Lucy's Kitchen
Early in the drive, right off the route
Gilman, Illinois
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18152657625
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 21m
Distance
329.8 mi
531 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$52
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Holland, IL
Wikimedia Commons
This 329.8-mile drive from South Holland, Illinois, to Bremen, Illinois, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 6 hours and 21 minutes. With 94% of the journey on highways, it's a focused drive primarily utilizing I-57, I-64, and IL-127. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $52. As both your origin and destination are within the Midwest region, you'll experience a consistent landscape throughout. This route is a straightforward option for those looking to cover a significant distance efficiently, making it a practical choice for a day trip or the start of a longer adventure.
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
164.9 miles from South Holland, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 3m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 248.1 mi | 4h 27m |
| I 64 | 22.9 mi | 24m |
| IL 127 | 22 mi | 27m |
| IL 154 | 8.9 mi | 13m |
| Main Street | 6.6 mi | 11m |
| Shawneetown | 5.9 mi | 10m |
| IL 150 | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| I 80 | 4.1 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between South Holland, IL and Bremen, IL.
Start on US 6
Continue on US 6
Turn left onto IL 1
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 80; I 294
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
Take the exit
Merge onto I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
Take the exit
Merge onto I 64
Take the exit
Turn straight onto IL 127
Turn right onto IL 13; IL 154
Turn straight onto IL 13; IL 154
Enter roundabout onto IL 154
Continue on IL 154
Turn left onto IL 150
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 150
Continue on IL 4; IL 150
Turn sharp right onto Chester Road
Arrive at destination
Given the 6-hour and 21-minute duration, starting your drive from South Holland early in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic. With only one planned stop and a 248.1-mile stretch on I-57, plan your first rest break strategically before or after this long segment. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer highway portions, and factor in the estimated $52 fuel cost. The flexibility of this drive, being achievable in one day, means you can adjust your pace as needed, but staying aware of the main roads – I-57, I-64, and IL-127 – will ensure a smooth journey.
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.
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 73 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.9 miles or 3h 3m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bremen, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving South Holland, 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 South Holland, IL
This is one driving day of about 329.8 miles and 6h 21m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
165 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 164.9 miles from South Holland, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 248.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Gilman, Illinois
Early in the drive, right off the route
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18152657625
Crossroads Cantina
Gilman, Illinois
Paxton Family Restaurant
Paxton, Illinois
Early in the drive, right off the route
Gilman, Illinois
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18152657625
Early in the drive, short detour
Gilman, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+18157075200
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Paxton, Illinois
Hours: 6 am–2 pm
+12173792777
Early in the drive, short detour
Paxton, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+12173793268
Later in the drive, short detour
Salem, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+16182670081
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Effingham, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+12173422605
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lansing, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm
+17084748100
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Effingham, Illinois
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Champaign, Illinois
+18668167584
Around the midpoint, short detour
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Mattoon, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Champaign, Illinois
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Effingham, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+12173528910
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Effingham, Illinois
Hours: 8 am–5 pm
+12175404277
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~11 min detour
Effingham, Illinois
Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm
+12172407175
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Effingham, Illinois
Hours: 6–10 am
+12175407716
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 196.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto IL 1 / Halsted Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Iowa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 57 South: Memphis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$51.56 one way
$103.12 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $56.61 | $113.22 |
| premium | $4.89 | $63.47 | $126.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $72.82 | $145.63 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.07
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 98.9 | 1 | $34.63 | $15.83 |
| Efficient EV | 82.5 | 0 | $28.86 | $13.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 131.9 | 1 | $46.17 | $21.11 |
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in South Holland on Sunday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Bremen on Sunday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 7:58AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 7:30AM CDT until April 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
73°F
Bruce, IL
165 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 329.8-mile trip, as 94% of the route utilizes major interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 248.1 miles along I-57, offering sustained periods of steady driving. While primarily interstate, the inclusion of IL-127 provides a slight variation in the road's personality as you progress. This isn't a winding scenic route, but rather a functional path designed for efficient travel between your starting point in South Holland and your destination in Bremen.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near IL 1 / Halsted Street.
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 329.8 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 1.5 miles (IL 1 / Halsted Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 21m. Total distance: 329.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 21m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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