Sidney, IL to Markham, IL is 130.5 miles and takes about 2h 32m via I 57 and I 74, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, offering a straightforward path through Illinois. Given its relatively short duration, this trip is ideal for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. The route is primarily highway, making it an efficient way to cover the distance. Plan for a quick journey with minimal fuss.
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
65.2 miles from Sidney, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
103.9 mi
1h 52m
I 74
10.3 mi
11m
County Road 12
5.8 mi
10m
North Market Street
3 mi
4m
I 80
2.2 mi
3m
South Main Street
0.8 mi
1m
Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
East Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 103.9 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sidney, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on South David Street
336 ft·16 sec·South David Street
2
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Main Street
3
Turn left onto CR 2125E
2.6 mi·4 min·County Road 12
4
Keep slight left at fork onto County Road 12
3.2 mi·5 min·County Road 12
5
Continue on Water Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Water Street
6
Keep slight right at fork onto South Elm Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·South Elm Street
7
Turn right onto West Sherman Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·West Sherman Street
8
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 74 West: Champaign
10
Merge onto I 74
10 mi·11 min·I 74
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 182Toward Neil Street
12
Keep slight right at fork onto North Neil Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·North Neil Street
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right onto East Marketview Drive
0.3 mi·37 sec·East Marketview Drive
14
At end of road, turn left onto North Market Street
3.0 mi·4 min·North Market Street
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I-57 North: Kankakee
16
Merge onto I 57
104 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·50 sec
Exit 345AToward I 80 East: IndianaUse the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto I 80
2.2 mi·3 min·I 80
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 154Toward Kedzie AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Kedzie Avenue
21
Turn left onto 163rd Street
64 ft·2 sec·163rd Street
22
Arrive at destination
163rd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 2.5-hour drive, you can easily complete it in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Leaving in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight hours. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $20, you won't need extensive planning for amenities. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 103.9-mile stretch on I 57, as services can be spaced out on longer interstate segments in this region.
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 65.2 miles from Sidney, IL, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.9 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 29 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.2 miles or 1h 19m 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 5m
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 Sidney, 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 Sidney, IL
This is one driving day of about 130.5 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Sidney, 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 103.9 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.2 and 129.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.2 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the ramp toward I 74 West: Champaign
Navigation decision point
Toward I 74 West: Champaign
5
18.8 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the exit toward Neil Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 182
Toward Neil Street
7
19.1 mi into trip|~27m in|North Neil Street
Keep slight right at fork onto North Neil Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
126.7 mi into trip|~2h 26m 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
129.4 mi into trip|~2h 30m 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
$20.40 one way
$40.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.40
$44.80
premium
$4.89
$25.11
$50.23
diesel
$5.61
$28.81
$57.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.2
0
$13.70
$6.26
Efficient EV
32.6
0
$11.42
$5.22
EV Truck/SUV
52.2
0
$18.27
$8.35
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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 16, 2026
Origin
Sidney, IL
Evening
in Sidney on Sunday
Local time
5:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Markham, IL
Evening
in Markham on Sunday
Local time
5:32 PM
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
6 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 32m 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 130.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the journey on major interstates like I 57 and I 74. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 103.9 miles on I 57, which means extended periods of consistent speed and straightforward navigation. While the majority of the drive is on high-speed roads, there are brief segments on County Road 12 that offer a slight change of pace before returning to the interstate. Expect a generally efficient and predictable driving experience.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.9 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 74. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.2 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 130.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 19.1 miles (North Neil Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 130.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.9 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Markham, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 19.1 miles (North Neil Street): 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Markham, IL before heading back.
