Markham, IL to Seneca, IL is 56.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 9 minutes via I 80 and US 6, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip entirely within Illinois, moving you from one part of the Midwest to another. Given its short length and mostly highway profile, it's ideal for a quick getaway or a simple commute. You’ll be covering less than an hour of driving time, so you can easily start your day and still have plenty of time for activities at your destination.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
48.9 mi
57m
US 6
5.1 mi
7m
North Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Seneca Road
0.6 mi
1m
Kedzie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
163rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
West Union Street
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 48.9 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Seneca, 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
49 mi·57 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward SenecaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on Seneca Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Seneca Road
7
Continue on US 6
5.1 mi·7 min·US 6
8
Turn left onto IL 170
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
9
Turn right onto West Union Street
6 ft·0 sec·West Union Street
10
Arrive at destination
West Union Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 28.3 miles from Markham, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 56.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Kedzie Avenue
Turn right onto Kedzie Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 West
Navigation decision point
Toward I 80 West
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
50 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the exit toward Seneca
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Seneca
4
56.7 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|West Union Street
Turn right onto West Union Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.79 one way
$17.58 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg20 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$9.64
$19.28
premium
$4.93
$11.00
$22.00
diesel
$5.60
$12.50
$25.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17
0
$5.95
$2.72
Efficient EV
14.2
0
$4.96
$2.27
EV Truck/SUV
22.7
0
$7.94
$3.63
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 23, 2026
Origin
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Sunday
Local time
1:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
NNW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 23 at 1:17PM CDT until August 29 at 12:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 23 at 11:49AM EDT until August 26 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Seneca, IL
Late night
in Seneca on Sunday
Local time
1:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 23 at 1:17PM CDT until August 29 at 12:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 23 at 11:49AM EDT until August 26 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
64°F
Rockdale, IL
28 mi in
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
1h 9m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 95% of the trip on major roads like I 80. You'll experience a long stretch of 48.9 miles on I 80 before transitioning to US 6 and then North Main Street. Expect a high volume of highway miles, which means relatively consistent speeds and fewer intersections for most of the journey. The shift to surface streets will likely occur closer to your destination in Seneca.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.9 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 6. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Kedzie Avenue.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Markham, IL to Seneca, IL is easy. At 1h 9m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Kedzie Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 48.9 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Kedzie Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Seneca, IL before heading back.
