Reading, IL to Markham, IL is 85.9 miles and takes about 1h 49m via I 55 and I 80, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. You'll mainly be on major interstates, making this a straightforward and efficient journey. Given the relatively short distance and duration, it's a perfect option for a single-day drive. Plan for a smooth ride with minimal complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.9 miles from Reading, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
32.5 mi
35m
I 80
27.6 mi
34m
East 3200 North Road
10.1 mi
15m
East 3000 N Road
5.7 mi
8m
East 3000 North Road
4.4 mi
6m
E 3200 N Road
3 mi
4m
Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Co Rd 379 E Rd
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 32.5 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on Co Rd 379 E Rd
0.3 mi·58 sec·Co Rd 379 E Rd
2
Turn straight onto North 379 E Road
0.2 mi·50 sec·North 379 E Road
3
Turn left onto IL 17
2.6 mi·3 min·East 3000 North Road
4
Continue on IL 17
5.7 mi·8 min·East 3000 N Road
5
Continue on IL 17
1.8 mi·2 min·East 3000 North Road
6
Turn right onto IL 17
3.0 mi·4 min·E 3200 N Road
7
Continue on IL 17
10 mi·15 min·East 3200 North Road
8
Turn left
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 55 North: Joliet
9
Merge onto I 55
32 mi·35 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 250AToward I 80 East: IndianaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 80
28 mi·34 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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 drive is under two hours and can be completed in a single day, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight, and you won't need to worry about splitting the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $13 fuel cost is an estimate, and it's always wise to top off before heading out. While there are no designated stops mentioned, major interstates typically offer ample rest areas and service plazas if needed.
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 42.9 miles from Reading, IL, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.5 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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.9 miles or 57m 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 33m
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 Reading, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Reading, IL
This is one driving day of about 85.9 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Reading, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 32.5 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 0.4 and 84.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|IL 17 / East 3000 North Road
Turn left onto IL 17 / East 3000 North Road
Navigation decision point
5
24 mi into trip|~37m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
56.5 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Indiana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 250A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
5
57.3 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
84.9 mi into trip|~1h 47m 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
$13.43 one way
$26.86 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.75
$29.49
premium
$4.89
$16.53
$33.06
diesel
$5.61
$18.97
$37.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.8
0
$9.02
$4.12
Efficient EV
21.5
0
$7.52
$3.44
EV Truck/SUV
34.4
0
$12.03
$5.50
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Reading, IL
Late night
in Reading on Sunday
Local time
2:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Sunday
Local time
2:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
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 49m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 85.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 70% of the drive utilizing major interstates like I 55 and I 80. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 32.5 miles on I 55, offering a consistent pace. Expect a driving experience characterized by efficiency rather than varied scenery. The transition between these main roads is designed for smooth flow, keeping your travel time minimized. It's a driving profile built for getting you from point A to point B without much fuss.
70% 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: 32.5 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 80. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near IL 17 / East 3000 North Road.
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 85.9 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.4 miles (IL 17 / East 3000 North Road): Navigation decision point; at 24 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 85.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.5 miles on I 55. 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: at 0.4 miles (IL 17 / East 3000 North Road): Navigation decision point; at 24 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Markham, IL before heading back.
