Spanning 86.4 miles across the Illinois Midwest, this trip connects Bremen to Bethalto in approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes. You will spend your time navigating local roads like East Holmes Street, Lehmen Drive, and South State Street rather than relying on major interstates. Because this is a straightforward trek, it works perfectly as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. Budgeting about $13 for fuel should comfortably cover your travel expenses for the entire journey. It is a practical, no-frills route designed for those who prefer local backroads over high-speed highway travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.2 miles from Bremen, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IL 159
19.2 mi
28m
South State Street
17.7 mi
22m
I 255
13.2 mi
15m
IL 255
10.6 mi
12m
IL 15
8.4 mi
9m
Lehmen Drive
7.8 mi
8m
IL 150
6.1 mi
10m
Erwin Plegge Boulevard
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
IL 159
— 19.2 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bremen, IL and Bethalto, IL.
1
Start on Chester Road
0.2 mi·34 sec·Chester Road
2
Turn slight right onto IL 150
6.1 mi·10 min·IL 150
3
Turn right onto IL 3
0.5 mi·32 sec·East Holmes Street
4
Continue on IL 3
7.8 mi·8 min·Lehmen Drive
5
Continue on IL 3
18 mi·22 min·South State Street
6
Continue on IL 159
19 mi·28 min·IL 159
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
8
Merge onto IL 15
8.4 mi·9 min·IL 15
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 255 North, US 50 North: Chicago
10
Merge onto I 255; US 50
13 mi·15 min·I 255; US 50
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on IL 255
11 mi·12 min·IL 255
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 10Toward IL 111, IL 140: Alton, Bethalto
13
Keep slight right at fork
221 ft·5 sec
Toward IL 111, IL 140: Bethalto
14
Turn straight onto IL 111; IL 140
0.3 mi·38 sec·East MacArthur Drive
15
Turn left onto North Bellwood Drive
0.2 mi·37 sec·North Bellwood Drive
16
Turn right onto Erwin Plegge Boulevard
1.0 mi·2 min·Erwin Plegge Boulevard
17
Turn right onto South Oak Street
198 ft·9 sec·South Oak Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto West Sherman Street
225 ft·7 sec·West Sherman Street
19
Arrive at destination
West Sherman Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever it best suits your schedule. Without any planned stops, the 1 hour and 55-minute duration is easy to tackle in one go, though you should keep an eye on your fuel levels before heading out. Given the turn-heavy nature of these local roads, ensure your GPS is mounted securely so you can monitor your next turn without distraction. Use the $13 fuel estimate as a baseline to ensure you arrive at your destination without needing to hunt for a pump mid-journey. Take advantage of the lack of highway congestion to enjoy a steady, controlled pace all the way to Bethalto.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.2 miles from Bremen, IL, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.2 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.2 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethalto, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bremen, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bremen, IL
This is one driving day of about 86.4 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Bremen, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IL 159 for about 19.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 60 and 85.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
60 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 255 North, US 50 North: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 255 North, US 50 North: Chicago
5
60.7 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|I 255; US 50
Merge onto I 255; US 50
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
84.5 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward IL 111, IL 140: Alton, Bethalto
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 10
Toward IL 111, IL 140: Alton, Bethalto
7
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 111, IL 140: Bethalto
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 111, IL 140: Bethalto
5
85.1 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|North Bellwood Drive
Turn left onto North Bellwood Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.51 one way
$27.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.83
$29.66
premium
$4.89
$16.63
$33.25
diesel
$5.61
$19.08
$38.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.9
0
$9.07
$4.15
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.56
$3.46
EV Truck/SUV
34.6
0
$12.10
$5.53
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Bremen, IL
Morning
in Bremen on Sunday
Local time
6:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bethalto, IL
Morning
in Bethalto on Sunday
Local time
6:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
21 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
1h 55m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. With a highway share of 0%, you won’t find any monotonous interstate stretches here, as the route is entirely comprised of local thoroughfares. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on East Holmes Street, confirming that this is a drive defined by frequent changes in direction and navigating local transitions. While it lacks the speed of a highway, the road demands your full attention as you wind your way through the Illinois landscape. It is a technical, low-speed trip that feels much more personal than a typical commute.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.2 mi on IL 159.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 159 and South State Street. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 60 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 86.4 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: at 60 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.7 miles (I 255; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 86.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.2 miles on IL 159. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 60 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.7 miles (I 255; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bethalto, IL before heading back.
