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Trip from Markham, IL to Buena Vista, IL

Drive Time

5h 54m

Distance

317.6 mi

511 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$48

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

31 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 42m ★
6 AM
5h 55m
8 AM
6h 21m
10 AM
6h 4m
12 PM
6h 1m
3 PM
6h 5m
5 PM
6h 19m
8 PM
5h 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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Downtown Markham, IL, IL

Markham, IL

Stéphane Tendon

Downtown Buena Vista, IL, IL

Buena Vista, IL

Arturo Añez.

Trip Overview

The drive from Markham, IL to Buena Vista, IL covers 317.6 miles and takes about 5h 54m 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, West Deyoung Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 252.8 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.24 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

158.8 miles from Markham, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 54m highway drive covering 317.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 252.8 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 15 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 252.8 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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in.

Route Complexity 6/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 317.6 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: at 3.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 190.7 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

7
3.3 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the exit toward I 57 South: Memphis

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 151A Toward I 57 South: Memphis
5
3.6 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 57

Merge onto I 57

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

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
190.7 mi into trip | ~3h 27m in | I 57

Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 57 South: Memphis
5
293.8 mi into trip | ~5h 18m in

Take the exit toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
6
294.1 mi into trip | ~5h 19m in

Keep slight left at fork toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale

Towns Along This Route

Between Markham, IL and Buena Vista, IL, road signs point toward Marion and Carbondale.

Marion

293.8 mi in | ~5h 18m

Carbondale

293.8 mi in | ~5h 18m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 57 252.8 mi 4h 32m
Ken Gray Expressway 37.4 mi 40m
West Deyoung Street 22.2 mi 31m
I 80 2.3 mi 3m
West Poplar Street 0.7 mi 2m
Kedzie Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
163rd Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 57 — 252.8 mi, about 4h 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 163rd Street

64 ft · 6 sec · 163rd Street
2

Turn right onto Kedzie Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Kedzie Avenue
3

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 80 West
4

Merge onto I 80

2.3 mi · 3 min · I 80
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 31 sec
Exit 151A Toward I 57 South: Memphis Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6

Merge onto I 57

187 mi · 3 hr 22 min · I 57
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 57

66 mi · 1 hr 10 min · I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57

37 mi · 40 min · Ken Gray Expressway
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 29 sec
12

Merge onto IL 13

22 mi · 31 min · West Deyoung Street
13

Turn left onto West Poplar Street

0.7 mi · 2 min · West Poplar Street
14

Turn left

165 ft · 12 sec
15

Arrive at 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 158.8 miles from Markham, IL, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 252.8 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 158.8 miles or 2h 53m 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 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buena Vista, 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 317.6 miles and 5h 54m.

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 57 for about 252.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 158.8 mi from Markham, IL · 2h 53m into the drive

Downtown Decatur, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Decatur, IL

159 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

Champaign, 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 158.8 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 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 252.8 miles.

Arriving in Buena Vista, IL

The final approach into Buena Vista, 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 Buena Vista, 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
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

$48.24 one way

$96.48 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 111 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $53.18 $106.36
premium $4.80 $59.96 $119.91
diesel $5.64 $70.56 $141.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$48

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$73–$98

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 111.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

31 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Meijer - Tesla Supercharger

Bradley, IL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Gilman, IL Rechargery Relay - US-24

Gilman, IL

IONNA

10 DCFC

Country Club Plaza - Tesla Supercharger

Country Club Hills, IL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Meijer - Tesla Supercharger

Flossmoor, IL

Tesla

8 DCFC

K & H Travel Plaza - Tesla Supercharger

Gilman, IL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Meijer - Tesla Supercharger

Champaign, IL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Meijer 301 (Bradley, IL)

Bradley, IL

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Meijer 146 (Champaign, IL)

Champaign, IL

Electrify America

6 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 7 Tesla: 5 RED_E: 3 Blink Network: 3 UNIVERSAL: 2 CIRCLE_K: 2 FORD_CHARGE: 2 Electrify America: 2 NOODOE: 1 EV Connect: 1 NAYAX_ENERGY: 1 IONNA: 1 eVgo Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 95.3 1 $33.35 $15.24
Efficient EV 79.4 0 $27.79 $12.70
EV Truck/SUV 127 1 $44.46 $20.33

Gas CO2

111 kg

EV CO2

37 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 1 hour ago

Origin

Markham, IL

Late night in Markham on Monday

Local time

5:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 15 mph 12% 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

Destination

Buena Vista, IL

Late night in Buena Vista on Monday

Local time

5:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

5h 54m 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 Markham, IL to Buena Vista, IL covers 317.6 miles and takes about 5h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, West Deyoung 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 158.8 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 $48.24 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 317.6 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: at 3.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 190.7 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Markham, IL and Buena Vista, IL, road signs point toward Marion and Carbondale.

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