The drive from Markham, IL to Earlville, IL covers 81.8 miles and takes about 1h 46m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, East 17th Road, Wesley Freebairn Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 63.6 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.79 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.
Midpoint
40.9 miles from Markham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 81.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 1h 46m highway drive covering 81.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and East 17th Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 63.6 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 63.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and East 17th Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Kedzie Avenue.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Markham, IL to Earlville, IL is easy. At 1h 46m with 83% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Kedzie Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Kedzie Avenue
Turn right onto Kedzie Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
64.6 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward IL 23: De Kalb, Ottawa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 90
Toward IL 23: De Kalb, Ottawa
5
81 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|CH 41 / County Highway 41
At end of road, turn right onto CH 41 / County Highway 41
Navigation decision point
4
81.8 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|West Winthrop Street
Turn left onto West Winthrop 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 Earlville, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Ottawa along the way.
Ottawa
64.6 mi in|~1h 14m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
63.6 mi
1h 12m
East 17th Road
6.1 mi
10m
Wesley Freebairn Road
5.1 mi
9m
County Highway 1
4.6 mi
8m
South Ottawa Street
0.7 mi
1m
Kedzie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Columbus Street
0.4 mi
<1m
County Highway 41
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 63.6 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Earlville, 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
64 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 90Toward IL 23: De Kalb, Ottawa
6
Turn right onto IL 23
0.1 mi·15 sec·East 17th Road
7
Continue on IL 23
0.4 mi·39 sec·Columbus Street
8
Continue on IL 23
6.0 mi·10 min·East 17th Road
9
Continue on CH 1
0.3 mi·30 sec·County Highway 1
10
Continue on CH 1
4.2 mi·7 min·Wesley Freebairn Road
11
Continue on CH 1
1.0 mi·1 min·Wesley Freebairn Road
12
Continue on CH 1
4.3 mi·7 min·County Highway 1
13
At end of road, turn right onto CH 41
0.1 mi·18 sec·County Highway 41
14
Continue on CH 41
0.7 mi·1 min·South Ottawa Street
15
Turn left onto West Winthrop Street
135 ft·3 sec·West Winthrop Street
16
Arrive at destination
West Winthrop 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.9 miles from Markham, IL, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.6 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 18 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.9 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Earlville, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Markham, IL
This is one driving day of about 81.8 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Markham, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 63.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.9 mi from Markham, IL
· 47m 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
$12.79 one way
$25.58 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.04
$28.08
premium
$4.89
$15.74
$31.48
diesel
$5.61
$18.06
$36.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.5
0
$8.59
$3.93
Efficient EV
20.5
0
$7.16
$3.27
EV Truck/SUV
32.7
0
$11.45
$5.24
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Markham, IL
Morning
in Markham on Saturday
Local time
8:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Earlville, IL
Morning
in Earlville on Saturday
Local time
8:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
2 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
1h 46m 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 Earlville, IL covers 81.8 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, East 17th Road, Wesley Freebairn Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.9 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 $12.79 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.
The drive from Markham, IL to Earlville, IL is easy. At 1h 46m with 83% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Kedzie Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Markham, IL to Earlville, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Ottawa along the way.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
