Shields, IL to Markham, IL is 244.1 miles and takes about 5h 3m via I 57, County Road 925 E, and US-45, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest and entirely within Illinois, offering a straightforward transit between two points. With most of the route on highways, it's a direct path suited for efficiency. If you're looking for a quick trip with minimal fuss, this route offers a practical way to get where you're going. Consider this if your priority is reaching your destination without extensive detours.
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
122.1 miles from Shields, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
182.1 mi
3h 16m
County Road 925 E
16.2 mi
24m
United States Route 45
14.9 mi
22m
US 50
7.6 mi
8m
County Highway 13
5.7 mi
13m
County Road 250E
4.8 mi
11m
I 80
2.2 mi
3m
South 3rd Street
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 182.1 mi, about 3h 16m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~783 veh/hr typical
Quietest
3 AM
~77 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 5 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 Shields, IL and Markham, IL.
Toward I 57 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.5 mi·50 sec
Exit 345AToward I 80 East: IndianaUse the slight right lane.
27
Merge onto I 80
2.2 mi·3 min·I 80
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 154Toward Kedzie AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Kedzie Avenue
30
Turn left onto 163rd Street
64 ft·2 sec·163rd Street
31
Arrive at destination
163rd Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5h 3m drive, aim for an early morning departure to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you approach Markham. The $37 fuel estimate suggests a relatively efficient trip, so you likely won't need to worry excessively about fuel stops. Given the route's length and the longest stretch of 182.1 miles on I 57, plan for one main stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; however, be aware that the final leg on County Road 925 E and US-45 might have more local traffic and frequent intersections.
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 122.1 miles from Shields, IL, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.1 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 54 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.1 miles or 2h 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 4h 14m
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 Shields, 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 Shields, IL
This is one driving day of about 244.1 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Shields, 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 182.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Early stretch
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
$20 to $30
Effingham, Illinois
Hours: 6–10 am
+12175407716
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 243.1 — 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|2350 North
Turn right onto 2350 North
Navigation decision point
5
15.9 mi into trip|~38m in|Front Street
Turn right onto Front Street
Navigation decision point
7
59.1 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
240.3 mi into trip|~4h 57m 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
243.1 mi into trip|~5h 1m 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
$37.24 one way
$74.48 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$41.02
$82.03
premium
$4.81
$46.19
$92.37
diesel
$5.40
$51.92
$103.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.2
0
$25.63
$11.72
Efficient EV
61
0
$21.36
$9.76
EV Truck/SUV
97.6
1
$34.17
$15.62
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 26, 2026
Origin
Shields, IL
Morning
in Shields on Sunday
Local time
11:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Markham, IL
Morning
in Markham on Sunday
Local time
11:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
E 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:59AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:55AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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
19 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 3m 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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 244.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is largely highway cruising, with 87% of the 244.1 miles on major roads like I 57. You'll experience a long stretch of 182.1 miles on I 57 before transitioning to surface roads. The majority of your time will be spent on high-speed interstates, which means you can expect a consistent pace. Be prepared for the shift when you leave I 57 and transition to County Road 925 E and US-45, where the driving environment will change.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 182.1 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and County Road 925 E. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 2350 North.
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 244.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 (2350 North): Navigation decision point; at 15.9 miles (Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 59.1 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Shields, IL to Markham, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Terre Haute along the way.
Terre Haute
57.8 mi in|~1h 40m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 3m. Total distance: 244.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 182.1 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (2350 North): Navigation decision point; at 15.9 miles (Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 59.1 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Markham, IL before the return drive.
