Germantown Hills to Berwyn is 144.2 miles and takes about 3h 6m via I 55, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive that keeps you within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, for its entirety. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it a predictable journey for those looking for efficiency. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under four hours, this route is ideal for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
72.1 miles from Germantown Hills, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
96.5 mi
1h 50m
East State Street
11.8 mi
17m
West Main Street
9.2 mi
14m
East 3100 North Road
7 mi
9m
Boyd Parkway
6.9 mi
10m
Nofsinger Road
3.8 mi
6m
South Harlem Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
State Route 116
2.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 96.5 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Germantown Hills, IL and Berwyn, IL.
1
Start on IL 116
0.3 mi·33 sec·State Route 116
2
Continue on IL 116
2.2 mi·4 min·State Route 116
3
Turn right onto Nofsinger Road
2.0 mi·3 min·Nofsinger Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto Tazewood Road
73 ft·4 sec·Tazewood Road
5
Turn right onto Nofsinger Road
1.8 mi·3 min·Nofsinger Road
6
Turn left onto US 24
6.9 mi·10 min·Boyd Parkway
7
Continue on US 24
2.0 mi·3 min·West Center Street
8
Continue on US 24
12 mi·17 min·East State Street
9
Continue on US 24
9.2 mi·14 min·West Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 24
7.0 mi·9 min·East 3100 North Road
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 55 North: Joliet
12
Merge onto I 55
97 mi·1 hr 50 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 283Toward IL 43: Harlem AvenueUse the right lane.
14
Turn left onto IL 43
2.9 mi·5 min·South Harlem Avenue
15
Turn right onto Riverside Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Riverside Drive
16
Turn slight left onto Oak Park Avenue
0.1 mi·26 sec·Oak Park Avenue
17
Turn left onto West Cermak Road
91 ft·1 sec·West Cermak Road
18
Arrive at destination
West Cermak Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of around 3 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon should allow ample time to complete the 144.2-mile journey before evening. The longest stretch on I 55 is nearly 100 miles, so plan for a fuel stop before you embark if your tank is low, as opportunities might be less frequent during that segment. With only one recommended stop, consider making it a brief refuel or stretch break to maximize your time on the road.
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 72.1 miles from Germantown Hills, IL, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.5 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 32 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.1 miles or 1h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Berwyn, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Germantown Hills, 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 Germantown Hills, IL
This is one driving day of about 144.2 miles and 3h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Germantown Hills, 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 96.5 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.4 and 144.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.4 mi into trip|~7m in|Tazewood Road
At end of road, turn left onto Tazewood Road
Navigation decision point
5
43.2 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 North: Joliet
Navigation decision point
Toward I 55 North: Joliet
5
43.5 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
140 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Take the exit toward IL 43: Harlem Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 283
Toward IL 43: Harlem Avenue
5
144.2 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|West Cermak Road
Turn left onto West Cermak Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.54 one way
$45.09 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.75
$49.50
premium
$4.89
$27.75
$55.50
diesel
$5.61
$31.84
$63.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.3
0
$15.14
$6.92
Efficient EV
36.1
0
$12.62
$5.77
EV Truck/SUV
57.7
0
$20.19
$9.23
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Germantown Hills, IL
Morning
in Germantown Hills on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NW 16 mph24% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 4:02AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 3:59AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Berwyn, IL
Morning
in Berwyn on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Chance Rain Showers
W 15 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 4:02AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 3:59AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 6m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 139.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 73% of the route utilizing major highways like I 55. Expect stretches where you'll be covering ground efficiently, including one continuous segment of 96.5 miles on I 55. While the majority is interstate, the initial and final portions may involve navigating local roads such as East State Street and West Main Street. The transition between these highway and local road segments is where you'll notice the most change in driving pace and environment.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 96.5 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and East State Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.4 miles in near Tazewood Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 6m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.4 miles (Tazewood Road): Navigation decision point; at 43.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 43.5 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 96.5 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.
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 4.4 miles (Tazewood Road): Navigation decision point; at 43.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 43.5 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Berwyn, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
