Bremen, IL to Lakewood, IL is 353.4 miles and takes about 7h 21m via I 55 and IL 47, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the Midwest, primarily within Illinois for its entirety. Expect a drive that leans heavily on interstate travel, making it a straightforward journey. With only 2 recommended stops, it's designed for efficiency, allowing you to cover significant ground. It's a practical option if you need to get from point A to point B without many 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
176.7 miles from Bremen, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
204.6 mi
3h 40m
IL 47
32 mi
38m
South Randall Road
24.9 mi
41m
IL 159
20.1 mi
30m
South State Street
17.7 mi
22m
Orchard Road
11.2 mi
18m
North Illinois Street
9.8 mi
15m
Lehmen Drive
7.8 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 204.6 mi, about 3h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bremen, IL and Lakewood, 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 right at fork onto I 55
29 mi·31 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
64 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, PeoriaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·35 sec
Exit 220Toward IL 47: Morris, DwightUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto IL 47
32 mi·38 min·IL 47
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto Walker Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Walker Road
19
Turn left onto Ashley Road
2.8 mi·3 min·Ashley Road
20
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126
0.5 mi·46 sec·East Schoolhouse Road
21
Turn left onto Minkler Road
3.4 mi·4 min·Minkler Road
22
Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road
126 ft·3 sec·Minkler Road
23
Continue on Minkler Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Minkler Road
24
Continue on Orchard Road
11 mi·18 min·Orchard Road
Use the left lane.
25
Turn left onto CR 34
25 mi·41 min·South Randall Road
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on V29
2.2 mi·3 min·North Randall Road
Use the left lane.
27
Turn left onto McHenry Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·McHenry Avenue
Use the left lane.
28
Turn left onto Nash Road
285 ft·12 sec·Nash Road
29
Continue on Nash Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Nash Road
30
Turn left onto Golf Road
0.2 mi·58 sec·Golf Road
31
At end of road, turn right onto Country Club Road
0.1 mi·29 sec·Country Club Road
32
Turn left onto Broadway Avenue
0.5 mi·2 min·Broadway Avenue
33
Arrive at destination
Broadway Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 7h 21m estimated drive time, starting early in the morning is your best bet to complete this trip in a single day. Plan for your 2 stops strategically, perhaps one for a meal break and another for a quick stretch, especially before or after the longest 204.6-mile segment on I 55. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $55 estimated fuel cost suggests you'll want to refuel before hitting extended stretches without services. While the route is direct, having a GPS or map app handy will help navigate the transitions between I 55 and the state routes.
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 176.7 miles from Bremen, IL, or about 3h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 204.6 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 78 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.7 miles or 3h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakewood, 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 353.4 miles and 7h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 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 204.6 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 70.5 and 351 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
8
207.8 mi into trip|~4h 9m in|I 55
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
8
271.3 mi into trip|~5h 17m in
Take the exit toward IL 47: Morris, Dwight
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 220
Toward IL 47: Morris, Dwight
6
351 mi into trip|~7h 13m in|McHenry Avenue
Turn left onto McHenry Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.25 one way
$110.50 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg124 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$60.66
$121.32
premium
$4.89
$68.01
$136.02
diesel
$5.61
$78.03
$156.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
106
1
$37.11
$16.96
Efficient EV
88.4
1
$30.92
$14.14
EV Truck/SUV
141.4
1
$49.48
$22.62
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Bremen, IL
Evening
in Bremen on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 8 mph32% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:33PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 16 at 12:29PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Lakewood, IL
Evening
in Lakewood on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°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
36 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 21m 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
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 146.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely highway-focused, with 74% of the drive on interstates. You'll spend a substantial portion of your time on I 55, including a long stretch of 204.6 miles. This means you can expect consistent speeds and a generally predictable driving experience for much of the trip. While the initial and final segments might involve more local roads like IL 47 and South Randall Road, the bulk of the mileage is on faster, limited-access highways. It's a profile that favors covering distance efficiently.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 204.6 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and IL 47. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 70.5 miles in near I 55.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 353.4 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 70.5 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.
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 Lakewood, IL, road signs point toward Springfield, Kansas City, Peoria and Dwight.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 21m. Total distance: 353.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 21m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 204.6 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Lakewood, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 70.5 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.
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 7.4 hours each way, a round trip means 14.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lakewood, IL before the return drive.
