Marion, IL to Berwyn, IL is 316 miles and takes about 5h 56m via I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving north through the Midwest. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on major highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day transit. The route is designed for efficiency, so if you're looking to get from point A to point B without much fuss, this is a solid option. Plan for a relatively quick trip with minimal complexity.
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
158 miles from Marion, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
178.5 mi
3h 11m
Ken Gray Expressway
110.1 mi
1h 58m
South Cicero Avenue
11.6 mi
18m
Cicero Avenue
10.8 mi
17m
West Cermak Road
2.6 mi
5m
West Main Street
1.3 mi
2m
Vollmer Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 178.5 mi, about 3h 11m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,006 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,239
Quietest
3 AM
~158 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Marion, IL and Berwyn, IL.
1
Start on this road
151 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn right
80 ft·11 sec
3
Turn left onto West Main Street
1.3 mi·2 min·West Main Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
5
Merge onto I 57
43 mi·46 min·Ken Gray Expressway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
179 mi·3 hr 11 min·I 57
Toward I 57 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 342Toward Vollmer RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
522 ft·17 sec
Exit 342Toward Vollmer Road WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto CH B66
0.4 mi·39 sec·Vollmer Road
11
Turn left onto IL 50
11 mi·17 min·Cicero Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on IL 50
12 mi·18 min·South Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto West Cermak Road
2.6 mi·5 min·West Cermak Road
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
West Cermak Road
Trip Plan
Consider departing in the morning to make the most of daylight, especially since the drive is under 6 hours. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel; while the estimated cost is $49, it's always wise to top off before heading out. The longest stretch without a major road change is 178.5 miles on I 57, so plan your break before or after this segment. Watch for the transition from highway to urban surface roads around Berwyn.
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 158 miles from Marion, IL, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 178.5 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 70 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158 miles or 2h 52m 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 40m
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 Marion, 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 Marion, IL
This is one driving day of about 316 miles and 5h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Marion, 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 57 for about 178.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 290.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
44.4 mi into trip|~49m in|I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
111.8 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
290.4 mi into trip|~5h 14m in
Take the exit toward Vollmer Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 342
Toward Vollmer Road
9
290.6 mi into trip|~5h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Vollmer Road West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 342
Toward Vollmer Road West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.67 one way
$93.33 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$51.52
$103.04
premium
$4.72
$58.67
$117.34
diesel
$4.80
$59.67
$119.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.8
1
$33.18
$15.17
Efficient EV
79
0
$27.65
$12.64
EV Truck/SUV
126.4
1
$44.24
$20.22
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Marion, IL
Late night
in Marion on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 7 mph43% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Berwyn, IL
Late night
in Berwyn on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Smoke
SW 5 to 10 mph44% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
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
5h 56m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 305.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 91% of the 316 miles spent on major roadways like I 57. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 178.5 miles on I 57 before transitioning to surface streets. The latter part of your trip involves navigating Ken Gray Expressway and South Cicero Avenue, which typically means increased traffic and more frequent exits as you approach the Chicago metropolitan area. Be prepared for this change in driving environment.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 178.5 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 316 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 44.4 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 111.8 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
791 ft425 ft
Total Climb
564 ft
Total Descent
371 ft
Highest Point
791 ft
~203.2 mi in
Elevation Range
366 ft
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 Marion, IL to Berwyn, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Vollmer Road West along the way.
Marion is a city in Southern Illinois. Named in honor of Francis Marion and settled in 1839, Marion isn't exactly replete with places to see but has forests and recreational areas nearby.
Top landmarks
•Marion Veterans Affairs Medical Center — hospital in Marion, Illinois, United States
•Williamson County Jail — former county jail in Marion, Illinois
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 56m. Total distance: 316 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 178.5 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 45 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 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 Berwyn, 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 45 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 44.4 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 111.8 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Berwyn, IL before the return drive.
