Traveling from Paxton to Markham covers 89.4 miles through the heart of the Midwest, typically taking about 1 hour and 26 minutes to complete. Because this journey is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $14 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating this route involves primarily local roads like East Pells Street, South Railroad Avenue, and East Patton Street rather than major interstates. It is a practical, direct transit between these two Illinois locations, ideal for travelers who prefer local roads over high-speed highway traffic.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.2 miles from Paxton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
83.3 mi
1h 30m
I 80
2.2 mi
3m
Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Ottawa Road
0.5 mi
<1m
South Railroad Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
South Market Street
0.2 mi
<1m
East Patton Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Pells Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 83.3 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paxton, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on this road
16 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto IL 9
172 ft·8 sec·East Pells Street
3
Turn left onto US 45; IL 9
0.2 mi·19 sec·South Railroad Avenue
4
Turn slight right
155 ft·5 sec
5
Turn right onto IL 9
345 ft·11 sec·East Patton Street
6
Turn left onto IL 9
0.2 mi·16 sec·South Market Street
7
Continue on IL 9
0.5 mi·44 sec·Ottawa Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I-57 North: Kankakee
9
Merge onto I 57
83 mi·1 hr 30 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·50 sec
Exit 345AToward I 80 East: IndianaUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 80
2.2 mi·3 min·I 80
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 154Toward Kedzie AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Kedzie Avenue
14
Turn left onto 163rd Street
64 ft·2 sec·163rd Street
15
Arrive at destination
163rd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1-hour and 26-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Without any scheduled stops, you can easily complete the drive in one go, though you should keep an eye on your fuel gauge before setting out to ensure you stay within your $14 budget. Because the route relies entirely on local roads, watch for changing speed limits and intersection traffic that might impact your arrival time. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider checking your navigation apps for real-time updates on local road construction, as turn-heavy routes can be sensitive to minor detours. Keeping your focus on the frequent turns will make the journey much smoother for both you and your passengers.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.2 miles from Paxton, IL, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.3 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 19 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.2 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Markham, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Paxton, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Paxton, IL
This is one driving day of about 88.4 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Paxton, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 83.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 87.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|IL 9 / East Pells Street
Turn left onto IL 9 / East Pells Street
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 45; IL 9 / South Railroad Avenue
Turn left onto US 45; IL 9 / South Railroad Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
84.6 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Indiana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 345A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
7
87.4 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward Kedzie Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 154
Toward Kedzie Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.82 one way
$27.64 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.17
$30.35
premium
$4.89
$17.01
$34.02
diesel
$5.61
$19.52
$39.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.5
0
$9.28
$4.24
Efficient EV
22.1
0
$7.74
$3.54
EV Truck/SUV
35.4
0
$12.38
$5.66
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Paxton, IL
Late night
in Paxton on Tuesday
Local time
4:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Tuesday
Local time
4:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 mph42% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 13 at 3:02PM CDT until April 13 at 3:30PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 13 at 2:09PM CDT until April 13 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
67°F
Clifton, IL
44 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
34 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
1h 39m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will be navigating surface streets for the entire 89.4-mile duration. The road’s personality is defined by its local character, requiring frequent adjustments as you transition between East Pells Street, South Railroad Avenue, and East Patton Street. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, so stay alert for the constant changes in direction and pace. This is a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the surrounding landscape rather than cruising on autopilot.
97% 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: 83.3 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 80. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IL 9 / East Pells Street.
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 88.4 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (IL 9 / East Pells Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 45; IL 9 / South Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 88.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.3 miles on I 57. 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 (IL 9 / East Pells Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 45; IL 9 / South Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 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 Markham, IL before heading back.
