Origin
Berwyn, IL
Late night in Berwyn on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Berwyn, IL to Bethany, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 53m
Distance
193.3 mi
311 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 41m
★
6 AM
3h 54m
8 AM
4h 19m
10 AM
4h 3m
12 PM
4h 0m
3 PM
4h 4m
5 PM
4h 18m
8 PM
3h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Berwyn, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Bethany, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Berwyn, IL to Bethany, IL is 193.3 miles and takes about 3h 53m via I 57 and I 72, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Illinois, traversing the familiar Midwest landscape. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's ideal for a single-day journey. You'll mostly be on major interstates, making it a no-fuss option if you're looking for efficiency. Consider this route if you want a quick and predictable drive between two points in the state.
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
96.7 miles from Berwyn, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 110.8 mi | 2h |
| I 72 | 36.6 mi | 39m |
| North State Route 121 | 12.8 mi | 17m |
| South Cicero Avenue | 11.6 mi | 18m |
| Cicero Avenue | 6.6 mi | 10m |
| IL 48 | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| US 36 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| West Cermak Road | 2.5 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 110.8 mi, about 2h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Berwyn, IL and Bethany, IL.
1
Start on West Cermak Road
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
West Cermak Road
2
Turn right onto IL 50
12 mi
·
18 min
·
South Cicero Avenue
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on IL 50
6.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Turn left onto 167th Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
167th Street
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80
6
Merge onto I 57
111 mi
·
2 hr
·
I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 235B
Toward I 72 West: Decatur
8
Merge onto I 72
37 mi
·
39 min
·
I 72
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 144
Toward IL 48: Oreana, Decatur
10
Turn left onto IL 48
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
IL 48
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 36; IL 121
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 36; IL 121
12
Continue on IL 121
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South Mount Zion Road
13
Continue on IL 121
13 mi
·
17 min
·
North State Route 121
14
Turn right onto North Washington Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Street
15
Turn left onto West Main Street
138 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Main Street
16
Turn left onto North Lincoln Street
56 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Lincoln Street
17
Turn right
101 ft
·
7 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 3-hour duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day, so you can leave whenever it suits your schedule. There's one recommended stop, but with a drive this length, you can be flexible with breaks. The primary roads are interstates, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 110.8-mile stretch on I 57. It's a good idea to fill up before you leave Berwyn to ensure you have plenty of gas for the journey, as services can sometimes be spaced out on longer highway segments.
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 96.7 miles from Berwyn, IL, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.8 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 43 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.7 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethany, 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 193.3 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 57 for about 110.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 96.7 miles from Berwyn, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 110.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 193.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue
Turn right onto IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
21.4 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
132.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 72 West: Decatur
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 235B
Toward I 72 West: Decatur
6
169.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 16m in
Take the exit toward IL 48: Oreana, Decatur
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 144
Toward IL 48: Oreana, Decatur
5
193.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 53m in
|
North Lincoln Street
Turn left onto North Lincoln Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.22 one way
$60.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $33.18 | $66.36 |
| premium | $4.89 | $37.20 | $74.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.68 | $85.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58 | 0 | $20.30 | $9.28 |
| Efficient EV | 48.3 | 0 | $16.91 | $7.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.3 | 0 | $27.06 | $12.37 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Destination
Bethany, IL
Late night in Bethany on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
11 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
3h 53m 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.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 13.3
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this route, with 87% of it being on major roadways like I 57 and I 72. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 110.8 miles on I 57, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While the majority is interstate, you'll also navigate segments on North State Route 121, which might offer a slight change of pace. Overall, the character is that of a functional, efficient journey designed for covering distance.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 110.8 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 72. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 53m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 132.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Bethany, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Decatur along the way.
Decatur
169.3 mi in
|
~3h 16m
About the Cities
Starting in Berwyn, IL
Full guide →Founded 1908
Berwyn is a city in the Chicagoland region of Illinois.
Top landmarks
- • Arthur J. Dunham House — historic house in Berwyn, Illinois
- • Mr. Robert Silhan House — historic house in Illinois, United States
Arriving in Bethany, IL
Full guide →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 3h 53m. Total distance: 193.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 110.8 miles on I 57. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 132.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Bethany, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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