Origin
Richmond, IL
Evening in Richmond on Friday
Local time
5:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richmond, IL to Chicago, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
64.8 mi
104 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richmond, IL
Kelly
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
The drive from Richmond, IL to Chicago, IL covers 64.8 miles and takes about 1h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Edens Expressway, US 12, IL 60 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13.7 miles on Edens Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.13 one way before food or hotel costs.
About the Cities
Arriving in Chicago, IL
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 64.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 29m highway drive covering 64.8 miles, with most of the trip on Edens Expressway and US 12. The longest continuous stretch is about 13.7 miles on Edens Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Edens Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Edens Expressway and US 12. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 12 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.8 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (US 12 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.4 miles (IL 120 / West Belvidere Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 31 miles (IL 22 / West Half Day Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 12 / Main Street
Turn left onto US 12 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
15.4 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
IL 120 / West Belvidere Road
Turn left onto IL 120 / West Belvidere Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
31 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
IL 22 / West Half Day Road
At end of road, turn left onto IL 22 / West Half Day Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
36.2 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
I 94 / Edens Spur
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Edens Spur toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
7
63.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward 18th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Edens Expressway | 13.7 mi | 17m |
| US 12 | 13.6 mi | 16m |
| IL 60 | 10.6 mi | 17m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| Edens Spur | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| US 45 | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| West Half Day Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Edens Expressway
— 13.7 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on Broadway Street
46 ft
·
7 sec
·
Broadway Street
2
Turn left onto US 12
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 12
12 mi
·
14 min
·
US 12
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
6
Turn left onto IL 120
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Belvidere Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto IL 60
11 mi
·
17 min
·
IL 60
8
Continue on US 45
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US 45
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on Olde Half Day Road
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Olde Half Day Road
Use the left lane.
10
At end of road, turn left onto IL 22
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Half Day Road
Use the left lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 94 East Toll: Indiana
12
Merge onto I 94
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Edens Spur
Toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
Use the slight left lane.
14
Continue on I 94; US 41
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Continue on I 90; I 94
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Union Avenue
19
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
505 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
20
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Halsted Street
21
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Cermak Road
22
Turn left
152 ft
·
11 sec
23
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.4 mi from Richmond, IL · 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.4 miles from Richmond, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chicago, IL
The final approach into Chicago, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.13 one way
$20.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.12 | $22.25 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.47 | $24.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.31 | $28.61 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.18
Tri-state Tollway
(2.9 mi)
$0.18
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$0
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.80 | $3.11 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.07 | $4.15 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Chicago, IL
Evening in Chicago on Friday
Local time
5:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 29m 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 Richmond, IL to Chicago, IL covers 64.8 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Edens Expressway, US 12, IL 60. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.4 miles from Richmond, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.13 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 64.8 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (US 12 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.4 miles (IL 120 / West Belvidere Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 31 miles (IL 22 / West Half Day Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Richmond, IL to Chicago, 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.
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