The drive from Markham, IL to Tuscola, IL covers 138.6 miles and takes about 2h 35m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, I 80, County Road 950 N for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 133.1 miles on I 57.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.49 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.3 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
133.1 mi
2h 23m
I 80
2.3 mi
3m
County Road 950 N
0.6 mi
1m
Kedzie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
South Niles Avenue
0.5 mi
2m
East Southline Road
0.2 mi
<1m
163rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 133.1 mi, about 2h 23m
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 Tuscola, 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
133 mi·2 hr 23 min·I 57
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 212Toward US 36: Tuscola, Newman
8
Turn straight onto US 36
0.6 mi·1 min·County Road 950 N
9
Continue on US 36
0.2 mi·36 sec·East Southline Road
10
Turn right onto South Niles Avenue
0.5 mi·2 min·South Niles Avenue
11
Turn left
94 ft·7 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.3 miles from Markham, IL, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133.1 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 30 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.3 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tuscola, 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 138.6 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 133.1 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 138.5 — 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
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.
6
136.7 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward US 36: Tuscola, Newman
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 212
Toward US 36: Tuscola, Newman
4
138.5 mi into trip|~2h 34m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.49 one way
$42.98 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$23.56
$47.12
premium
$4.93
$26.89
$53.78
diesel
$5.60
$30.55
$61.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.6
0
$14.55
$6.65
Efficient EV
34.7
0
$12.13
$5.54
EV Truck/SUV
55.4
0
$19.40
$8.87
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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 Sep 1, 2026
Origin
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Friday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 3:22AM CDT until September 4 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 3:22AM CDT until September 4 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Tuscola, IL
Late night
in Tuscola on Friday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Clear
SW 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 3:22AM CDT until September 4 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 3:22AM CDT until September 4 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
69°F
Clifton, IL
69 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
3 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
2h 35m 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?
138.6 mi in 2h 35m, mostly highway — 133.1 mi of that is on I 57.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 133.1 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 80. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Kedzie Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 35m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Kedzie Avenue): Navigation decision point; 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.
The longest stretch is about 133.1 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (Kedzie Avenue): Navigation decision point; 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tuscola, IL before heading back.
