Origin
Chatham, IL
Morning in Chatham on Sunday
Local time
10:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chatham, IL to Rochester, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
23m
Distance
16.4 mi
26 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 28m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chatham, IL
Quang Vuong
Rochester, IL
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
This quick 16.4-mile drive from Chatham, IL to Rochester, IL is a straightforward local journey that takes only about 23 minutes. With no highway driving, it's a simple, turn-heavy route that's perfect for a single-day trip, making an overnight stay unnecessary. The estimated fuel cost is a very budget-friendly $2, reflecting the short distance. This route stays within the Midwest region, offering a familiar drive without significant geographical changes. It's a practical option for local travel between these two Illinois communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 72 | 7.1 mi | 7m |
| IL 29 | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| North Main Street | 3 mi | 5m |
| South Veterans Parkway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Walnut Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 72
— 7.1 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chatham, IL and Rochester, IL.
1
Start on IL 4
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on IL 4
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Veterans Parkway
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
4
Merge onto I 72; US 36
7.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 72; US 36
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Toward IL 29 South: Taylorville
6
Merge onto IL 29
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
IL 29
7
Continue on IL 29
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
IL 29
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto South Walnut Street
206 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Walnut Street
Use the left lane.
9
At end of road, turn right onto East Main Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Main Street
10
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 16.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
4.8 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 72; US 36
Merge onto I 72; US 36
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
11.9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward IL 29 South: Taylorville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IL 29 South: Taylorville
3
12.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
IL 29
Merge onto IL 29
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
16.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
South Walnut Street
Turn left onto South Walnut Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
16.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
East Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.56 one way
$5.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.82 | $5.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.16 | $6.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.62 | $7.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.79 |
| Efficient EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.43 | $0.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.30 | $1.05 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
Rochester, IL
Morning in Rochester on Sunday
Local time
10:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
23m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with 0% highway usage. You'll primarily be navigating South Veterans Parkway, IL 29 South, and South Walnut Street. Since there's no significant highway percentage, the drive is characterized by frequent intersections and transitions through local areas. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but given the short total mileage and local road nature, expect continuous engagement with traffic signals and neighborhood streets rather than long, open stretches.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.1 mi on I 72.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 72 and IL 29. You will hit about 5 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near I 72; US 36.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 16.4 miles you will encounter 5 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 4.8 miles (I 72; US 36): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 12.2 miles (IL 29): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 16.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.1 miles on I 72. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles (I 72; US 36): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 12.2 miles (IL 29): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rochester, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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