Jacksonville to Bremen is 156.8 miles and takes about 3h 16m via IL 3 and US 67, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region as you head northeast. Expect a mixed drive that balances quicker highway sections with more local road travel. With its manageable distance and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day journey, offering a straightforward connection between your starting and ending points.
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
78.4 miles from Jacksonville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North 5th Street
26.4 mi
31m
IL 3
23.3 mi
28m
United States Route 67
20.4 mi
23m
IL 255
19.5 mi
22m
I 255
14.9 mi
17m
New Missouri Avenue
8.8 mi
10m
Main Street
8 mi
11m
South Illinois Street
7.2 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
North 5th Street
— 26.4 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, IL and Bremen, IL.
1
Start on South Central Park Plaza
159 ft·8 sec·South Central Park Plaza
2
Turn left onto South Mauvaisterre Street
378 ft·12 sec·South Mauvaisterre Street
3
Turn left onto North Central Park Plaza
383 ft·12 sec·North Central Park Plaza
4
Turn left onto North Sandy Street
377 ft·12 sec·North Sandy Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto South Central Park Plaza
189 ft·5 sec·South Central Park Plaza
6
Turn right onto South Main Street
3.1 mi·4 min·South Main Street
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
8
Merge onto I 72; US 36
3.3 mi·3 min·I 72; US 36
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 67 South: Alton
10
Merge onto US 67
12 mi·13 min·United States Route 67
11
Continue on US 67
2.3 mi·2 min·1440 E
12
Continue on US 67
1.4 mi·1 min·North State Street
13
Continue on US 67
2.4 mi·2 min·South State Avenue
14
Continue on US 67
1.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
15
Continue on US 67
8.1 mi·9 min·United States Route 67
16
Continue on US 67
26 mi·31 min·North 5th Street
17
Continue on IL 255
20 mi·22 min·IL 255
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 255
15 mi·17 min·I 255
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 17AToward IL 15 East: BellevilleUse the right lane.
20
Continue on IL 15
8.8 mi·10 min·New Missouri Avenue
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
22
Keep slight right at fork
150 ft·3 sec
23
Turn right onto IL 159
7.2 mi·10 min·South Illinois Street
24
Continue on IL 159
6.1 mi·9 min·State Route 159
25
Continue on IL 156; IL 159
0.2 mi·19 sec·North Main Street
26
Continue on IL 159
0.2 mi·13 sec·N Main St
27
Continue on IL 159
8.0 mi·11 min·Main Street
28
Continue on IL 3
23 mi·28 min·IL 3
29
Turn left onto IL 150
6.1 mi·10 min·State Street
30
Turn slight left onto Chester Road
0.2 mi·34 sec·Chester Road
31
Arrive at destination
Chester Road
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 16m estimated drive time, leaving Jacksonville in the morning will easily get you to Bremen with ample daylight. The route is only 156.8 miles, so you won't need extensive stops, but plan for one to stretch your legs or refuel if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $25, and it's always wise to top off before heading into longer stretches. Pay attention to the transitions between North 5th Street, IL 3, and US 67 as the road type changes to stay oriented.
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 78.4 miles from Jacksonville, IL, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.4 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 34 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.4 miles or 1h 33m 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 38m
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 Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, IL
This is one driving day of about 156.8 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Jacksonville, 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 North 5th Street for about 26.4 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 105.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Mauvaisterre Street
Turn left onto South Mauvaisterre Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Central Park Plaza
Turn left onto North Central Park Plaza
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|South Central Park Plaza
At end of road, turn left onto South Central Park Plaza
Navigation decision point
7
96.1 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward IL 15 East: Belleville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 17A
Toward IL 15 East: Belleville
5
105.5 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.51 one way
$49.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.92
$53.83
premium
$4.89
$30.17
$60.35
diesel
$5.61
$34.62
$69.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47
0
$16.46
$7.53
Efficient EV
39.2
0
$13.72
$6.27
EV Truck/SUV
62.7
0
$21.95
$10.04
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 15, 2026
Origin
Jacksonville, IL
Morning
in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
9:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bremen, IL
Morning
in Bremen on Sunday
Local time
9:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
4 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 16m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 drive offers a varied experience, with 56% of it on highways. You'll encounter a mix of faster-paced travel and more local road segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 26.4 miles on North 5th Street, providing a period of consistent driving before transitions occur. As you progress, expect the road character to shift, moving from potentially more urban or suburban surroundings in Jacksonville to a more rural feel as you approach Bremen.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.4 mi on North 5th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Mauvaisterre 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 156.8 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (South Mauvaisterre Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Central Park Plaza): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Central Park Plaza): Navigation decision point.
Jacksonville is in western Illinois. It's a small town but packed with history, exuding an inexplicable charm captured in the eponymous song "Jacksonville" by Sufjan Stevens.
Top landmarks
•Jacksonville Historic District — historic district in Illinois, USA
•Morgan County Courthouse — local government building in the United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 156.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.4 miles on North 5th Street. 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: near the start (South Mauvaisterre Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Central Park Plaza): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Central Park Plaza): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Bremen, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
