Berwyn, IL to Fairmont City, IL is 282 miles and takes about 5h 16m via I 55 and Adlai Stevenson Expressway, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, traversing Illinois for its entirety. Given the short duration and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward drive perfect for a single day. You'll be on major interstates for almost the entire journey, making it an efficient way to cover the distance between these two points.
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
141 miles from Berwyn, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
150.7 mi
2h 43m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
125.9 mi
2h 22m
South Harlem Avenue
2.8 mi
5m
Riverside Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Kingshighway
0.7 mi
1m
IL 111
0.4 mi
<1m
Collinsville Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Oak Park Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 150.7 mi, about 2h 43m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,778 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,331
Quietest
2 AM
~165 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Berwyn, IL and Fairmont City, 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
86 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 6Toward IL 111: Wood River, Washington Park, Great River Road NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto IL 111
0.4 mi·38 sec·IL 111
12
Turn left onto IL 111
0.2 mi·18 sec·Collinsville Road
13
Turn right onto IL 111
0.7 mi·1 min·Kingshighway
14
Turn left onto Thomas Avenue
24 ft·1 sec·Thomas Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Thomas Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight and avoid potential rush hour congestion around Chicago's outskirts. With only one recommended stop suggested by the data, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 150.7-mile stretch on I 55, where services might be more spaced out. The $45 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting, but always check current prices. This route offers flexibility, so you can adjust your pace as needed.
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 141 miles from Berwyn, IL, or about 2h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 150.7 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 62 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141 miles or 2h 42m 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 Fairmont City, 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 282 miles and 5h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 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 150.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 280.6 — 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
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
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
7
194.7 mi into trip|~3h 40m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
8
280.6 mi into trip|~5h 13m in
Take the exit toward IL 111: Wood River, Washington Park, Great River Road North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6
Toward IL 111: Wood River, Washington Park, Gre...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.04 one way
$94.08 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$51.33
$102.65
premium
$5.25
$58.32
$116.64
diesel
$6.28
$69.68
$139.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.6
1
$29.61
$13.54
Efficient EV
70.5
0
$24.68
$11.28
EV Truck/SUV
112.8
1
$39.48
$18.05
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Berwyn, IL
Late night
in Berwyn on Sunday
Local time
5:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
SSW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Fairmont City, IL
Late night
in Fairmont City on Sunday
Local time
5:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Clear
SE 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
50°F
Bloomington, IL
141 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
26 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 16m 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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 194.5
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 98% of the 282 miles on interstates like I 55. You'll experience a consistent stretch of 150.7 miles on I 55 without needing to exit. Surface roads will only be a minor factor as you near your destination. Expect typical interstate conditions with a steady flow of traffic and frequent exits.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 150.7 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 11 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 282 miles you will encounter 11 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 3.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 129.9 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
835 ft418 ft
Total Climb
447 ft
Total Descent
646 ft
Highest Point
835 ft
~120.9 mi in
Elevation Range
416 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 Fairmont City, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Springfield along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 16m. Total distance: 282 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 16m 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 150.7 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 35 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Fairmont City, 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. There are 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Oak Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 129.9 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fairmont City, IL before the return drive.
