Earlville to Markham is 82.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 46 minutes via I 80, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward trip, primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a quick journey. Given its relatively short duration, it's ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed. You'll be covering a moderate distance, so plan for a straightforward transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.1 miles from Earlville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 82.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 83% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 63.8 miles on I 80, offering a consistent pace. The route primarily consists of interstate driving, providing a predictable and efficient travel experience. While the majority is highway, expect some brief transitions onto local roads like East 17th Road and Wesley Freebairn Road before merging back onto faster routes. This mix means you'll get a solid amount of highway time without being entirely confined to it.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 63.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and East 17th Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Ottawa Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Earlville, IL to Markham, IL is easy. At 1h 46m with 83% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Ottawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (CH 1 / County Highway 1): Navigation decision point; at 17.2 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Ottawa Street
Turn right onto South Ottawa Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|CH 1 / County Highway 1
Turn left onto CH 1 / County Highway 1
Navigation decision point
6
17.2 mi into trip|~31m in
Turn left toward I 80 East: Joliet
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 80 East: Joliet
5
17.4 mi into trip|~31m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
81.2 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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 80
63.8 mi
1h 13m
East 17th Road
6.3 mi
11m
Wesley Freebairn Road
5.1 mi
8m
County Highway 1
4.6 mi
8m
Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
South Ottawa Street
0.7 mi
1m
Columbus Street
0.4 mi
<1m
County Highway 41
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 63.8 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Earlville, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on West Winthrop Street
135 ft·6 sec·West Winthrop Street
2
Turn right onto South Ottawa Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South Ottawa Street
3
Continue on CH 41
0.1 mi·24 sec·County Highway 41
4
Turn left onto CH 1
4.3 mi·7 min·County Highway 1
5
Continue on CH 1
1.0 mi·1 min·Wesley Freebairn Road
6
Continue on CH 1
4.2 mi·7 min·Wesley Freebairn Road
7
Continue on CH 1
0.3 mi·30 sec·County Highway 1
8
Continue on IL 23
6.0 mi·10 min·East 17th Road
9
Continue on IL 23
0.4 mi·41 sec·Columbus Street
10
Continue on IL 23
0.3 mi·37 sec·East 17th Road
11
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 80 East: Joliet
12
Merge onto I 80
64 mi·1 hr 13 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 154Toward Kedzie AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Kedzie Avenue
15
Turn left onto 163rd Street
64 ft·2 sec·163rd Street
16
Arrive at destination
163rd Street
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 46 minute drive, consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. Since it's a shorter trip, you have flexibility in pacing and don't necessarily need scheduled stops, but it's always wise to take breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel level, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 63.8 miles on I 80, as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstates. Ensure you have enough fuel to comfortably cover this segment to avoid any unnecessary detours.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.1 miles from Earlville, IL, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.8 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 18 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.1 miles or 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 31m
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 Earlville, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Earlville, IL
This is one driving day of about 82.2 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Earlville, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 63.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.1 mi from Earlville, IL
· 58m into the drive
The midpoint is around 41.1 miles from Earlville, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
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 82.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.85 one way
$25.70 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.11
$28.22
premium
$4.89
$15.82
$31.64
diesel
$5.61
$18.15
$36.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.7
0
$8.63
$3.95
Efficient EV
20.6
0
$7.19
$3.29
EV Truck/SUV
32.9
0
$11.51
$5.26
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Earlville, IL
Morning
in Earlville on Saturday
Local time
6:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Markham, IL
Morning
in Markham on Saturday
Local time
6:56 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
2 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
1h 46m 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 Earlville, IL to Markham, IL covers 82.2 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, East 17th Road, Wesley Freebairn 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 41.1 miles from Earlville, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.85 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.
The drive from Earlville, IL to Markham, IL is easy. At 1h 46m with 83% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Ottawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (CH 1 / County Highway 1): Navigation decision point; at 17.2 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
The route from Earlville, IL to Markham, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
