The drive from Pekin, IL to Bremen, IL covers 214 miles and takes about 4h 20m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, I 155, IL 3 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 111.9 miles on I 55.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.65 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
107 miles from Pekin, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
111.9 mi
2h 1m
I 155
25.5 mi
27m
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
Court Street
7.7 mi
11m
State Route 159
6.1 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 111.9 mi, about 2h 1m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,745 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,160
Quietest
2 AM
~156 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Pekin, IL and Bremen, IL.
1
Start on South 8th Street
79 ft·6 sec·South 8th Street
2
Turn left onto Broadway Street
360 ft·17 sec·Broadway Street
3
Turn left onto Court Street
7.7 mi·11 min·Court Street
4
Continue on IL 9
1.8 mi·2 min·Pearl Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 155 South
6
Merge onto I 155
25 mi·27 min·I 155
7
Merge onto I 55
34 mi·37 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 15AToward IL 159 South: Collinsville
10
Continue on IL 159
3.0 mi·4 min·Vandalia Street
11
Continue on IL 159
1.3 mi·1 min·South Morrison Avenue
12
Continue on IL 159
9.8 mi·15 min·North Illinois Street
13
Enter roundabout onto IL 159
181 ft·4 sec·South Illinois Street
14
Continue on IL 159
8.3 mi·12 min·South Illinois Street
15
Continue on IL 159
6.1 mi·9 min·State Route 159
16
Continue on IL 156; IL 159
0.2 mi·19 sec·North Main Street
17
Continue on IL 159
0.2 mi·13 sec·N Main St
18
Continue on IL 159
8.0 mi·11 min·Main Street
19
Continue on IL 3
23 mi·28 min·IL 3
20
Turn left onto IL 150
6.1 mi·10 min·State Street
21
Turn slight left onto Chester Road
0.2 mi·34 sec·Chester Road
22
Arrive at destination
Chester Road
Trip Plan
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 107 miles from Pekin, IL, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.9 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 47 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107 miles or 1h 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 3h 27m
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 Pekin, 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 Pekin, IL
This is one driving day of about 214 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Pekin, 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 111.9 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 0 and 161.5 — 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|Broadway Street
Turn left onto Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
5
35.3 mi into trip|~42m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
69.4 mi into trip|~1h 19m 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
147.3 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
Take the exit toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 15A
Toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
5
161.5 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|IL 159 / South Illinois Street
Enter roundabout onto IL 159 / South Illinois Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.65 one way
$65.30 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$35.96
$71.92
premium
$4.81
$40.49
$80.98
diesel
$5.40
$45.52
$91.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
EV Charging Along Route
4 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Universal Charging Station
Pekin, Illinois
Other
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Pekin, Illinois
EV Connect
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
North Pekin, Illinois
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Bartonville, Illinois
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 2
Other: 1
EV Connect: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.2
0
$22.47
$10.27
Efficient EV
53.5
0
$18.72
$8.56
EV Truck/SUV
85.6
1
$29.96
$13.70
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 26, 2026
Origin
Pekin, IL
Morning
in Pekin on Sunday
Local time
11:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
ESE 5 to 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:59AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:55AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Bremen, IL
Morning
in Bremen on Sunday
Local time
11:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Sunny
E 5 to 8 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:59AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:55AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
48°F
O'Fallon, IL
107 mi in
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
1 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
4h 20m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
214 mi in 4h 20m, mostly highway — 111.9 mi of that is on I 55.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.9 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 155. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Broadway Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 20m 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: near the start (Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.3 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.4 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 111.9 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: near the start (Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.3 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.4 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Bremen, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
