Steeleville, IL to Markham, IL is 309.6 miles and takes about 5h 59m via I 57 and I 64, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest drive keeps you primarily on major highways, making it a straightforward trip between Illinois destinations. Given its duration and focus on interstate travel, it's a solid option for a single-day journey. You'll spend most of your time on I 57, so expect a consistent driving experience focused on covering distance efficiently. This route is best suited for those prioritizing a quick and direct path to their destination.
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
154.8 miles from Steeleville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
227.9 mi
4h 5m
North Main Street
21.7 mi
26m
I 64
10.3 mi
11m
East Broadway Street
9.7 mi
17m
IL 154
8.9 mi
13m
United States Route 51
8.8 mi
10m
US 50
7.8 mi
9m
County Road 180 East
4.3 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 227.9 mi, about 4h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Steeleville, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on this road
38 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto North Sparta Street
52 ft·7 sec·North Sparta Street
3
Turn left onto IL 4; IL 150
9.7 mi·17 min·East Broadway Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto IL 154
8.9 mi·13 min·IL 154
5
Enter roundabout onto Kennedy Drive
44 ft·0 sec·Kennedy Drive
6
Continue on Kennedy Drive
0.4 mi·34 sec·Kennedy Drive
7
Continue on IL 13; IL 154
0.6 mi·57 sec·West Water Street
8
Turn left onto IL 127
22 mi·26 min·North Main Street
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
10
Merge onto I 64
10 mi·11 min·I 64
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward US 51: Centralia, Ashley
12
Turn left onto US 51
8.8 mi·10 min·United States Route 51
13
Continue on US 51
2.6 mi·5 min·Elm Street
14
Continue on US 51
0.9 mi·1 min·South Broadway
15
Continue on US 51
4.3 mi·6 min·County Road 180 East
16
Continue on US 51
0.6 mi·54 sec·South Mine Street
17
Continue on US 50; US 51
0.2 mi·12 sec·N Mine St
18
Continue on US 50; US 51
347 ft·4 sec·North Mine Street
19
Take the exit
134 ft·3 sec
20
Turn right onto US 50
7.8 mi·9 min·US 50
21
Turn left
0.4 mi·54 sec
22
Merge onto I 57
47 mi·50 min·I 57
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
181 mi·3 hr 15 min·I 57
Toward I 57 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.5 mi·50 sec
Exit 345AToward I 80 East: IndianaUse the slight right lane.
25
Merge onto I 80
2.2 mi·3 min·I 80
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 154Toward Kedzie AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Kedzie Avenue
28
Turn left onto 163rd Street
64 ft·2 sec·163rd Street
29
Arrive at destination
163rd Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5h 59m drive, aim for an early morning departure from Steeleville to avoid potential traffic closer to Markham. With only one recommended stop and a significant stretch on I 57, plan your fuel and rest breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or a bit further along the longest segment. The $48 fuel cost is an estimate, so monitor your gauge, especially during the 227.9-mile stretch on I 57 where services might be less frequent. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you have flexibility if you encounter unexpected delays.
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 154.8 miles from Steeleville, IL, or about 3h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 227.9 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 68 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.8 miles or 3h 10m 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 57m
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 Steeleville, 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 Steeleville, IL
This is one driving day of about 309.6 miles and 5h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Steeleville, 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 227.9 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 9.7 and 308.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.7 mi into trip|~17m in|IL 154
At end of road, turn right onto IL 154
Navigation decision point
5
41.3 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
7
124.5 mi into trip|~2h 37m 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
305.8 mi into trip|~5h 53m 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
308.6 mi into trip|~5h 57m 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
$48.40 one way
$96.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$53.14
$106.29
premium
$4.89
$59.58
$119.16
diesel
$5.61
$68.36
$136.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.9
1
$32.51
$14.86
Efficient EV
77.4
0
$27.09
$12.38
EV Truck/SUV
123.8
1
$43.34
$19.81
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 21, 2026
Origin
Steeleville, IL
Late night
in Steeleville on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Clear
S 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 4:39PM CDT until April 29 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 4:38PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 4:39PM CDT until April 29 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 4:38PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
67°F
Shelbyville, IL
155 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
5h 59m 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 309.6
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 86% of your journey taking place on major interstates like I 57 and I 64. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 227.9 miles primarily on I 57, meaning extended periods of consistent speed and minimal turns. The character of the drive is largely about efficiency, with the road remaining predictable for significant portions. Expect a straightforward experience with limited changes in road type, making it easy to maintain a steady pace.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 227.9 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and North Main Street. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 9.7 miles in near IL 154.
Driving Effort6/10
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 309.6 miles you will encounter 19 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 9.7 miles (IL 154): Navigation decision point; at 41.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 124.5 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 Steeleville, IL to Markham, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Ashley along the way.
Ashley
52 mi in|~1h 10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 59m. Total distance: 309.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 227.9 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 33 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.
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. There are 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.7 miles (IL 154): Navigation decision point; at 41.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 124.5 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 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 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.
