Markham, IL to Pleasant Grove, IL is 321.1 miles and takes about 5h 55m via I 57 and IL 37, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Illinois. Given its highway-heavy profile and manageable duration, it’s a straightforward route for a single-day drive. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates and expressways, making it a practical option when you need to cover ground efficiently between these two points.
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
160.5 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
252.8 mi
4h 32m
Ken Gray Expressway
46.8 mi
50m
IL 37
13.5 mi
19m
West Vine Street
3.3 mi
4m
I 80
2.3 mi
3m
IL 148
0.7 mi
<1m
Kedzie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Pleasant Grove Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
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 Pleasant Grove, 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
47 mi·50 min·Ken Gray Expressway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Exit 45Toward IL 148
10
Turn right onto IL 148
0.7 mi·59 sec·IL 148
11
Continue on IL 37
14 mi·19 min·IL 37
12
Turn slight right
117 ft·4 sec
13
Turn straight onto IL 146
3.3 mi·4 min·West Vine Street
14
Turn right onto Pleasant Grove Road
383 ft·16 sec·Pleasant Grove Road
15
Arrive at destination
Pleasant Grove Road
Trip Plan
For this 5h 55m drive, departing in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. Since it's a single-day trip, you can tackle the entire 321.1 miles at once. The longest stretch is 252.8 miles on I 57, so plan a break before you get too tired. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the interstate sections, and utilize the estimated $51 fuel budget. Consider stopping for a meal or rest about halfway through your drive to break up the time spent on the road.
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 160.5 miles from Markham, IL, or about 2h 55m 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 160.5 miles or 2h 55m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pleasant Grove, 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 321.1 miles and 5h 55m.
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 303.2 — 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
303.2 mi into trip|~5h 28m in
Take the exit toward IL 148
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 45
Toward IL 148
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.78 one way
$99.57 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$54.59
$109.17
premium
$4.93
$62.30
$124.60
diesel
$5.60
$70.78
$141.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.3
1
$33.72
$15.41
Efficient EV
80.3
0
$28.10
$12.84
EV Truck/SUV
128.4
1
$44.95
$20.55
Gas CO2
112 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 Aug 24, 2026
Origin
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Wednesday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
N 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 24 at 12:54PM CDT until August 26 at 4:51PM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 24 at 12:54PM CDT until August 28 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Pleasant Grove, IL
Late night
in Pleasant Grove on Wednesday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
NNE 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 24 at 12:54PM CDT until August 26 at 4:51PM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 24 at 12:54PM CDT until August 28 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
91°F
Brownstown, IL
161 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
7 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 55m 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 overwhelmingly on highways, with 98% of the route utilizing them. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 252.8 miles on I 57, which means you can expect frequent exits and potential for merging traffic as you navigate this major interstate. The transition to surface roads, specifically IL 37, will occur for the final portion of your trip, offering a change from the high-speed interstate cruising.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 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 321.1 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 55m. Total distance: 321.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 55m 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 Pleasant Grove, IL before the return drive.
