Markham, IL to Mount Pleasant, IL is 323 miles and takes about 5h 54m via I 57 and I 80, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays entirely within Illinois, traversing the Midwest from its northern reaches down towards the central part of the state. Given its predominantly highway profile, expect a relatively straightforward trip focused on covering distance efficiently. It's a solid option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points without much deviation.
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
161.5 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
252.8 mi
4h 32m
Ken Gray Expressway
61.7 mi
1h 6m
I 80
2.3 mi
3m
765N
1.1 mi
1m
745N
1 mi
1m
750N
1 mi
1m
740N
0.8 mi
1m
Mt Pleasant Road
0.6 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 Mount Pleasant, 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·37 sec
Toward IL 146: Anna, Vienna
10
Turn left onto IL 146
0.2 mi·21 sec·770N
11
Continue on IL 146
1.1 mi·1 min·765N
12
Continue on IL 146
0.3 mi·22 sec·750N
13
Continue on IL 146
1.0 mi·1 min·745N
14
Continue on IL 146
0.8 mi·1 min·740N
15
Continue on IL 146
0.7 mi·1 min·750N
16
Turn left onto Mt Pleasant Road
0.6 mi·2 min·Mt Pleasant Road
17
Arrive at destination
Mt Pleasant Road
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under 6 hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to arrive before evening. You'll have one planned stop, but given the manageable length, you can be flexible with breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the long 252.8-mile stretch on I 57, and plan your refueling accordingly. The $51 fuel estimate should help you budget for this leg.
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 161.5 miles from Markham, IL, or about 2h 56m 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 71 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.5 miles or 2h 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 4h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Pleasant, 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 323 miles and 5h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 318 — 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
4
256.4 mi into trip|~4h 38m in|I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.88 one way
$107.76 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$58.56
$117.12
premium
$5.26
$66.88
$133.75
diesel
$6.18
$78.58
$157.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.9
1
$33.92
$15.50
Efficient EV
80.8
0
$28.26
$12.92
EV Truck/SUV
129.2
1
$45.22
$20.67
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 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 Tuesday
Local time
5:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Clear
SSW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Mount Pleasant, IL
Late night
in Mount Pleasant on Tuesday
Local time
5:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
77°F
Shelbyville, IL
162 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
2 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
5h 54m 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 almost entirely on highways, with 98% of the 323 miles utilizing major interstates. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I 57, including a significant stretch of 252.8 miles. Expect a consistent cruising experience with fewer surface road transitions until the very end of your trip. The high percentage of highway suggests frequent exit ramps and potentially faster travel speeds for most of the route.
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 10 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 323 miles you will encounter 10 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 5h 54m. Total distance: 323 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Mount Pleasant, IL before the return drive.
