Berwyn, IL to Knox, IL is 194.6 miles and takes about 3h 44m via Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, making it a straightforward trip. The majority of your travel will be on major highways, but expect a significant portion on surface roads as you approach your destination. It's a practical drive that's easily manageable in a single day, with a moderate fuel cost.
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
97.3 miles from Berwyn, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
93 mi
1h 43m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
44.8 mi
48m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
38.9 mi
41m
IL 110
7.1 mi
8m
Cermak Road
6 mi
10m
22nd Street
1.5 mi
2m
Knox Road 1020 East
1.4 mi
5m
West Cermak Road
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 93 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Berwyn, IL and Knox, IL.
1
Start on West Cermak Road
0.5 mi·1 min·West Cermak Road
2
Continue on Cermak Road
6.0 mi·10 min·Cermak Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Continue on 22nd Street
1.5 mi·2 min·22nd Street
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
185 ft·6 sec
Toward I 88 Toll West: AuroraUse the left lane.
5
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·41 sec·this road
Toward I 88 Toll West: Aurora
6
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
24 mi·28 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalbUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 88; IL 110
1.1 mi·1 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 88; IL 110
38 mi·40 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Exit 41
10
Continue on I 88; IL 92; IL 110
5.4 mi·5 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
11
Take the exit onto IL 110
7.1 mi·8 min·IL 110
Toward I 80: Peoria
12
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110
39 mi·42 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward US 150, IL 97: Lewistown
14
Keep slight left at fork
106 ft·2 sec
Toward US 150 East: Brimfield
15
Turn straight onto US 150
0.2 mi·20 sec·US 150 / IL 97
16
Continue on Knox Road 1020 East
1.4 mi·5 min·Knox Road 1020 East
17
Turn left onto Mine Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Mine Road
18
Turn right onto Knox Station Road
148 ft·6 sec·Knox Station Road
19
Arrive at destination
Knox Station Road
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 44m duration, leaving Berwyn, IL in the morning will give you ample time to reach Knox, IL well before evening. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering the longest stretch of highway, as services can be more spread out on the surface roads closer to Knox. The $30 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but always check current prices.
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 97.3 miles from Berwyn, IL, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93 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 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.3 miles or 1h 54m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Knox, 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 194.6 miles and 3h 44m.
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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 93 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 192.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
8 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the ramp toward I 88 Toll West: Aurora
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 88 Toll West: Aurora
5
8.3 mi into trip|~15m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
31.9 mi into trip|~44m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
5
192.2 mi into trip|~3h 36m in
Take the exit toward US 150, IL 97: Lewistown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 150, IL 97: Lewistown
6
192.4 mi into trip|~3h 37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 150 East: Brimfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 150 East: Brimfield
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.42 one way
$60.85 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$33.40
$66.81
premium
$4.89
$37.45
$74.90
diesel
$5.61
$42.97
$85.93
Estimated Tolls: $5.58
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(93 mi)$5.58
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.1 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
58.4
0
$20.43
$9.34
Efficient EV
48.7
0
$17.03
$7.78
EV Truck/SUV
77.8
0
$27.24
$12.45
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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Berwyn, IL
Late night
in Berwyn on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knox, IL
Late night
in Knox on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°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
4 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 44m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with about 27% of the 194.6 miles on highways like the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. You'll experience a longest stretch of 93 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway before transitioning to more varied surface road driving. Expect to encounter numerous exits and merges as you navigate the highway segments, followed by a more relaxed pace on local roads.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in.
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 194.6 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 194.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.58 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 10 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 Knox, 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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. 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 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Knox, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
