Alton, IL to Berwyn, IL is 277.9 miles and takes about 5h 21m via I 55 and State Route 140, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois for its entirety. Expect a predominantly highway-focused journey, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. Given the relatively short duration, this route is ideal for those looking for a quick transit between these two points without extensive detours.
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
138.9 miles from Alton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
253.1 mi
4h 38m
State Route 140
9.7 mi
13m
College Avenue
3.9 mi
6m
South Harlem Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
West Bethalto Drive
1.8 mi
3m
West MacArthur Drive
1.4 mi
2m
West Macarthur Drive
1.3 mi
2m
Martin Luther King Drive
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 253.1 mi, about 4h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alton, IL and Berwyn, IL.
1
Start on Alby Street
190 ft·10 sec·Alby Street
2
Turn right onto East Broadway
0.1 mi·21 sec·East Broadway
3
Turn right onto US 67
0.4 mi·36 sec·Piasa Street
4
Continue on US 67
0.9 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Drive
5
Turn right onto College Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·College Avenue
6
Turn right
67 ft·1 sec
7
Enter roundabout onto College Avenue
380 ft·9 sec·College Avenue
8
Continue on College Avenue
3.6 mi·6 min·College Avenue
9
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
1.3 mi·2 min·West Macarthur Drive
10
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
1.4 mi·2 min·West MacArthur Drive
11
Continue on IL 140
1.8 mi·3 min·West Bethalto Drive
12
Continue on IL 140
9.6 mi·13 min·State Route 140
13
Continue on IL 140
0.8 mi·1 min·West State Street
14
Continue on IL 140
443 ft·13 sec·State Route 140
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
16
Merge onto I 55
97 mi·1 hr 44 min·I 55
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi·31 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
127 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, PeoriaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 283Toward IL 43: Harlem AvenueUse the right lane.
20
Turn left onto IL 43
2.9 mi·5 min·South Harlem Avenue
21
Turn right onto Riverside Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Riverside Drive
22
Turn slight left onto Oak Park Avenue
0.1 mi·26 sec·Oak Park Avenue
23
Turn left onto West Cermak Road
91 ft·1 sec·West Cermak Road
24
Arrive at destination
West Cermak Road
Trip Plan
For this 5h 21m drive, consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and give yourself flexibility. With a longest stretch of 253.1 miles, planning one significant fuel and rest stop around the halfway point on I 55 would be practical. The total fuel cost is estimated at $43, so be sure to factor that into your budget. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the advantage of being able to adjust your departure time based on real-time traffic conditions.
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 138.9 miles from Alton, IL, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 253.1 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 61 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.9 miles or 2h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Berwyn, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alton, 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 Alton, IL
This is one driving day of about 277.9 miles and 5h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Alton, 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 253.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 273.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Broadway
Turn right onto East Broadway
Navigation decision point
6
1.7 mi into trip|~2m in|College Avenue
Enter roundabout onto College Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
117.3 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
8
146.6 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
7
273.7 mi into trip|~5h 12m in
Take the exit toward IL 43: Harlem Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 283
Toward IL 43: Harlem Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.45 one way
$86.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$47.70
$95.41
premium
$4.89
$53.48
$106.96
diesel
$5.61
$61.36
$122.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.4
1
$29.18
$13.34
Efficient EV
69.5
0
$24.32
$11.12
EV Truck/SUV
111.2
1
$38.91
$17.79
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% 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
Alton, IL
Late night
in Alton on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 6 to 17 mph31% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Berwyn, IL
Late night
in Berwyn on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Springfield, IL
139 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
19 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
5h 21m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 277.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 95% of the drive utilizing major roads like I 55. You'll experience long, uninterrupted stretches, including one segment of 253.1 miles entirely on I 55. The majority of your time will be spent on this main interstate, offering a consistent driving experience. While College Avenue and State Route 140 are part of the initial segment, the bulk of the miles are covered on the efficient interstate.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 253.1 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and State Route 140. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Broadway.
Driving Effort5/10
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 277.9 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: near the start (East Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (College Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 117.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Alton, IL to Berwyn, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.
Alton is a charming river town in Illinois just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. Once a blue collar town of heavy manufacturing, Alton has transformed itself into a tourist destination and wedding and reception resort of the Midwest.
Top landmarks
•Alton National Cemetery — United States National Cemetery located in the city of Alton, in Madison County,...
•Alton Military Prison — prison located in Alton, Illinois
•Upper Alton Historic District — historic district in Illinois, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 21m. Total distance: 277.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 253.1 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (College Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 117.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Berwyn, IL before the return drive.
