The drive from Markham, IL to Cerro Gordo, IL covers 149.3 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, I 72, North Main Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 109.4 miles on I 57.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.34 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
74.7 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 149.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 2h 51m highway drive covering 149.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and I 72. The longest continuous stretch is about 109.4 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 17 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 109.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 72. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 51m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 113 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.
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
113 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 72 West: Decatur
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 235B
Toward I 72 West: Decatur
6
138.7 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Take the exit toward IL 48: Cisco, Weldon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 156
Toward IL 48: Cisco, Weldon
5
149 mi into trip|~2h 51m in|IL 32 / North Jackson Street
Turn left onto IL 32 / North Jackson Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Markham, IL to Cerro Gordo, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Weldon along the way.
Weldon
138.7 mi in|~2h 32m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
109.4 mi
1h 58m
I 72
25.2 mi
27m
North Main Street
8.3 mi
14m
I 80
2.3 mi
3m
East 1500 North Road
1.1 mi
1m
Kedzie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
IL 48
0.5 mi
<1m
North Jackson Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 109.4 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Cerro Gordo, 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 151AToward I 57 South: MemphisUse the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Merge onto I 57
109 mi·1 hr 58 min·I 57
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 235BToward I 72 West: Decatur
8
Merge onto I 72
25 mi·27 min·I 72
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 156Toward IL 48: Cisco, Weldon
10
Turn left onto IL 48
0.5 mi·56 sec·IL 48
11
Turn left onto IL 32
1.1 mi·1 min·East 1500 North Road
12
Turn right onto IL 32
8.3 mi·14 min·North Main Street
13
Continue on IL 32
0.1 mi·17 sec·Carter Street
14
Turn left onto IL 32
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Jackson Street
15
Turn right onto East South Street
465 ft·25 sec·East South Street
16
Turn left onto Monroe Street
166 ft·7 sec·Monroe Street
17
Arrive at destination
Monroe Street
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.7 miles from Markham, IL, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.4 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 33 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.7 miles or 1h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cerro Gordo, 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 149.3 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 109.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74.7 mi from Markham, IL
· 1h 22m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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
$23.34 one way
$46.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.63
$51.26
premium
$4.89
$28.73
$57.46
diesel
$5.61
$32.96
$65.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.8
0
$15.68
$7.17
Efficient EV
37.3
0
$13.06
$5.97
EV Truck/SUV
59.7
0
$20.90
$9.56
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Markham, IL
Morning
in Markham on Friday
Local time
8:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cerro Gordo, IL
Morning
in Cerro Gordo on Friday
Local time
8:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
5 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
2h 51m 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 Cerro Gordo, IL covers 149.3 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, I 72, North 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 74.7 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 $23.34 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 51m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 113 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Markham, IL to Cerro Gordo, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Weldon along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
