The drive from Cerro Gordo, IL to Markham, IL covers 149.6 miles and takes about 2h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, I 72, North 100 East Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 109.6 miles on I 57.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.39 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
74.8 miles from Cerro Gordo, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 149.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 52m highway drive covering 149.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and I 72. The longest continuous stretch is about 109.6 miles on I 57.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 109.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 72. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East South Street.
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 149.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 (East South Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IL 32 / Jackson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IL 32 / Carter Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East South Street
Turn right onto East South Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|IL 32 / Jackson Street
Turn left onto IL 32 / Jackson Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|IL 32 / Carter Street
At end of road, turn right onto IL 32 / Carter Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
145.9 mi into trip|~2h 45m 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
148.6 mi into trip|~2h 49m 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
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
109.6 mi
1h 58m
I 72
25.6 mi
27m
North 100 East Road
8.3 mi
14m
I 80
2.2 mi
3m
Old Route 47
1.1 mi
1m
Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
IL 48
0.2 mi
<1m
Jackson Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 109.6 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cerro Gordo, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on Monroe Street
166 ft·9 sec·Monroe Street
2
Turn right onto East South Street
465 ft·25 sec·East South Street
3
Turn left onto IL 32
0.2 mi·21 sec·Jackson Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto IL 32
0.1 mi·11 sec·Carter Street
5
Continue on IL 32
8.3 mi·14 min·North 100 East Road
6
Turn left onto IL 32
1.1 mi·1 min·Old Route 47
7
Turn right onto IL 48
0.2 mi·30 sec·IL 48
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I-72 East: Champaign
9
Merge onto I 72
26 mi·27 min·I 72
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 182BToward I 57 North: Chicago
11
Merge onto I 57
110 mi·1 hr 58 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
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 74.8 miles from Cerro Gordo, IL, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.6 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 33 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.8 miles or 1h 29m 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 20m
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 Cerro Gordo, 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 Cerro Gordo, IL
This is one driving day of about 149.6 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Cerro Gordo, 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 109.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74.8 mi from Cerro Gordo, IL
· 1h 29m into the drive
The midpoint is around 74.8 miles from Cerro Gordo, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109.6 miles.
Arriving in Markham, IL
The final approach into Markham, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Markham, IL.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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 149.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.39 one way
$46.78 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.68
$51.36
premium
$4.89
$28.79
$57.58
diesel
$5.61
$33.03
$66.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.9
0
$15.71
$7.18
Efficient EV
37.4
0
$13.09
$5.98
EV Truck/SUV
59.8
0
$20.94
$9.57
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Cerro Gordo, IL
Morning
in Cerro Gordo on Friday
Local time
7:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Markham, IL
Morning
in Markham on Friday
Local time
7:27 AM
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
5 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 52m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cerro Gordo, IL to Markham, IL covers 149.6 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, I 72, North 100 East Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.8 miles from Cerro Gordo, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.39 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 149.6 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East South Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IL 32 / Jackson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IL 32 / Carter Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
The route from Cerro Gordo, IL to Markham, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
