The drive from Chicago, IL to Richmond, IL covers 63.1 miles and takes about 1h 30m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Rand Road, US 12, Kennedy Expressway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.7 miles on East Rand Road.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.86 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
31.6 miles from Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Chicago is the home of the blues and the truth of jazz, the heart of comedy and the idea of the skyscraper. Here, the age of railroads found its center, and airplanes followed suit. "Stormy, Husky, Brawling / City of Big Shoulders," Chicago is a Heartland boomtown, its ethos defined by urban planner Daniel Burnham's immortal vision: "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood." It is one of the world's great cities and the third largest city in the United States, behind only New York City and Los Angeles.
As the hub of the Midwest, Chicago is easy to find — its picturesque skyline calls across the waters of Lake Michigan, a first impression that soon reveals world-class museums of art and science, miles of sandy beaches, huge parks and public art, and perhaps the finest downtown collection of modern architecture in the world.
Top landmarks
•Willis Tower — skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois
•Art Institute of Chicago — art museum and school in Chicago, United States
•Wrigley Field — baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, USA; home venue of the Chicago Cubs
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 63.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Chicago, IL to Richmond, IL covers 63.1 miles and takes about 1h 30m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Rand Road is the longest continuous segment at about 18.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West Cermak Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.1 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.2 miles (West Cermak Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (South Halsted Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (South Ruble Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|West Cermak Road
At end of road, turn right onto West Cermak Road
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|South Halsted Street
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|South Ruble Street
Turn left onto South Ruble Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in|I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway
Merge onto I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
12.4 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward US 14 West: Caldwell Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 41A
Toward US 14 West: Caldwell Avenue
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East Rand Road
18.7 mi
25m
US 12
16 mi
18m
Kennedy Expressway
8.2 mi
11m
Milwaukee Avenue
4.5 mi
7m
Palatine Road
3.8 mi
6m
North Milwaukee Avenue
3.7 mi
6m
North Caldwell Avenue
2.5 mi
3m
Edens Expressway
2.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
East Rand Road
— 18.7 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Richmond, IL.
1
Start on this road
0.2 mi·1 min·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi·26 sec·West Cermak Road
3
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi·17 sec·South Halsted Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
0.2 mi·22 sec·South Canalport Avenue
5
Turn left onto South Ruble Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·South Ruble Street
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 90 West, I 94 West
7
Merge onto I 90; I 94
0.9 mi·1 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi·11 min·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 94
2.2 mi·2 min·Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 41AToward US 14 West: Caldwell AvenueUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn slight right onto US 14
2.5 mi·3 min·North Caldwell Avenue
12
Turn left onto West Touhy Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·West Touhy Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto North Milwaukee Avenue
465 ft·11 sec·North Milwaukee Avenue
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on North Milwaukee Avenue
3.6 mi·6 min·North Milwaukee Avenue
15
Continue on IL 21
4.5 mi·7 min·Milwaukee Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto Old Palatine Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Old Palatine Road
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on West Palatine Road
0.1 mi·15 sec·West Palatine Road
18
Take the ramp
359 ft·9 sec
Toward Palatine Road
19
Merge onto Palatine Road
3.8 mi·6 min·Palatine Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto US 12
19 mi·25 min·East Rand Road
Use the right lane.
21
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.9 mi·2 min·US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on US 12; IL 59
12 mi·14 min·US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on US 12
1.7 mi·2 min·US 12
24
Turn right onto Broadway Street
46 ft·2 sec·Broadway Street
25
Arrive at destination
Broadway 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 31.6 miles from Chicago, IL, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.7 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 14 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.6 miles or 49m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chicago, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chicago, IL
This is one driving day of about 63.1 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Chicago, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East Rand Road for about 18.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.6 mi from Chicago, IL
· 49m 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
$9.86 one way
$19.73 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$10.83
$21.66
premium
$4.89
$12.14
$24.29
diesel
$5.61
$13.93
$27.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.9
0
$6.63
$3.03
Efficient EV
15.8
0
$5.52
$2.52
EV Truck/SUV
25.2
0
$8.83
$4.04
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Chicago, IL
Morning
in Chicago on Saturday
Local time
10:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Richmond, IL
Morning
in Richmond on Saturday
Local time
10:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°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
18 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 30m 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 Chicago, IL to Richmond, IL covers 63.1 miles and takes about 1h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Rand Road, US 12, Kennedy Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.6 miles from Chicago, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.86 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.1 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.2 miles (West Cermak Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (South Halsted Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (South Ruble Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Chicago, IL to Richmond, 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 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.
