Origin
Bremen, IL
Late night in Bremen on Friday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 28m
Distance
378.2 mi
609 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$59
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bremen, IL
Sela Hatting
Grandwood Park, IL
Colwyn Davis
Bremen to Grandwood Park is 378.2 miles and takes about 7h 28m via I 55 and Tri-State Tollway, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving through the Midwest region. Expect a route that is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. With only two recommended stops, it's designed for efficiency, getting you to your destination without extensive detours.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
189.1 miles from Bremen, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 49m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 261.9 mi | 4h 46m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 44.1 mi | 53m |
| IL 159 | 20.1 mi | 30m |
| South State Street | 17.7 mi | 22m |
| North Illinois Street | 9.8 mi | 15m |
| Lehmen Drive | 7.8 mi | 8m |
| IL 150 | 6.1 mi | 10m |
| Vandalia Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,681 veh/hr typical · worst 2,233
Quietest
2 AM
~156 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Bremen, IL and Grandwood Park, IL.
Start on Chester Road
Turn slight right onto IL 150
Turn right onto IL 3
Continue on IL 3
Continue on IL 3
Continue on IL 159
Enter roundabout onto IL 159
Continue on IL 159
Continue on IL 159
Continue on IL 159
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 55; I 70; US 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 294
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on this road
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on this road
Turn straight onto IL 132
Turn right onto North Hutchins Road
Turn left onto West Woodland Terrace
Turn right onto North Douglas Terrace
Turn right onto Douglas Court
Arrive at destination
Given the 7h 28m duration, departing in the morning is your best bet to complete this drive comfortably in one day. Plan for your two stops to break up the longer stretches, especially the 261.9-mile segment on I 55. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $56, and it's wise to refuel before hitting the longest stretch if you're starting with less than half a tank. The fact that this route is primarily highway means you'll have fewer decisions about turns, allowing you to focus on maintaining your pace.
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.
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 83 miles or 1h 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.1 miles or 3h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grandwood Park, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Bremen, 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bremen, IL
This is one driving day of about 378.2 miles and 7h 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
189 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 83 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 189.1 miles from Bremen, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 261.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 178.4 and 375.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward IL 132: Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 132 West: Grand Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$58.64 one way
$117.27 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $64.29 | $128.59 |
| premium | $4.93 | $73.38 | $146.75 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $83.37 | $166.74 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.65
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
$59
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 113.5 | 1 | $39.71 | $18.15 |
| Efficient EV | 94.6 | 1 | $33.09 | $15.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 151.3 | 1 | $52.95 | $24.20 |
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Bremen on Friday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Grandwood Park on Friday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
94°F
Athens, IL
189 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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.
This drive is mostly highway, with 76% of the 378.2 miles on major roads like I 55 and the Tri-State Tollway. You'll experience a long stretch of 261.9 miles on I 55, which means extended periods of consistent speed. The transition to surface roads will occur later in the trip, likely around mile 262, offering a change of pace from the high-speed cruising.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 178.4 miles in near I 55.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 378.2 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 178.4 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 207.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 328.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
754 ft
Total Descent
572 ft
Highest Point
847 ft
~216.1 mi in
Elevation Range
423 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bremen, IL and Grandwood Park, IL, road signs point toward Springfield, Kansas City and Peoria.
Springfield
Kansas City
Peoria
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 28m. Total distance: 378.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 28m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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