Traveling from Berwyn to Carterville covers 321.4 miles and requires approximately 6 hours and 3 minutes of drive time. Because this journey consists entirely of local roads like South Cicero Avenue, Cicero Avenue, and 167th Street, it is best suited for a single, focused day of driving. You should budget about $49 for fuel to complete the trip. Navigating this path through the Illinois landscape is a significant commitment that lacks the high-speed efficiency of an interstate, so prepare for a slower pace. Whether you are traveling for business or a visit, knowing that you will remain on local surface streets for the duration helps set realistic expectations for your arrival time.
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
160.7 miles from Berwyn, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
254.2 mi
4h 34m
Ken Gray Expressway
37.4 mi
40m
South Cicero Avenue
11.6 mi
18m
Cicero Avenue
6.6 mi
10m
West Deyoung Street
3.4 mi
4m
IL-13
3 mi
4m
West Cermak Road
2.5 mi
5m
South Division Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 254.2 mi, about 4h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Berwyn, IL and Carterville, 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
188 mi·3 hr 23 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
37 mi·40 min·Ken Gray Expressway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
12
Merge onto IL 13
3.4 mi·4 min·West Deyoung Street
13
Continue on IL 13
3.0 mi·4 min·IL-13
14
Turn right onto South Division Street
1.0 mi·1 min·South Division Street
15
Turn left onto West Grand Avenue
35 ft·0 sec·West Grand Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
West Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration and the reliance on local roads, plan to depart early in the morning to avoid peak congestion. You have one designated stop built into the itinerary, which serves as a perfect opportunity to refuel and stretch your legs mid-trip. Since this route avoids highways entirely, keep a close eye on your GPS to navigate the frequent turns on Cicero Avenue and 167th Street accurately. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so do not hesitate to adjust your pace if local traffic becomes heavy. Taking time to map out your specific turns in advance will make this lengthy local drive feel significantly more manageable.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 160.7 miles from Berwyn, IL, or about 3h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 254.2 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 71 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.7 miles or 3h 6m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carterville, 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 321.4 miles and 6h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 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 254.2 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 2.5 and 313.8 — 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
209.9 mi into trip|~4h in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
6
313.3 mi into trip|~5h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
6
313.8 mi into trip|~5h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.25 one way
$100.49 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$55.17
$110.34
premium
$4.89
$61.85
$123.70
diesel
$5.61
$70.96
$141.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.4
1
$33.75
$15.43
Efficient EV
80.4
0
$28.12
$12.86
EV Truck/SUV
128.6
1
$45.00
$20.57
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
38 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 15, 2026
Origin
Berwyn, IL
Night
in Berwyn on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Carterville, IL
Night
in Carterville on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°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
12 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
6h 3m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 experience on this route, as it relies 0% on highway travel. Behind the wheel, you will navigate a series of local roads that demand your full attention and frequent adjustments rather than the steady cruise of an interstate. This profile creates a technical, stop-and-go environment that feels quite different from typical long-distance highway hauls. Because you are avoiding major high-speed corridors, the road surface and traffic patterns will change frequently throughout the 321.4-mile journey. Be ready for a drive that prioritizes local navigation over raw speed, keeping you engaged with the road layout from start to finish.
92% 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: 254.2 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 321.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 209.9 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 3m. Total distance: 321.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 254.2 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.
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 Carterville, 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: 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 209.9 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Carterville, IL before the return drive.
