If you are planning a trip from Ashland to Bremen, expect a straightforward 176.1-mile journey through the heart of the Illinois Midwest. With a driving time of approximately 3 hours and 39 minutes, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via North 5th Street, IL 3, and United States Route 67 to reach your destination. Budgeting roughly $27 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since the drive stays entirely within the state of Illinois, you won't have to worry about crossing regional borders, making it a predictable and manageable trek for most drivers.
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
88 miles from Ashland, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North 5th Street
26.4 mi
31m
IL 3
23.3 mi
28m
United States Route 67
20.4 mi
23m
IL 255
19.5 mi
22m
I 255
14.9 mi
17m
I 72
14.8 mi
15m
CR 123
11 mi
15m
New Missouri Avenue
8.8 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
North 5th Street
— 26.4 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ashland, IL and Bremen, IL.
1
Start on West Washington Street
113 ft·10 sec·West Washington Street
2
Turn left onto South Hardin Street
321 ft·14 sec·South Hardin Street
3
Turn slight right onto CR 123
11 mi·15 min·CR 123
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
5
Merge onto I 72; US 36
15 mi·15 min·I 72; US 36
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 67 South: Alton
7
Merge onto US 67
12 mi·13 min·United States Route 67
8
Continue on US 67
2.3 mi·2 min·1440 E
9
Continue on US 67
1.4 mi·1 min·North State Street
10
Continue on US 67
2.4 mi·2 min·South State Avenue
11
Continue on US 67
1.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
12
Continue on US 67
8.1 mi·9 min·United States Route 67
13
Continue on US 67
26 mi·31 min·North 5th Street
14
Continue on IL 255
20 mi·22 min·IL 255
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 255
15 mi·17 min·I 255
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 17AToward IL 15 East: BellevilleUse the right lane.
17
Continue on IL 15
8.8 mi·10 min·New Missouri Avenue
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
19
Keep slight right at fork
150 ft·3 sec
20
Turn right onto IL 159
7.2 mi·10 min·South Illinois Street
21
Continue on IL 159
6.1 mi·9 min·State Route 159
22
Continue on IL 156; IL 159
0.2 mi·19 sec·North Main Street
23
Continue on IL 159
0.2 mi·13 sec·N Main St
24
Continue on IL 159
8.0 mi·11 min·Main Street
25
Continue on IL 3
23 mi·28 min·IL 3
26
Turn left onto IL 150
6.1 mi·10 min·State Street
27
Turn slight left onto Chester Road
0.2 mi·34 sec·Chester Road
28
Arrive at destination
Chester Road
Trip Plan
Because the total duration is under four hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal preference. While the route is easily completed in one go, you are allotted one scheduled stop to stretch your legs or refuel along the way. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the longer highway segments to ensure you stay within your $27 budget. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to account for the transition between North 5th Street and the state highway system early, as that initial 26.4-mile stretch requires steady focus before you hit the higher-speed highway portions.
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 88 miles from Ashland, IL, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.4 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 39 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88 miles or 1h 44m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bremen, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ashland, 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 Ashland, IL
This is one driving day of about 176.1 miles and 3h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Ashland, 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 North 5th Street for about 26.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 124.7 — 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|South Hardin Street
Turn left onto South Hardin Street
Navigation decision point
6
11.1 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the ramp toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
4
26.3 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward US 67 South: Alton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 67 South: Alton
7
115.4 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward IL 15 East: Belleville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 17A
Toward IL 15 East: Belleville
5
124.7 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.53 one way
$55.06 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.23
$60.46
premium
$4.89
$33.89
$67.78
diesel
$5.61
$38.88
$77.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.8
0
$18.49
$8.45
Efficient EV
44
0
$15.41
$7.04
EV Truck/SUV
70.4
0
$24.65
$11.27
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Ashland, IL
Late night
in Ashland on Tuesday
Local time
4:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bremen, IL
Late night
in Bremen on Tuesday
Local time
4:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
3 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 39m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive is designed for those who prefer efficiency over winding backroads, with 63% of your travel time spent on major highways. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch spans 26.4 miles along North 5th Street. Expect the road personality to shift as you transition between local surface streets and the more open highway environment of IL 3 and US 67. The experience behind the wheel is consistent and steady, moving you through the landscape with minimal technical complexity or frequent navigation changes.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.4 mi on North 5th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North 5th Street and IL 3. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Hardin Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 176.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 (South Hardin Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 39m. Total distance: 176.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.4 miles on North 5th Street. 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bremen, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 (South Hardin Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Bremen, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
