Trip from Markham, IL to Richmond, IL

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

3h 3m

Distance

149.1 mi

240 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min

4 AM

2h 52m ★

6 AM

3h 3m

8 AM

3h 26m

10 AM

3h 11m

12 PM

3h 9m

3 PM

3h 12m

5 PM

3h 25m

8 PM

2h 56m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Trip Overview

The drive from Markham, IL to Richmond, IL covers 149.1 miles and takes about 3h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 55, I 80, East 200 North Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105.2 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.31 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

74.5 miles from Markham, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 3m. Total distance: 149.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 3m highway drive covering 149.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and I 80. The longest continuous stretch is about 105.2 miles on I 55.

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 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 105.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 80. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near I 80.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 3m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 29.3 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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.

5

29 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 126A Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

5

29.3 mi into trip | ~37m in | I 55

Merge onto I 55

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

6

122.3 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in | I 55

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

5

134.5 mi into trip | ~2h 30m in

Take the exit toward US 136: McLean, Heyworth

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 136: McLean, Heyworth

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Markham, IL and Richmond, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Heyworth.

Springfield

122.3 mi in | ~2h 17m | via I 55

Heyworth

134.5 mi in | ~2h 30m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 55	105.2 mi	1h 53m
I 80	28 mi	34m
East 200 North Road	6.8 mi	9m
Armington Road	3.2 mi	7m
Grove Road	1.5 mi	5m
East 3rd Street	1.1 mi	2m
Center Road	0.9 mi	3m
Dixie Road	0.7 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 55 — 105.2 mi, about 1h 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Markham, IL and Richmond, 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

28 mi · 34 min · I 80

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

5

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec

Exit 126A Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

6

Merge onto I 55

93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · I 55

Use the right lane.

7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55

12 mi · 13 min · I 55

Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min

Toward US 136: McLean, Heyworth

9

Turn right onto Dixie Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Dixie Road

10

Continue on US 136

6.8 mi · 9 min · East 200 North Road

11

Turn right onto Armington Road

2.0 mi · 4 min · Armington Road

12

Turn left onto East 3rd Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · East 3rd Street

13

Continue on Armington Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · Armington Road

14

Turn right onto Grove Road

1.5 mi · 5 min · Grove Road

15

Turn left onto Center Road

0.9 mi · 3 min · Center Road

16

Arrive at destination

Center Road

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 74.5 miles from Markham, IL, or about 1h 26m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.2 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 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 74.5 miles or 1h 26m 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 17m

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 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 149.1 miles and 3h 3m.

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 55 for about 105.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 74.5 mi from Markham, IL · 1h 26m into the drive

city in Livingston County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fairbury, IL

75 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

Joliet, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fairbury, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 74.5 miles from Markham, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105.2 miles.

Arriving in Richmond, IL

The final approach into Richmond, 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 Richmond, IL.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

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

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.31 one way

$46.62 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$25.59	$51.19
premium	$4.89	$28.69	$57.39
diesel	$5.61	$32.92	$65.84

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	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	44.7	$15.66	$7.16
Efficient EV	37.3	$13.05	$5.96
EV Truck/SUV	59.6	$20.87	$9.54

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

Late night in Markham on Friday

Local time

12:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

NW 10 to 15 mph 38% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:33PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 12:29PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Destination

Richmond, IL

Late night in Richmond on Friday

Local time

12:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

52°F

Fairbury, IL

75 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

4 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

3h 3m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Richmond, IL covers 149.1 miles and takes about 3h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 55, I 80, East 200 North 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 74.5 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 $23.31 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 3h 3m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 29.3 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Between Markham, IL and Richmond, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Heyworth.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More from Markham, IL

Shiloh, IL 279.9 mi · 5h 10m Fairview Heights, IL 274.9 mi · 5h 9m Albers, IL 273.5 mi · 5h 7m Barry, IL 265.6 mi · 4h 53m Saint Rose, IL 265.4 mi · 4h 57m Holiday Shores, IL 257.9 mi · 4h 49m

Weekend drives from Markham, IL Scenic drives in IL

Explore more options from Markham, IL or browse trips ending in Richmond, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.