Markham, IL to Nashville, IL is 279.1 miles and takes about 5h 4m via Kedzie Avenue and I 80 West/I 57 South, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region downstate. Given it's primarily surface roads with a significant highway portion, expect a mix of city approaches and open cruising. It's a manageable single-day trip, perfect if you're looking for a straightforward drive 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
139.6 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
248.1 mi
4h 27m
I 64
22.9 mi
24m
IL 127
3.7 mi
4m
I 80
2.3 mi
3m
Kedzie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
163rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Saint Louis Street
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 248.1 mi, about 4h 27m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~761 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,099
Quietest
2 AM
~115 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.6×
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 Nashville, 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
61 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 64 West: Saint Louis
9
Merge onto I 64
23 mi·24 min·I 64
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward IL 127
11
Turn straight onto IL 127
3.7 mi·4 min·IL 127
12
Turn left onto IL 15
10 ft·0 sec·East Saint Louis Street
13
Arrive at destination
IL 15
Trip Plan
For this single-day drive of just over 5 hours, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, plan it strategically for a break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from highway driving to surface roads; your estimated fuel cost is around $44. Since this isn't an excessively long trip, you have flexibility, but be prepared for potential traffic delays when passing through more populated areas on your way south.
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 139.6 miles from Markham, IL, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 248.1 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 61 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.6 miles or 2h 32m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nashville, 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 279.1 miles and 5h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 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 248.1 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 275.1 — 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
251.7 mi into trip|~4h 33m in
Take the exit toward I 64 West: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 64 West: Saint Louis
4
275.1 mi into trip|~4h 58m in
Take the exit toward IL 127
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IL 127
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.56 one way
$93.11 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$50.60
$101.20
premium
$5.26
$57.79
$115.57
diesel
$6.18
$67.90
$135.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.7
1
$29.31
$13.40
Efficient EV
69.8
0
$24.42
$11.16
EV Truck/SUV
111.6
1
$39.07
$17.86
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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 17, 2026
Origin
Markham, IL
Morning
in Markham on Sunday
Local time
6:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny
W 0 to 5 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:24AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:22AM CDT until October 17 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Nashville, IL
Morning
in Nashville on Sunday
Local time
6:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Patchy Frost then Sunny
N 3 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:24AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:22AM CDT until October 17 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago 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
4 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
5h 4m 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 route is mostly surface roads, meaning you'll spend 0% of your time on highways. The drive begins on Kedzie Avenue, transitioning to I-80 West before merging onto I-57 South. You'll encounter numerous intersections and traffic signals as you navigate through towns and suburban areas. The longest stretch without a significant break in speed will be on the highway segments before you transition back to surface streets.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 248.1 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 64. 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 279.1 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 4m. Total distance: 279.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 248.1 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 36 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.
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 36 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 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Nashville, IL before the return drive.
