Bremen to New Salem is 181.4 miles and takes about 3h 44m via I 72, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mixed drive that's mostly highway, making it a straightforward journey. With just one recommended stop and a drive time under four hours, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. It's a practical option if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
90.7 miles from Bremen, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 72
29 mi
31m
Godfrey Road
26.2 mi
30m
IL 255
21 mi
24m
IL 159
19.2 mi
28m
South State Street
19.1 mi
24m
I 255
13.2 mi
15m
Main Street
12.3 mi
13m
IL 15
8.4 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 72
— 29 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bremen, IL and New Salem, 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
21 mi·24 min·IL 255
12
Continue on US 67
26 mi·30 min·Godfrey Road
13
Continue on US 67
8.1 mi·9 min·United States Route 67
14
Continue on US 67
1.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
15
Continue on US 67
2.4 mi·2 min·South State Avenue
16
Continue on US 67
1.4 mi·1 min·South State Street
17
Continue on US 67
2.3 mi·2 min·1440 E
18
Continue on US 67
12 mi·13 min·Main Street
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 72 West: Springfield
20
Merge onto I 72; US 36
29 mi·31 min·I 72; US 36
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward Pittsfield, New Salem
22
Turn right onto Pittsfield Road
2.7 mi·6 min·Pittsfield Road
23
Turn right onto Griggsville Street
75 ft·2 sec·Griggsville Street
24
Arrive at destination
Griggsville Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 44m duration and 181.4-mile distance, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow for any unexpected delays and to arrive with plenty of daylight. The $28 fuel cost suggests keeping an eye on your gas gauge, especially before longer stretches like the 29 miles on I 72, as services can be spaced out. While only one stop is recommended, consider a brief break around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refresh. The mixed drive means you'll shift between highway speeds and potentially slower local road conditions, so be prepared for that transition.
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 90.7 miles from Bremen, IL, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29 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 40 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.7 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Salem, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bremen, IL
This is one driving day of about 181.4 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Bremen, 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 I 72 for about 29 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 51.5 and 178.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
51.5 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
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.
4
149 mi into trip|~3h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 72 West: Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 72 West: Springfield
5
178.3 mi into trip|~3h 37m in
Take the exit toward Pittsfield, New Salem
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Pittsfield, New Salem
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.36 one way
$56.72 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.14
$62.28
premium
$4.89
$34.91
$69.82
diesel
$5.61
$40.05
$80.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.4
0
$19.05
$8.71
Efficient EV
45.4
0
$15.87
$7.26
EV Truck/SUV
72.6
0
$25.40
$11.61
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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 16, 2026
Origin
Bremen, IL
Late night
in Bremen on Tuesday
Local time
5:50 AM
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
New Salem, IL
Late night
in New Salem on Tuesday
Local time
5:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
33 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
3h 44m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive, with 58% of it on highways, primarily I 72. You'll experience a significant stretch of 29 miles on I 72 without needing to exit, allowing for a consistent pace. The drive transitions from interstate cruising to local roads like Godfrey Road and IL 255, providing some variety. While not exclusively a high-speed interstate grind, the highway share ensures much of your time will be spent on faster-paced roads. Expect a straightforward driving experience with predictable conditions for the majority of the journey.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29 mi on I 72.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 51.5 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 44m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 51.5 miles: Navigation decision point; 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.
The longest stretch is about 29 miles on I 72. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 51.5 miles: Navigation decision point; 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at New Salem, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
