Malta, IL to Bremen, IL is 324.9 miles and takes about 6h 19m via I 55 and I 39, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This all-Illinois drive takes you through the Midwest, staying within the same state for the entire trip. Given the relatively short duration, it's an easy one-day excursion. The route is primarily highway, making for straightforward travel between these two points. Plan on a single stop to break up the drive if needed.
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
162.4 miles from Malta, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
142.7 mi
2h 34m
I 39
98.5 mi
1h 45m
IL 3
23.3 mi
28m
North Illinois Street
9.8 mi
15m
South Illinois Street
8.3 mi
12m
Main Street
8 mi
11m
IL 38
8 mi
11m
US 51
7.6 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 142.7 mi, about 2h 34m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,806 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,393
Quietest
2 AM
~158 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Malta, IL and Bremen, IL.
1
Start on Adams Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·Adams Street
2
Turn right onto CH 6
0.4 mi·1 min·2nd Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto IL 38
7.6 mi·11 min·IL 38
4
Continue on IL-38
0.4 mi·37 sec·IL-38
5
Continue on IL 38
0.3 mi·37 sec·IL 38
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·38 sec
7
Merge onto I 39; US 51
99 mi·1 hr 45 min·I 39; US 51
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51
7.6 mi·8 min·US 51
Toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur
9
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.
10
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.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 15AToward IL 159 South: Collinsville
12
Continue on IL 159
3.0 mi·4 min·Vandalia Street
13
Continue on IL 159
1.3 mi·1 min·South Morrison Avenue
14
Continue on IL 159
9.8 mi·15 min·North Illinois Street
15
Enter roundabout onto IL 159
181 ft·4 sec·South Illinois Street
16
Continue on IL 159
8.3 mi·12 min·South Illinois Street
17
Continue on IL 159
6.1 mi·9 min·State Route 159
18
Continue on IL 156; IL 159
0.2 mi·19 sec·North Main Street
19
Continue on IL 159
0.2 mi·13 sec·N Main St
20
Continue on IL 159
8.0 mi·11 min·Main Street
21
Continue on IL 3
23 mi·28 min·IL 3
22
Turn left onto IL 150
6.1 mi·10 min·State Street
23
Turn slight left onto Chester Road
0.2 mi·34 sec·Chester Road
24
Arrive at destination
Chester Road
Trip Plan
For this 6h 19m drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to ensure you have ample daylight. The longest stretch of highway driving is 142.7 miles on I 55, so consider a brief stop before or during this segment for fuel or a stretch. With a total trip cost around $51 for fuel, it's an economical choice. Since this route is designed to be completed in a single day, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace. Keep an eye on the IL 3 segment as it will be your primary surface road experience near the end.
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 162.4 miles from Malta, IL, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 142.7 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 71 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162.4 miles or 2h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 56m
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 Malta, 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 Malta, IL
This is one driving day of about 324.9 miles and 6h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Malta, 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 142.7 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 0.5 and 258.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|IL 38
At end of road, turn left onto IL 38
Navigation decision point
6
107.8 mi into trip|~2h in|US 51
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51 toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champai...
8
115.4 mi into trip|~2h 8m 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
180.2 mi into trip|~3h 18m 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
258.1 mi into trip|~4h 42m 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
$54.20 one way
$108.39 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg114 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$59.13
$118.27
premium
$5.25
$67.19
$134.39
diesel
$6.28
$80.28
$160.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
EV Charging Along Route
39 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Peru, IL - Tesla Supercharger
Peru, IL
Tesla
20 DCFC
Springfield, IL - South Dirksen Parkway - Tesla Supercharger
Springfield, IL
Tesla
16 DCFC
Normal, IL - East College Avenue - Tesla Supercharger
Normal, IL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Normal, IL - West Raab Road - Tesla Supercharger
Normal, IL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Springfield, IL - West Jefferson Street - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
97.5
1
$34.11
$15.60
Efficient EV
81.2
0
$28.43
$13.00
EV Truck/SUV
130
1
$45.49
$20.79
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 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 Oct 24, 2026
Origin
Malta, IL
Morning
in Malta on Saturday
Local time
11:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bremen, IL
Morning
in Bremen on Saturday
Local time
11:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
E 2 mph1% chanceLive 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
6h 19m 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
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 179.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on the highway, with 88% of the 324.9 miles on high-speed roads like I 55 and I 39. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 142.7 miles on I 55. Expect denser traffic and more frequent exits as you navigate these interstate segments. The transition to surface roads will occur later in the drive, signaling the approach to your destination.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 142.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 39. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near IL 38.
Driving Effort5/10
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 324.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.5 miles (IL 38): Navigation decision point; at 107.8 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.4 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
913 ft470 ft
Total Climb
298 ft
Total Descent
649 ft
Highest Point
913 ft
Elevation Range
443 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Malta, IL and Bremen, IL, road signs point toward Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur and Springfield.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 19m. Total distance: 324.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 19m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 142.7 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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. There are 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (IL 38): Navigation decision point; at 107.8 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.4 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 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 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.
