Traveling from Bremen to Guilford covers 383.2 miles across the Illinois landscape, requiring approximately 7 hours and 55 minutes of drive time. Because this journey is manageable in a single day, you can complete it without an overnight stay if you are comfortable with an extended period behind the wheel. Expect to budget around $58 for fuel to make the trip. With 80% of your travel occurring on highways, you will rely heavily on I-55, I-74, and IL-84 to reach your destination. This route is a straightforward Midwest transit that prioritizes efficiency over local 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
191.6 miles from Bremen, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
111.7 mi
2h
I 74
73.4 mi
1h 18m
IL 84
41.2 mi
1h 1m
I 155
32 mi
34m
IL 159
20.1 mi
30m
South State Street
17.7 mi
22m
Main Street
14.4 mi
21m
I 474
14 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 111.7 mi, about 2h
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,745 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,160
Quietest
2 AM
~156 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Bremen, IL and Guilford, 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
20 mi·30 min·IL 159
7
Enter roundabout onto IL 159
177 ft·4 sec·North Illinois Street
8
Continue on IL 159
9.8 mi·15 min·North Illinois Street
9
Continue on IL 159
1.3 mi·1 min·South Morrison Avenue
10
Continue on IL 159
2.8 mi·4 min·Vandalia Street
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 55 North, I 70 East
12
Merge onto I 55; I 70; US 40
3.8 mi·4 min·I 55; I 70; US 40
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
108 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 155
32 mi·34 min·I 155
Exit 127Toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
16
Merge onto I 74
1.0 mi·1 min·I 74
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 474
14 mi·14 min·I 474
Exit 99Toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
18
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
19
Merge onto I 74
72 mi·1 hr 17 min·I 74
20
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110
9.3 mi·9 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 1Toward IL 84: East Moline, Savanna
22
Keep slight right at fork
158 ft·3 sec
23
Turn right onto IL 84
41 mi·1 hr 1 min·IL 84
24
At end of road, turn left onto US 52; IL 64; IL 84
1.1 mi·2 min·Chicago Avenue
25
Continue on US 52; IL 64; IL 84
14 mi·21 min·Main Street
26
At end of road, turn right onto IL 84
4.9 mi·7 min·Washington Street
27
At end of road, turn right onto US 20
1.7 mi·2 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
28
Turn left onto CR 4
8.1 mi·14 min·South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road
29
Turn left onto West Rawlins Road
1.9 mi·4 min·West Rawlins Road
30
Continue on West Guilford Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·West Guilford Road
31
Arrive at destination
West Guilford Road
Trip Plan
To keep your energy levels steady during this 383.2-mile trek, plan for at least two designated stops to stretch your legs. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach your destination well before nightfall. Since 80% of the drive is highway-based, check your tire pressure and fuel levels before departing to capitalize on the $58 budget estimate. Because your longest stretch is 111.7 miles, try to time your first break immediately following that segment to maximize your focus. Flexibility is a major advantage here; if you feel yourself tiring, use the highway-heavy nature of the route to find quick, accessible rest areas along the I-55 and I-74 corridors.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 191.6 miles from Bremen, IL, or about 3h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.7 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 84 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 191.6 miles or 3h 51m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Guilford, 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.
+
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 383.2 miles and 7h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Bremen, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 111.7 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 52.5 and 308.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
52.5 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|IL 159 / North Illinois Street
Enter roundabout onto IL 159 / North Illinois Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
70.5 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springf...
7
178.4 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|I 155
Keep slight left at fork onto I 155 toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 127
Toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
7
212.3 mi into trip|~4h 15m in|I 474
Keep slight left at fork onto I 474 toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 99
Toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
6
308.9 mi into trip|~5h 58m in
Take the exit toward IL 84: East Moline, Savanna
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1
Toward IL 84: East Moline, Savanna
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.71 one way
$127.42 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg134 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$69.40
$138.80
premium
$5.18
$78.19
$156.39
diesel
$5.35
$80.71
$161.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$64
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$89–$114
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 134.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
115
1
$40.24
$18.39
Efficient EV
95.8
1
$33.53
$15.33
EV Truck/SUV
153.3
1
$53.65
$24.52
Gas CO2
134 kg
EV CO2
45 kg (66% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Bremen, IL
Afternoon
in Bremen on Wednesday
Local time
2:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 2 mph59% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:38AM CDT until June 3 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Guilford, IL
Afternoon
in Guilford on Wednesday
Local time
2:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
E 5 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:38AM CDT until June 3 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
88°F
Athens, IL
192 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
6 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
7h 55m on the road
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.
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 145.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as your journey is dominated by major interstates that keep your momentum steady. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, with 111.7 miles spent navigating I-55. While the majority of your time is spent on high-speed roads, the transition to IL-84 offers a change of pace from the interstate grind. You will find that the personality of the road shifts from heavy-traffic highway driving to more localized segments as you approach Guilford. Overall, the drive feels utilitarian and consistent, allowing you to cover significant ground quickly.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 74. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 52.5 miles in near IL 159 / North Illinois Street.
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 383.2 miles you will encounter 19 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 52.5 miles (IL 159 / North Illinois Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 70.5 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 178.4 miles (I 155): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
764 ft416 ft
Total Climb
756 ft
Total Descent
562 ft
Highest Point
764 ft
~273.7 mi in
Elevation Range
348 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bremen, IL and Guilford, IL, road signs point toward Springfield, Kansas City, Hartsburg, Rock Island and Savanna.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 55m. Total distance: 383.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 55m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.7 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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 Guilford, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 52.5 miles (IL 159 / North Illinois Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 70.5 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 178.4 miles (I 155): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Guilford, IL before the return drive.
