The drive from Unity, IL to Markham, IL covers 344.5 miles and takes about 6h 25m 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, IL 127 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 181.3 miles on I 57.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.86 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
172.3 miles from Unity, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 18m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 25m. Total distance: 344.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 25m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 25m highway drive covering 344.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 181.3 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 181.3 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 7.3 miles in near Chestnut Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 344.5 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 7.3 miles (Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 92 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 159.5 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
7.3 mi into trip|~15m in|Chestnut Street
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
92 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
159.5 mi into trip|~3h 4m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
340.8 mi into trip|~6h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Indiana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 345A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
7
343.5 mi into trip|~6h 23m in
Take the exit toward Kedzie Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 154
Toward Kedzie Avenue
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
181.3 mi
3h 15m
Ken Gray Expressway
145.4 mi
2h 36m
IL 127
3.7 mi
6m
Old US Highway 51
3.5 mi
6m
Sandusky Road
2.6 mi
6m
I 80
2.2 mi
3m
Shawnee College Road
1.6 mi
2m
Chestnut Street
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 181.3 mi, about 3h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Unity, IL and Markham, IL.
1
Start on this road
82 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto IL 127
3.7 mi·6 min·IL 127
3
Turn right onto Sandusky Road
2.6 mi·6 min·Sandusky Road
4
Continue on Lackey Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Lackey Road
5
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
1.5 mi·2 min·Chestnut Street
6
Continue on Old US Highway 51
3.5 mi·6 min·Old US Highway 51
7
Turn right onto Shawnee College Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Shawnee College Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
9
Merge onto I 57; US 51
78 mi·1 hr 23 min·Ken Gray Expressway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
181 mi·3 hr 15 min·I 57
Toward I 57 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·50 sec
Exit 345AToward I 80 East: IndianaUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 80
2.2 mi·3 min·I 80
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 154Toward Kedzie AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Kedzie Avenue
16
Turn left onto 163rd Street
64 ft·2 sec·163rd Street
17
Arrive at destination
163rd Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 172.3 miles from Unity, IL, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.3 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 76 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.3 miles or 3h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 19m
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 Unity, 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 Unity, IL
This is one driving day of about 344.5 miles and 6h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Unity, 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 181.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 172.3 mi from Unity, IL
· 3h 18m 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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 344.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.86 one way
$107.72 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$59.13
$118.27
premium
$4.89
$66.30
$132.59
diesel
$5.61
$76.06
$152.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
103.4
1
$36.17
$16.54
Efficient EV
86.1
0
$30.14
$13.78
EV Truck/SUV
137.8
1
$48.23
$22.05
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 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 17, 2026
Origin
Unity, IL
Late night
in Unity on Friday
Local time
3:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Markham, IL
Late night
in Markham on Friday
Local time
3:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Areas Of Fog
ENE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 7:40PM CDT until April 18 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 7:40PM CDT until April 18 at 9:15AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
73°F
Bruce, IL
172 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
7 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
6h 25m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Unity, IL to Markham, IL covers 344.5 miles and takes about 6h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, IL 127. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 172.3 miles from Unity, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.86 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 344.5 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 7.3 miles (Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 92 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 159.5 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Unity, IL to Markham, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
