Trip from Markham, IL to Ashland, IL

Drive Time

3h 55m

Distance

201.6 mi

324 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

3h 42m ★

6 AM

3h 55m

8 AM

4h 21m

10 AM

4h 4m

12 PM

4h 2m

3 PM

4h 5m

5 PM

4h 20m

8 PM

3h 47m

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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Markham, IL

Mike Tyurin

Ashland, IL

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Traveling from Markham to Ashland covers 201.6 miles across the Illinois landscape, a journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 55 minutes. Since this is a straightforward, highway-focused drive, it works perfectly as a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $31 for fuel to complete the transit. The route keeps you within the Midwest, traversing the state from the Chicago suburbs toward the central plains. It is a practical, efficient path for travelers looking to move between these two points without excessive detours.

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

100.8 miles from Markham, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a drive dominated by major thoroughfares, with 94% of your time spent on highways like I-55, I-80, and IL-125. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch spans 145.3 miles on I-55. While the interstate sections allow for steady progress, the transition onto IL-125 shifts the pace as you approach your destination. The experience is largely functional, prioritizing speed and directness over winding scenic roads. You will find that the personality of the drive remains consistent, favoring long, open stretches of pavement.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 145.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 80. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Kedzie Avenue.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 201.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Kedzie Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Kedzie Avenue

Turn right onto Kedzie Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

1 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 80

Merge onto I 80

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

29 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 126A Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

29.3 mi into trip | ~37m in | I 55

Merge onto I 55

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / right lanes.

122.3 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in | I 55

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

Towns Along This Route

Between Markham, IL and Ashland, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Sherman.

Springfield

122.3 mi in | ~2h 17m | via I 55

Sherman

174.7 mi in | ~3h 14m | via I 55 Business

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 55	145.3 mi	2h 36m
I 80	28 mi	34m
IL 125	11.9 mi	17m
West Jefferson Street	5 mi	7m
South Sherman Boulevard	4.6 mi	7m
Veterans Parkway	4.1 mi	5m
I 55 Business	0.6 mi	1m
Kedzie Avenue	0.6 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 55 — 145.3 mi, about 2h 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on 163rd Street

64 ft · 6 sec · 163rd Street

Turn right onto Kedzie Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Kedzie Avenue

Use the none lane.

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 80 West

Merge onto I 80

28 mi · 34 min · I 80

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec

Exit 126A Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

Merge onto I 55

93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · I 55

Use the none / right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55

52 mi · 56 min · I 55

Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto I 55 Business

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 55 Business

Toward Sherman

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 Business

317 ft · 7 sec · I 55 Business

Toward Sherman

Merge onto I 55 Business

4.6 mi · 7 min · South Sherman Boulevard

Use the none lane.

Continue on IL 4; IL 29

4.1 mi · 5 min · Veterans Parkway

Use the left / none lanes.

Take the exit

475 ft · 14 sec

Turn straight onto IL 97

5.0 mi · 7 min · West Jefferson Street

Use the straight lane.

Continue on IL 125

12 mi · 17 min · IL 125

Use the none lane.

Continue on East Fremont Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East Fremont Street

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto North Athens Street

0.2 mi · 44 sec · North Athens Street

Turn right onto East Washington Street

0.3 mi · 33 sec · East Washington Street

Arrive at destination

West Washington Street

Trip Plan

Because this trip is under four hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns. Aim to complete the majority of your 201.6-mile trek in one go, though scheduling a single stop will help keep you refreshed during the long I-55 stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel levels before leaving the more populated areas near Markham to avoid unnecessary stops later on. Since 94% of your travel is highway-based, be prepared for shifting traffic conditions on the interstates. If you find yourself tiring during the 145.3-mile primary segment, use that planned stop to stretch your legs before transitioning onto the final leg via IL-125.

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 100.8 miles from Markham, IL, or about 1h 54m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.3 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 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 100.8 miles or 1h 54m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 3m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ashland, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Markham, 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 Markham, IL

This is one driving day of about 201.6 miles and 3h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Markham, 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 55 for about 145.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 100.8 mi from Markham, IL · 1h 54m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomington, IL

101 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

Normal, IL

Fuel and coffee

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

Normal, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 100.8 miles from Markham, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 145.3 miles.

Arriving in Ashland, IL

The final approach into Ashland, 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 Ashland, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.62 one way

$61.24 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 71 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$33.76	$67.51
premium	$4.80	$38.06	$76.12
diesel	$5.64	$44.79	$89.58

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 70.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	60.5	0	$21.17	$9.68
Efficient EV	50.4	0	$17.64	$8.06
EV Truck/SUV	80.6	1	$28.22	$12.90

Gas CO2

71 kg

EV CO2

24 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Markham, IL

Evening in Markham on Sunday

Local time

5:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ashland, IL

Evening in Ashland on Sunday

Local time

5:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

53°F

Bloomington, IL

101 mi in

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

4 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

3h 55m 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 Markham, IL to Ashland, IL covers 201.6 miles and takes about 3h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 55, I 80, IL 125. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 100.8 miles from Markham, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.62 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Between Markham, IL and Ashland, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Sherman.

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Return Trip

Ashland, IL to Markham, IL

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201 mi 3h 54m

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Trip from Markham, IL to Ashland, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Ashland, IL

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Markham, IL

Ashland, IL

Same local time

4 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 55m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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