Markham, IL to Marion, IL is 239.3 miles and takes about 4h 57m via I 57, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route keeps you within Illinois, moving south from the Midwest's more populated northern reaches into its southern region. The majority of this drive is on the interstate, making it a straightforward trip for those prioritizing getting from point A to point B efficiently. Plan for a single day to cover the distance, as it's well within a comfortable driving time.
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
119.6 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
155.1 mi
2h 47m
North 1250th Street
13.3 mi
19m
County Road 1150
12.3 mi
16m
South Van Buren Street
11 mi
15m
Route 130
10 mi
14m
County Road 1100 East
6.7 mi
9m
Illinois Route 16
6 mi
8m
North Haughton Highway
4.4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 155.1 mi, about 2h 47m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~928 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,278
Quietest
2 AM
~107 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.7×
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 Marion, 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
155 mi·2 hr 47 min·I 57
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 190AToward IL 16 East: Charleston
8
Turn straight onto IL 16
0.7 mi·1 min·Charleston Avenue East
9
Continue on IL 16
6.0 mi·8 min·Illinois Route 16
10
Continue on IL 16
1.8 mi·2 min·West Lincoln Avenue
11
Turn right onto IL 130
1.6 mi·2 min·18th Street
12
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi·1 min·Illinois Route 130
13
Continue on IL 130
10.0 mi·14 min·Route 130
14
Continue on IL 130
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 1825 East
15
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi·1 min·County Road 1775 E
16
Continue on IL 130
0.4 mi·32 sec·North Haughton Highway
17
Continue on IL 130
1.3 mi·1 min·1700E
18
Continue on IL 130
4.0 mi·5 min·North Haughton Highway
19
Continue on IL 130
2.1 mi·3 min·County Road 1700E
20
Continue on IL 130
13 mi·19 min·North 1250th Street
21
Turn left onto IL 130
11 mi·15 min·South Van Buren Street
22
Continue on IL 130
6.7 mi·9 min·County Road 1100 East
23
Continue on IL 130
2.5 mi·4 min·North West Street
24
Continue on IL 130
12 mi·16 min·County Road 1150
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn right onto 2050N
2.9 mi·11 min·2050N
26
Arrive at destination
2050N
Trip Plan
Given the under 5-hour drive time, this is easily a same-day trip. To make the most of it, consider an early morning departure from Markham to avoid potential congestion. The longest continuous stretch on I 57 is over 155 miles, so plan for a fuel stop before or during that segment if your tank is low. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, you have flexibility to pause as needed for rest or a quick meal. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the end of the interstate portion, as services might be more spaced out on the county roads.
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 119.6 miles from Markham, IL, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 155.1 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 53 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.6 miles or 2h 11m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marion, 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 239.3 miles and 4h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 155.1 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 236.4 — 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
158.8 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Take the exit toward IL 16 East: Charleston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 190A
Toward IL 16 East: Charleston
4
167.6 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|IL 130 / 18th Street
Turn right onto IL 130 / 18th Street
Navigation decision point
4
236.4 mi into trip|~4h 46m in|2050N
Turn right onto 2050N
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.92 one way
$79.84 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$43.38
$86.77
premium
$5.26
$49.55
$99.09
diesel
$6.18
$58.21
$116.43
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: 83.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.8
0
$25.13
$11.49
Efficient EV
59.8
0
$20.94
$9.57
EV Truck/SUV
95.7
1
$33.50
$15.32
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Markham, IL
Morning
in Markham on Monday
Local time
7:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
SSW 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Marion, IL
Morning
in Marion on Monday
Local time
7:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
SE 1 to 6 mph0% chanceLive 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
6 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
4h 57m 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 mostly highway, with 73% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll encounter a substantial stretch of 155.1 miles on I 57, offering a consistent cruising experience. After this long interstate segment, you'll transition to surface roads like North 1250th Street and County Road 1150 for the remainder of your trip. Expect a noticeable shift from high-speed interstate travel to more local road conditions as you get closer to Marion.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 155.1 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and North 1250th Street. 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 4h 57m 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 158.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Marion is a city in Southern Illinois. Named in honor of Francis Marion and settled in 1839, Marion isn't exactly replete with places to see but has forests and recreational areas nearby.
Top landmarks
•Marion Veterans Affairs Medical Center — hospital in Marion, Illinois, United States
•Williamson County Jail — former county jail in Marion, Illinois
The longest stretch is about 155.1 miles on I 57. 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: 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 158.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Marion, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
