Warsaw, IL to Markham, IL is 274.1 miles and takes about 5h 17m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to the Midwest region. You'll be on highways for nearly the entire trip, making for a pretty straightforward commute. It's a route well-suited for a single day of travel, especially if you're looking to get to your destination efficiently.
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
137 miles from Warsaw, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
143.8 mi
2h 38m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
53.4 mi
1h
US 61
36.5 mi
42m
US 34
28.6 mi
35m
US 136
5.1 mi
8m
County Highway 32
3.7 mi
6m
Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
North 6th Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 143.8 mi, about 2h 38m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~796 veh/hr typical
· worst 971
Quietest
2 AM
~137 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 47 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 Warsaw, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on Main Street
50 ft·6 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto North 6th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North 6th Street
3
Continue on County Highway 32
3.7 mi·6 min·County Highway 32
4
Continue on Warsaw Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Warsaw Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 136
5.1 mi·8 min·US 136
6
Continue on US 61; US 218
36 mi·42 min·US 61; US 218
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 34 East, IA 163 East
8
Merge onto US 34; IA 163
28 mi·34 min·US 34; IA 163
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit onto US 34
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 34
10
Merge onto US 34; US 67; IL 110
22 mi·25 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110
31 mi·34 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·48 sec
Toward I 80 East: Chicago
13
Merge onto I 80
144 mi·2 hr 38 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 154Toward Kedzie AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Kedzie Avenue
16
Turn left onto 163rd Street
64 ft·2 sec·163rd Street
17
Arrive at destination
163rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 17m duration, leaving Warsaw, IL in the morning should allow you to reach Markham, IL with plenty of daylight to spare. You'll only need one stop for gas or a break, as the longest stretch between potential services is 143.8 miles on I 80. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the latter half of that long stretch. Since this is a single-day drive, you have the flexibility to depart a little later if needed, but an early start ensures a relaxed pace.
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 137 miles from Warsaw, IL, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 143.8 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 60 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137 miles or 2h 45m 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 21m
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 Warsaw, 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 Warsaw, IL
This is one driving day of about 274.1 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Warsaw, 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 80 for about 143.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 46.4 and 273 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
46.4 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the exit toward US 34 East, IA 163 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 34 East, IA 163 East
5
46.7 mi into trip|~1h in|US 34; IA 163
Merge onto US 34; IA 163
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
74.9 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|US 34
Take the exit onto US 34
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
97.2 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
7
273 mi into trip|~5h 15m 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
$40.48 one way
$80.96 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$44.69
$89.37
premium
$4.72
$50.89
$101.78
diesel
$4.80
$51.76
$103.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.2
1
$28.78
$13.16
Efficient EV
68.5
0
$23.98
$10.96
EV Truck/SUV
109.6
1
$38.37
$17.54
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Warsaw, IL
Morning
in Warsaw on Sunday
Local time
10:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:11PM CDT until July 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:11PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
Markham, IL
Morning
in Markham on Sunday
Local time
10:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 5 to 10 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:11PM CDT until July 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:11PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
87°F
Buckeye, IL
137 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 17m 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 274.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is almost entirely highway driving, with a 99% highway share. You'll spend the bulk of your time on I 80, including a continuous stretch of 143.8 miles. The transition from highway to surface roads, if any, will be minimal and occur very late in the drive. Expect a high concentration of exits for a significant portion of the route.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 143.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 46.4 miles in.
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 274.1 miles you will encounter 12 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 46.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.7 miles (US 34; IA 163): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.9 miles (US 34): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
813 ft546 ft
Total Climb
585 ft
Total Descent
542 ft
Highest Point
813 ft
~97.9 mi in
Elevation Range
266 ft
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 Warsaw, IL to Markham, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rock Island along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 17m. Total distance: 274.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 143.8 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 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 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 46.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.7 miles (US 34; IA 163): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.9 miles (US 34): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 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.
