Berwyn, IL to Piasa, IL is 260.7 miles and takes about 5h 2m via Adlai Stevenson Expressway, I 55, and County Road 1200 North, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, entirely within Illinois, and is designed for a single day of driving. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward journey. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground without extensive planning.
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
130.3 miles from Berwyn, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,689 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,115
Quietest
2 AM
~152 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 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 Piasa, 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
40 mi·42 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·57 sec
Toward IL 16: Gillespie, Litchfield
11
Turn straight onto IL 16
8.4 mi·12 min·County Road 1200 North
12
Turn right onto IL 16
8.0 mi·11 min·Broadway Street
13
Turn right onto IL 16
4.4 mi·6 min·8000N
14
Continue on IL 16
1.2 mi·1 min·East Railroad Street
15
Continue on IL 16
3.7 mi·5 min·8000N
16
Turn left onto Piasa Road
125 ft·5 sec·Piasa Road
17
Arrive at destination
Piasa Road
Trip Plan
For this 260.7-mile drive, leaving Berwyn, IL in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Piasa, IL. With a total duration of about 5 hours, you likely won't need to stop for an overnight stay. The fuel cost is estimated at $37, so ensure your tank is full before you depart. While there's only one recommended stop, it's wise to take breaks as needed, especially during the longest stretch on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway. Keep an eye out for the transition from highway cruising to County Road 1200 North as you approach your destination.
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 130.3 miles from Berwyn, IL, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125.9 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 57 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.3 miles or 2h 31m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Piasa, 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 260.7 miles and 5h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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 Adlai Stevenson Expressway for about 125.9 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 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
$38.50 one way
$77.00 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$42.50
$85.00
premium
$4.72
$48.40
$96.81
diesel
$4.80
$49.23
$98.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.2
0
$27.37
$12.51
Efficient EV
65.2
0
$22.81
$10.43
EV Truck/SUV
104.3
1
$36.50
$16.68
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% 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 Jul 15, 2026
Origin
Berwyn, IL
Morning
in Berwyn on Sunday
Local time
10:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 15 at 10:25AM CDT until July 15 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 15 at 9:50AM CDT until July 18 at 4:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
Piasa, IL
Morning
in Piasa on Sunday
Local time
10:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 15 at 10:25AM CDT until July 15 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 15 at 9:50AM CDT until July 18 at 4:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
85°F
Bloomington, IL
130 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
4 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 2m 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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 188.7
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 highway, with 88% of the 260.7 miles spent on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 125.9 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway before transitioning to other highways and eventually surface roads. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate these interstate sections. The final portion of the trip will involve local county roads.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 125.9 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 55. 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 260.7 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 3.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
787 ft577 ft
Total Climb
429 ft
Total Descent
451 ft
Highest Point
787 ft
~130.3 mi in
Elevation Range
210 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Berwyn, IL and Piasa, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Litchfield.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 2m. Total distance: 260.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 125.9 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 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 Piasa, 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 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Oak Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Piasa, IL before the return drive.
