Spanning 361 miles across Illinois, this north-south journey from Metropolis to Berwyn typically takes 6 hours and 49 minutes of driving time. Because the route is straightforward, you can easily complete the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $55 for fuel to cover the distance. You will travel primarily on I-57, the Ken Gray Expressway, and I-24 as you transition through the Midwest. It is a practical, efficient path that favors speed over sightseeing, making it a reliable choice if your goal is simply to reach your destination in Berwyn by evening.
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
180.5 miles from Metropolis, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
178.5 mi
3h 11m
Ken Gray Expressway
119.1 mi
2h 8m
I 24
25.4 mi
27m
South Cicero Avenue
11.6 mi
18m
Cicero Avenue
10.8 mi
17m
North Avenue
6.3 mi
9m
New Columbia Road
4.3 mi
5m
West Cermak Road
2.6 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 178.5 mi, about 3h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metropolis, IL and Berwyn, IL.
1
Start on West 5th Street
45 ft·8 sec·West 5th Street
2
Turn left onto US 45
0.4 mi·1 min·Ferry Street
3
Turn left onto US 45
0.2 mi·29 sec·West 10th Street
4
Turn right onto Pearl Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·Pearl Street
5
Turn slight left onto North Avenue
6.3 mi·9 min·North Avenue
6
Continue on New Columbia Road
4.3 mi·5 min·New Columbia Road
7
Turn right onto Big Bay Road
0.4 mi·41 sec·Big Bay Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward New Columbia, Big Bay
9
Merge onto I 24
25 mi·27 min·I 24
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 44BToward I 57 North: Chicago
11
Merge onto I 57
52 mi·55 min·Ken Gray Expressway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
13
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.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 342Toward Vollmer RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
522 ft·17 sec
Exit 342Toward Vollmer Road WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto CH B66
0.4 mi·39 sec·Vollmer Road
17
Turn left onto IL 50
11 mi·17 min·Cicero Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on IL 50
12 mi·18 min·South Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto West Cermak Road
2.6 mi·5 min·West Cermak Road
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
West Cermak Road
Trip Plan
To keep your 6 hour and 49 minute drive manageable, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since you have a long, uninterrupted 178.5-mile segment on I-57, try to time your break for a point that falls outside of that stretch to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning to avoid the heaviest traffic as you approach the Berwyn area later in the day. Keep your $55 fuel budget in mind, and consider filling up before hitting the more congested sections of the route to save yourself the hassle of navigating local stations near your arrival point.
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 180.5 miles from Metropolis, IL, or about 3h 21m 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 79 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 180.5 miles or 3h 21m 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 30m
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 Metropolis, 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 Metropolis, IL
This is one driving day of about 361 miles and 6h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Metropolis, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 335.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|Pearl Street
Turn right onto Pearl Street
Navigation decision point
6
37.4 mi into trip|~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 44B
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
156.8 mi into trip|~2h 55m 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
335.4 mi into trip|~6h 7m 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
335.6 mi into trip|~6h 7m 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
$56.44 one way
$112.88 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg126 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$61.97
$123.93
premium
$4.89
$69.47
$138.94
diesel
$5.61
$79.70
$159.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.3
1
$37.90
$17.33
Efficient EV
90.3
1
$31.59
$14.44
EV Truck/SUV
144.4
1
$50.54
$23.10
Gas CO2
126 kg
EV CO2
42 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Metropolis, IL
Evening
in Metropolis on Saturday
Local time
8:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Berwyn, IL
Evening
in Berwyn on Saturday
Local time
8:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Sunny
S 15 to 20 mph12% 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 49m 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.
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
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 348.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive where 89% of your time will be spent on major interstates. You should prepare for a consistent, steady pace, highlighted by a significant 178.5-mile stretch along I-57. While the road lacks the technical challenges of winding backroads, the sheer duration requires focus during these long interstate segments. As you move from the southern tip of the state toward the Chicago suburbs, the environment shifts from rural landscapes to the denser infrastructure of the north. Expect a rhythmic, high-speed experience that prioritizes direct travel over complex navigation.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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?
8/10
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 around 0.6 miles in near Pearl Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 361 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: at 0.6 miles (Pearl Street): Navigation decision point; at 37.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 156.8 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
783 ft361 ft
Total Climb
972 ft
Total Descent
716 ft
Highest Point
783 ft
~255.7 mi in
Elevation Range
422 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 Metropolis, IL to Berwyn, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Vollmer Road West along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 49m. Total distance: 361 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 49m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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.
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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Pearl Street): Navigation decision point; at 37.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 156.8 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 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.7 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.
