Brookside, IL to Bremen, IL is 332.3 miles and takes about 6h 43m via I 55 and IL 47, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Illinois for its entirety. Expect a fairly straightforward drive that primarily utilizes interstate highways before transitioning to state routes. It's a manageable distance for a single day, making it a convenient option if you're looking to cover ground efficiently within the state.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
166.2 miles from Brookside, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
205.1 mi
3h 40m
IL 47
23.7 mi
27m
IL 3
23.3 mi
28m
North Illinois Street
9.8 mi
15m
North Bridge Street
9.6 mi
15m
South Illinois Street
8.3 mi
12m
Main Street
8 mi
11m
State Route 159
6.1 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 205.1 mi, about 3h 40m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 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 Brookside, IL and Bremen, IL.
1
Start on Circle Drive
420 ft·19 sec·Circle Drive
2
Turn left onto Brookside West Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Brookside West Drive
3
At end of road, turn right onto IL 64
1.3 mi·2 min·IL 64
4
Turn left onto Anderson Road
2.3 mi·3 min·Anderson Road
5
Turn right onto IL 38
0.8 mi·1 min·Lincoln Highway
6
Turn left onto IL 47
4.6 mi·7 min·North Main Street
7
Continue on IL 47
1.0 mi·1 min·IL 47
8
Continue on IL 47
0.5 mi·41 sec·IL 47
9
Continue on IL 47
0.9 mi·1 min·Route 47
10
Continue on IL 47
3.3 mi·5 min·Illinois Route 47
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on US 30; IL 47
2.8 mi·3 min·United States Route 30
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on North Bridge Street
8.2 mi·13 min·North Bridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Continue on this road
10 mi·16 min·this road
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on North Bridge Street
1.3 mi·1 min·North Bridge Street
15
Continue on IL 47
22 mi·25 min·IL 47
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
17
Merge onto I 55
62 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
78 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 15AToward IL 159 South: Collinsville
21
Continue on IL 159
3.0 mi·4 min·Vandalia Street
22
Continue on IL 159
1.3 mi·1 min·South Morrison Avenue
23
Continue on IL 159
9.8 mi·15 min·North Illinois Street
24
Enter roundabout onto IL 159
181 ft·4 sec·South Illinois Street
25
Continue on IL 159
8.3 mi·12 min·South Illinois Street
26
Continue on IL 159
6.1 mi·9 min·State Route 159
27
Continue on IL 156; IL 159
0.2 mi·19 sec·North Main Street
28
Continue on IL 159
0.2 mi·13 sec·N Main St
29
Continue on IL 159
8.0 mi·11 min·Main Street
30
Continue on IL 3
23 mi·28 min·IL 3
31
Turn left onto IL 150
6.1 mi·10 min·State Street
32
Turn slight left onto Chester Road
0.2 mi·34 sec·Chester Road
33
Arrive at destination
Chester Road
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 43m estimated drive time, leaving Brookside in the morning should allow you to reach Bremen with plenty of daylight to spare. The longest stretch without a significant break is over 200 miles on I 55, so plan a fuel and rest stop before or around that point. With a fuel cost estimated at $51, it’s a budget-friendly trip. Since this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility; consider departing earlier if traffic is a concern or if you simply prefer a more relaxed 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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 166.2 miles from Brookside, IL, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 205.1 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 73 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166.2 miles or 3h 19m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bremen, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brookside, 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 Brookside, IL
This is one driving day of about 332.3 miles and 6h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Brookside, 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 55 for about 205.1 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 60.1 and 265.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
60.1 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
5
60.4 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
122.8 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
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 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
7
187.6 mi into trip|~3h 42m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
5
265.5 mi into trip|~5h 6m in
Take the exit toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 15A
Toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.70 one way
$101.39 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg116 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$55.84
$111.67
premium
$4.81
$62.88
$125.75
diesel
$5.40
$70.69
$141.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.7
1
$34.89
$15.95
Efficient EV
83.1
0
$29.08
$13.29
EV Truck/SUV
132.9
1
$46.52
$21.27
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 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 Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Brookside, IL
Morning
in Brookside on Sunday
Local time
7:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bremen, IL
Morning
in Bremen on Sunday
Local time
7:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
NE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
63°F
Springfield, IL
166 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
10 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
6h 43m 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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 183.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 80% of the 332.3 miles on interstates. You'll experience a significant stretch of 205.1 miles on I 55, offering a consistent cruising experience. After that, the drive shifts to state roads like IL 47 and IL 3, which will likely present more varied traffic and potentially more exits. Be prepared for the change in pace as you move from the open interstate to more developed local highways.
80% 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: 205.1 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and IL 47. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 60.1 miles in.
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 332.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 60.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 60.4 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 122.8 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.
On the drive from Brookside, IL to Bremen, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Springfield along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 43m. Total distance: 332.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 43m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 205.1 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 Bremen, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 60.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 60.4 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 122.8 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 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bremen, IL before the return drive.
