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Trip from New Athens, IL to Markham, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 46m

Distance

302.8 mi

487 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 33m ★
6 AM
4h 46m
8 AM
5h 13m
10 AM
4h 56m
12 PM
4h 53m
3 PM
4h 57m
5 PM
5h 12m
8 PM
4h 38m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown New Athens, IL, IL

New Athens, IL

Snap Scribe

Downtown Markham, IL, IL

Markham, IL

Stéphane Tendon

Trip Overview

The drive from New Athens, IL to Markham, IL covers 302.8 miles and takes about 4h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Benton Street, South Van Buren Street, South Illinois Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.34 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

151.4 miles from New Athens, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 46m drive with frequent turns across 302.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Benton Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 46m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from New Athens, IL to Markham, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Benton Street
South Van Buren Street
South Illinois Street
Illinois Street
North Illinois Street
South Morrison Avenue
Vandalia Street
I 55 North

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: North Benton Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Chester Street

62 ft · 8 sec · Chester Street
2

Turn left onto North Benton Street

0.5 mi · 2 min · North Benton Street
3

At the end of the road, turn left onto South Van Buren Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · South Van Buren Street
4

Turn right

0.3 mi · 44 sec
5

Turn straight

15 mi · 23 min
6

Take the exit slight right

0.3 mi · 38 sec
7

Turn right onto South Illinois Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Illinois Street
8

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Illinois Street

177 ft · 4 sec · Illinois Street
9

Exit the rotary onto North Illinois Street

9.8 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street
10

Continue on South Morrison Avenue

1.3 mi · 1 min · South Morrison Avenue
11

Continue on Vandalia Street

2.8 mi · 4 min · Vandalia Street
12

Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North, I 70 East

0.4 mi · 55 sec · I 55 North, I 70 East
13

Merge slight left

3.8 mi · 4 min
14

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City

108 mi · 1 hr 56 min · I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
15

Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

29 mi · 31 min · I 55 North: Chicago
16

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

94 mi · 1 hr 40 min · I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
17

Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Indiana

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 80 East: Indiana
18

Merge slight left

28 mi · 34 min
19

Take the exit slight right toward Kedzie Avenue

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Kedzie Avenue
20

Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · Kedzie Avenue
21

Turn left onto 163rd Street

66 ft · 3 sec · 163rd Street
22

Arrive at your 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 151.4 miles from New Athens, IL, or about 2h 23m into the drive.

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 67 miles or 1h 3m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 151.4 miles or 2h 23m 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 54m

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 New Athens, 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 New Athens, IL

This is one driving day of about 302.8 miles and 4h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from New Athens, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 151.4 mi from New Athens, IL · 2h 23m into the drive

city in Macon County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Decatur, IL

151 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

Maryville, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 67 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Decatur, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 151.4 miles from New Athens, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$47.34 one way

$94.68 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 106 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $51.98 $103.95
premium $4.89 $58.27 $116.54
diesel $5.61 $66.85 $133.71

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 105.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 90.8 1 $31.79 $14.53
Efficient EV 75.7 0 $26.50 $12.11
EV Truck/SUV 121.1 1 $42.39 $19.38

Gas CO2

106 kg

EV CO2

35 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

New Athens, IL

Night in New Athens on Wednesday

Local time

9:22 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Markham, IL

Night in Markham on Wednesday

Local time

9:22 PM

CDT

Current temp

52°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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 46m 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 New Athens, IL to Markham, IL covers 302.8 miles and takes about 4h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Benton Street, South Van Buren Street, South Illinois Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 151.4 miles from New Athens, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.34 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 is a straightforward 4h 46m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from New Athens, IL to Markham, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from New Athens, IL to Markham, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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