If you are planning a trip from Berwyn to Bethalto, expect a journey covering 269.2 miles across the Illinois landscape. This drive typically takes about 5 hours and 6 minutes, making it a manageable excursion that fits well into a single day of travel. You will navigate primarily via local roads like Oak Park Avenue, Riverside Drive, and South Harlem Avenue rather than major interstates. With a fuel budget of approximately $41, this route is an economical choice for those looking to stay within the Midwest region. While you could technically complete the drive in one go, planning for at least one stop will help keep you refreshed for the duration of the trip.
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
134.6 miles from Berwyn, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
127.4 mi
2h 17m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
125.9 mi
2h 22m
State Route 140
9.6 mi
13m
South Harlem Avenue
2.8 mi
5m
Riverside Drive
0.8 mi
1m
East Bethalto Drive
0.7 mi
1m
East State Street
0.7 mi
1m
South Prairie Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 127.4 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Berwyn, IL and Bethalto, IL.
1
Start on West Cermak Road
91 ft·5 sec·West Cermak Road
2
Turn right onto Oak Park Avenue
0.1 mi·21 sec·Oak Park Avenue
3
Turn right onto Riverside Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Riverside Drive
4
Turn left onto IL 43
2.8 mi·5 min·South Harlem Avenue
5
Turn right
137 ft·5 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 55 South
7
Merge onto I 55
126 mi·2 hr 22 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
63 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
11
Turn right onto IL 140
0.7 mi·1 min·East State Street
12
Continue on IL 140
9.6 mi·13 min·State Route 140
13
Continue on IL 140
0.7 mi·1 min·East Bethalto Drive
14
Turn right onto South Prairie Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Prairie Street
15
Turn left onto West Sherman Street
8 ft·0 sec·West Sherman Street
16
Arrive at destination
West Sherman Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 6-minute journey, try to time your departure to avoid heavy local traffic on the busier segments of South Harlem Avenue. Since this is a turn-heavy route, having a reliable GPS or navigation system is essential to stay on track through the various local road transitions. Factor in at least one purposeful break to stretch your legs, especially since the lack of high-speed stretches can make the drive feel longer than the clock suggests. Keep your $41 fuel budget in mind, but always carry a little extra for unexpected detours or traffic congestion. A specific tip for this trip: check your route before leaving to ensure you are comfortable with the series of turns required early on in the Berwyn and Riverside area.
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 134.6 miles from Berwyn, IL, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.4 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 59 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.6 miles or 2h 35m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethalto, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Berwyn, 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 Berwyn, IL
This is one driving day of about 269.2 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Berwyn, 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 127.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 129.9 — 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|Oak Park Avenue
Turn right onto Oak Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
3.7 mi into trip|~7m in
Turn right
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
3.8 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 55 South
5
4 mi into trip|~8m in|I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge onto I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
129.9 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
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 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.09 one way
$84.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$46.21
$92.42
premium
$4.89
$51.81
$103.61
diesel
$5.61
$59.44
$118.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.8
0
$28.27
$12.92
Efficient EV
67.3
0
$23.55
$10.77
EV Truck/SUV
107.7
1
$37.69
$17.23
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 13, 2026
Origin
Berwyn, IL
Late night
in Berwyn on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 15 mph43% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:22AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:22AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Bethalto, IL
Late night
in Bethalto on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Bloomington, IL
135 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
6 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 6m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Because this route involves zero highway miles, you will be navigating surface streets and local thoroughfares for the entire 269.2-mile distance. The experience is quite different from a monotonous interstate cruise, as the constant turns require more active driving and engagement with your surroundings. You will find that the road surface and traffic patterns shift frequently as you transition from the Chicago suburbs toward the Bethalto area. Stay alert, as the lack of high-speed highway stretches means your pace will remain steady but varied.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 127.4 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Adlai Stevenson Expressway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Oak Park Avenue.
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 269.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 (Oak Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
776 ft525 ft
Total Climb
473 ft
Total Descent
566 ft
Highest Point
776 ft
~115.4 mi in
Elevation Range
251 ft
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 Berwyn, IL to Bethalto, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Springfield along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 6m. Total distance: 269.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 127.4 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.
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 Bethalto, 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 (Oak Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bethalto, IL before the return drive.
