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 147.1 miles on I 80, meaning you can maintain a steady pace for a substantial portion of the journey. While Cleveland Road and Kedzie Avenue offer brief departures from the interstate, the character remains one of efficient travel.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 147.1 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Cleveland Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Kedzie Avenue.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Markham, IL to Dayton, IL is easy. At 2h 46m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Kedzie Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 147.1 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 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: near the start (Kedzie Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dayton, IL before heading back.
