Shields, IL to Berwyn, IL is 263.3 miles and takes about 5h 36m via I 57 and County Road 925 E, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Illinois. Given its mostly highway profile and manageable duration, it's a straightforward drive. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it a practical option for a quick trip between these two points. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to cover the distance without extensive planning.
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
131.6 miles from Shields, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
179.3 mi
3h 12m
County Road 925 E
16.2 mi
24m
United States Route 45
14.9 mi
22m
South Cicero Avenue
11.6 mi
18m
Cicero Avenue
10.8 mi
17m
US 50
7.6 mi
8m
County Highway 13
5.7 mi
13m
County Road 250E
4.8 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 179.3 mi, about 3h 12m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~783 veh/hr typical
Quietest
3 AM
~77 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 5 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 Shields, IL and Berwyn, IL.
Toward I 57 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 342Toward Vollmer RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork
522 ft·17 sec
Exit 342Toward Vollmer Road WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
28
Turn right onto CH B66
0.4 mi·39 sec·Vollmer Road
29
Turn left onto IL 50
11 mi·17 min·Cicero Avenue
Use the left lane.
30
Continue on IL 50
12 mi·18 min·South Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Turn left onto West Cermak Road
2.6 mi·5 min·West Cermak Road
Use the left lane.
32
Arrive at destination
West Cermak Road
Trip Plan
With a driving time of just under 6 hours, this route is easily completed in a single day. Leaving Shields, IL in the morning will give you ample time to reach Berwyn, IL before evening. The longest stretch without a planned stop is 179.3 miles on I 57, so plan your fuel and restroom breaks accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point or when you see signs for services. Given the relatively short distance, you have flexibility to depart later if needed, but an early start is recommended to avoid potential traffic closer to Berwyn. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 57 to County Road 925 E as this marks the shift to surface roads.
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 131.6 miles from Shields, IL, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 179.3 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 58 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.6 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 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 Shields, 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 Shields, IL
This is one driving day of about 263.3 miles and 5h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Shields, 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 179.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 237.9 — 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|2350 North
Turn right onto 2350 North
Navigation decision point
5
15.9 mi into trip|~38m in|Front Street
Turn right onto Front Street
Navigation decision point
7
59.1 mi into trip|~1h 42m 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
237.6 mi into trip|~4h 53m 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
237.9 mi into trip|~4h 54m 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
$38.88 one way
$77.77 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$42.93
$85.85
premium
$4.72
$48.89
$97.77
diesel
$4.80
$49.72
$99.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79
0
$27.65
$12.64
Efficient EV
65.8
0
$23.04
$10.53
EV Truck/SUV
105.3
1
$36.86
$16.85
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Shields, IL
Late night
in Shields on Monday
Local time
1:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 3 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Berwyn, IL
Late night
in Berwyn on Monday
Local time
1:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
85°F
Shelby, IN
132 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
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
5h 36m 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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 254.2
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 on highways, with 79% of the 263.3 miles taking place on major roads like I 57. You'll encounter a long stretch of 179.3 miles on I 57 before transitioning to surface roads. The primary roads guiding you are I 57, County Road 925 E, and United States Route 45. Expect a consistent cruising experience for the majority of the trip before reaching less developed stretches.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 179.3 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and County Road 925 E. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 2350 North.
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 263.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 (2350 North): Navigation decision point; at 15.9 miles (Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 59.1 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
791 ft491 ft
Total Climb
408 ft
Total Descent
282 ft
Highest Point
791 ft
~150.4 mi in
Elevation Range
300 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Shields, IL and Berwyn, IL, road signs point toward Terre Haute and Vollmer Road West.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 36m. Total distance: 263.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 179.3 miles on I 57. 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 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 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (2350 North): Navigation decision point; at 15.9 miles (Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 59.1 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 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 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.
