Markham to Germantown is 269 miles and takes about 5 hours via I 57, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mostly highway experience, making it a straightforward drive if you're looking for efficiency. With a recommended single day for travel, it's a good option for a quick trip between these two points. Plan for this drive to be primarily on interstate highways, offering a consistent pace for most of the way.
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
134.5 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
228 mi
4h 5m
West Missouri Avenue
14.1 mi
16m
US 50
8 mi
9m
North Germantown Road
3.1 mi
5m
Poplar
2.7 mi
3m
East Poplar Street
2.7 mi
3m
I 80
2.3 mi
3m
West Main Street
2.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 228 mi, about 4h 5m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~741 veh/hr typical
· worst 863
Quietest
3 AM
~100 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Germantown, 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
41 mi·43 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
9
Keep slight right at fork
83 ft·2 sec
Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
10
Turn right onto US 50
2.2 mi·2 min·West Main Street
11
Continue on US 50
2.7 mi·3 min·East Poplar Street
12
Continue on US 50
2.7 mi·3 min·Poplar
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; US 51
443 ft·5 sec·North Mine Street
14
Continue on US 50; US 51
0.2 mi·16 sec·N Mine St
15
Turn right onto US 50
14 mi·16 min·West Missouri Avenue
16
Turn right onto US 50; IL 127
1.0 mi·1 min·12th Street
17
Turn left onto US 50
8.0 mi·9 min·US 50
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
19
Turn left onto Jamestown Road
0.3 mi·33 sec·Jamestown Road
20
Continue on North Walnut Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·North Walnut Street
21
Turn slight right
141 ft·6 sec
22
Turn slight right onto Old Route 50 West
0.5 mi·59 sec·Old Route 50 West
23
Turn left onto North Germantown Road
3.1 mi·5 min·North Germantown Road
24
Continue on Hanover Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Hanover Street
25
Turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi·46 sec·Main Street
26
Turn left onto Munster Street
342 ft·15 sec·Munster Street
27
Arrive at destination
Munster Street
Trip Plan
Given the roughly 5-hour drive time, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach your destination before evening. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 228 miles on I 57, so consider fueling up before you embark on this segment. While no specific stops are mandated by the route data, planning for one break midway can help break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the end of the interstate portion.
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 134.5 miles from Markham, IL, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 228 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 59 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.5 miles or 2h 27m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Germantown, 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 268.9 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 228 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 232 — 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
231.6 mi into trip|~4h 11m in
Take the exit toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
6
232 mi into trip|~4h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.71 one way
$79.42 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$43.84
$87.68
premium
$4.72
$49.93
$99.85
diesel
$4.80
$50.77
$101.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.7
0
$28.23
$12.91
Efficient EV
67.2
0
$23.53
$10.76
EV Truck/SUV
107.6
1
$37.65
$17.21
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Afternoon
in Markham on Sunday
Local time
12:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 5 to 10 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:11PM CDT until July 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:11PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
Germantown, IL
Afternoon
in Germantown on Sunday
Local time
12:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
SW 2 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:11PM CDT until July 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:11PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln 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
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
4h 59m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 drive is 89% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch on the interstate is 228 miles on I 57. You'll transition from highway to surface roads for the final portion of the trip. Expect a consistent cruising speed for the majority of the miles.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 228 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and West Missouri Avenue. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 268.9 miles you will encounter 18 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
734 ft431 ft
Total Climb
218 ft
Total Descent
407 ft
Highest Point
734 ft
~96 mi in
Elevation Range
303 ft
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 Germantown, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Sandoval along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 59m. Total distance: 268.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 228 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 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 route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Germantown, 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 31 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.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Germantown, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
