Traveling from Windsor to Markham spans 176.3 miles across the Illinois Midwest, a journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 48 minutes. Because this is a relatively short distance, you can easily complete the entire trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Kentucky Avenue, Route 16, and Marshall Avenue rather than major interstates. Budgeting around $26 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the drive. It is a straightforward, manageable path that works well for those looking to reach their destination efficiently while staying off the main highway system.
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
87.2 miles from Windsor, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
155 mi
2h 47m
Route 16
6.7 mi
9m
Marshall Avenue
3.4 mi
5m
Charleston Avenue
3.2 mi
6m
I 80
2.2 mi
3m
Illinois Route 16
1.3 mi
1m
Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Kentucky Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 155 mi, about 2h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Windsor, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on North Maple Street
0.3 mi·1 min·North Maple Street
2
Turn left onto IL 16
0.3 mi·28 sec·Kentucky Avenue
3
Continue on IL 16
5.2 mi·7 min·Route 16
4
Continue on IL 16
1.3 mi·1 min·Illinois Route 16
5
Continue on IL 16
1.8 mi·2 min·Marshall Avenue
6
Continue on IL 16
1.5 mi·2 min·Route 16
7
Continue on IL 16
1.6 mi·3 min·Marshall Avenue
8
Turn left onto IL 16
0.2 mi·20 sec·South 21st Street
9
Turn right onto IL 16
3.2 mi·6 min·Charleston Avenue
10
Turn right
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
11
Merge onto I 57
155 mi·2 hr 47 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·50 sec
Exit 345AToward I 80 East: IndianaUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 80
2.2 mi·3 min·I 80
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
Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal preference rather than strict scheduling. You should anticipate making at least one stop to break up the drive and stretch your legs, especially given the turn-heavy nature of the route. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between Route 16 and Marshall Avenue, as the constant turns can make it easy to miss a junction. Given the $26 fuel estimate, topping off your tank before you leave Windsor ensures you won't have to worry about finding a station while navigating local streets. Prioritize a steady pace to handle the frequent turns comfortably.
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 87.2 miles from Windsor, IL, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 155 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 38 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.2 miles or 1h 43m 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 44m
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 Windsor, 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 Windsor, IL
This is one driving day of about 174.5 miles and 3h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Windsor, 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 155 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 173.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|IL 16 / Kentucky Avenue
Turn left onto IL 16 / Kentucky Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
12 mi into trip|~19m in|IL 16 / South 21st Street
Turn left onto IL 16 / South 21st Street
Navigation decision point
5
15.7 mi into trip|~26m in|I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
170.7 mi into trip|~3h 14m 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
173.5 mi into trip|~3h 17m 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
$27.28 one way
$54.56 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.95
$59.91
premium
$4.89
$33.58
$67.16
diesel
$5.61
$38.53
$77.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.4
0
$18.32
$8.38
Efficient EV
43.6
0
$15.27
$6.98
EV Truck/SUV
69.8
0
$24.43
$11.17
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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 20, 2026
Origin
Windsor, IL
Morning
in Windsor on Tuesday
Local time
7:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Markham, IL
Morning
in Markham on Tuesday
Local time
7:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
13 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
3h 20m 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 174.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features zero highway driving, meaning you will be navigating local roads for the full 176.3 miles. You won’t find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, as the longest segment on Kentucky Avenue is essentially negligible. The road's personality is defined by its technical nature and the constant transition between local thoroughfares. Be prepared for a hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention as you wind your way toward Markham.
95% 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: 155 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Route 16. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near IL 16 / Kentucky Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 20m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (IL 16 / Kentucky Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 12 miles (IL 16 / South 21st Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.7 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 155 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (IL 16 / Kentucky Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 12 miles (IL 16 / South 21st Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.7 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Markham, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
