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Trip from Frankfort, IL to Markham, IL

Drive Time

5h 12m

Distance

286.3 mi

461 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 59m ★
6 AM
5h 13m
8 AM
5h 40m
10 AM
5h 22m
12 PM
5h 20m
3 PM
5h 24m
5 PM
5h 39m
8 PM
5h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Frankfort, IL, IL

Frankfort, IL

Mike Tyurin

Downtown Markham, IL, IL

Markham, IL

Stéphane Tendon

Trip Overview

The drive from Frankfort, IL to Markham, IL covers 286.3 miles and takes about 5h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, East Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 181.3 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.49 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

143.1 miles from Frankfort, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 12m highway drive covering 286.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 181.3 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 14 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 181.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Benton Road.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 286.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 (North Benton Road): Navigation decision point; at 33.8 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 101.2 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 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 | North Benton Road

Turn left onto North Benton Road

Navigation decision point

5
33.8 mi into trip | ~38m in | I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway toward I 57 North: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
101.2 mi into trip | ~1h 51m 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
282.5 mi into trip | ~5h 6m 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
285.2 mi into trip | ~5h 10m 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 57 181.3 mi 3h 15m
Ken Gray Expressway 98.4 mi 1h 46m
East Main Street 2.3 mi 3m
I 80 2.2 mi 3m
Kedzie Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
North Benton Road 0.1 mi <1m
East Saint Louis Street <0.1 mi <1m
163rd Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 57 — 181.3 mi, about 3h 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Frankfort, IL and Markham, IL.

1

Start on East Saint Louis Street

98 ft · 9 sec · East Saint Louis Street
2

Turn left onto North Benton Road

0.1 mi · 37 sec · North Benton Road
3

Turn right onto East Main Street

2.3 mi · 3 min · East Main Street
4

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

20 ft · 1 sec · the route
5

Exit the roundabout

0.3 mi · 42 sec
6

Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

31 mi · 33 min · Ken Gray Expressway
7

Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

67 mi · 1 hr 12 min · Ken Gray Expressway
8

Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

181 mi · 3 hr 15 min · I 57 North: Chicago
9

Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Indiana

0.5 mi · 50 sec · I 80 East: Indiana
10

Merge slight left

2.2 mi · 3 min
11

Take the exit slight right toward Kedzie Avenue

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Kedzie Avenue
12

Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · Kedzie Avenue
13

Turn left onto 163rd Street

66 ft · 3 sec · 163rd Street
14

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 143.1 miles from Frankfort, IL, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.3 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 143.1 miles or 2h 36m 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 15m

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 Frankfort, 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 Frankfort, IL

This is one driving day of about 286.3 miles and 5h 12m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Frankfort, 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 181.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 143.1 mi from Frankfort, IL · 2h 36m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Champaign, IL

143 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Plainfield, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Champaign, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 143.1 miles from Frankfort, 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 181.3 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

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 286.3
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.49 one way

$86.97 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 100 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $47.94 $95.88
premium $4.80 $54.05 $108.10
diesel $5.64 $63.61 $127.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 100.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 85.9 1 $30.06 $13.74
Efficient EV 71.6 0 $25.05 $11.45
EV Truck/SUV 114.5 1 $40.08 $18.32

Gas CO2

100 kg

EV CO2

33 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 data refreshed 3 hours ago

Origin

Frankfort, IL

Morning in Frankfort on Monday

Local time

6:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Markham, IL

Morning in Markham on Monday

Local time

6:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 15 mph 22% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

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

17 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 12m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Frankfort, IL to Markham, IL covers 286.3 miles and takes about 5h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, East Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 143.1 miles from Frankfort, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.49 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 286.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 (North Benton Road): Navigation decision point; at 33.8 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 101.2 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Frankfort, IL to Markham, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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