The drive from Germantown, IL to Markham, IL covers 269 miles and takes about 5h behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, US 50, Franklin Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 227.9 miles on I 57.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.06 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
134.5 miles from Germantown, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h. Total distance: 269 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h highway drive covering 269 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and US 50. The longest continuous stretch is about 227.9 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 24 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 227.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and US 50. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Main Street.
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 269 miles you will encounter 19 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 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Hanover Street): Navigation decision point; at 84 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|Hanover Street
At end of road, turn left onto Hanover Street
Navigation decision point
7
84 mi into trip|~1h 38m 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
265.3 mi into trip|~4h 54m 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
268 mi into trip|~4h 58m 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
227.9 mi
4h 5m
US 50
15.9 mi
18m
Franklin Street
14.1 mi
16m
South Germantown Road
3.1 mi
5m
I 80
2.2 mi
3m
12th Street
1 mi
1m
Hanover Street
0.8 mi
1m
Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 227.9 mi, about 4h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Germantown, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on Munster Street
342 ft·17 sec·Munster Street
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi·46 sec·Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto Hanover Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Hanover Street
4
Continue on South Germantown Road
3.1 mi·5 min·South Germantown Road
5
Turn right onto Old Route 50 West
0.5 mi·1 min·Old Route 50 West
6
Turn left onto North Walnut Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·North Walnut Street
7
Continue on Jamestown Road
0.1 mi·14 sec·Jamestown Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
9
Merge onto US 50
8.1 mi·9 min·US 50
10
At end of road, turn right onto US 50; IL 127
1.0 mi·1 min·12th Street
11
Turn left onto US 50
14 mi·16 min·Franklin Street
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; US 51
0.2 mi·14 sec·N Mine St
13
Continue on US 50; US 51
347 ft·4 sec·North Mine Street
14
Take the exit
134 ft·3 sec
15
Turn right onto US 50
7.8 mi·9 min·US 50
16
Turn left
0.4 mi·54 sec
17
Merge onto I 57
47 mi·50 min·I 57
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
181 mi·3 hr 15 min·I 57
Toward I 57 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·50 sec
Exit 345AToward I 80 East: IndianaUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto I 80
2.2 mi·3 min·I 80
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 154Toward Kedzie AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Kedzie Avenue
23
Turn left onto 163rd Street
64 ft·2 sec·163rd Street
24
Arrive at destination
163rd Street
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 134.5 miles from Germantown, IL, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 227.9 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 59 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.5 miles or 2h 33m 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 5m
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 Germantown, 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 Germantown, IL
This is one driving day of about 269 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Germantown, 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 227.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 134.5 mi from Germantown, IL
· 2h 33m into the drive
The midpoint is around 134.5 miles from Germantown, 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 227.9 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.06 one way
$84.11 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$46.17
$92.35
premium
$4.89
$51.77
$103.53
diesel
$5.61
$59.39
$118.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
21 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Champaign, Illinois
Other
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Champaign, Illinois
EV Connect
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Effingham, Illinois
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Effingham, Illinois
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Champaign, Illinois
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Champaign, Illinois
Tesla
1 DCFC
Electrify America Charging Station
Effingham, Illinois
Electrify America
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Champaign, Illinois
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Other: 5
Tesla: 4
ChargePoint: 3
Blink: 3
EV Connect: 2
Electrify America: 2
Tesla Destination: 2
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.7
0
$28.24
$12.91
Efficient EV
67.3
0
$23.54
$10.76
EV Truck/SUV
107.6
1
$37.66
$17.22
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Germantown, IL
Night
in Germantown on Friday
Local time
10:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Markham, IL
Night
in Markham on Friday
Local time
10:13 PM
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
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
5h 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 Germantown, IL to Markham, IL covers 269 miles and takes about 5h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, US 50, Franklin 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 134.5 miles from Germantown, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.06 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 269 miles you will encounter 19 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: at 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Hanover Street): Navigation decision point; at 84 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Germantown, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
