This 317.4-mile journey from University Park, IL to Bremen, IL is a solid day trip, clocking in at about 6 hours and 7 minutes of pure driving time. You'll spend most of your time on interstates, making it a highway-focused drive through the Midwest. With a fuel cost estimated around $50, it's an accessible route for a single day's adventure. While it's designed for one day, you'll want to plan for at least one stop to break up the journey. The drive is primarily on I-57 and I-64, offering a straightforward path between these two Illinois locations.
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
158.7 miles from University Park, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
238.3 mi
4h 15m
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
South Governors Highway
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 238.3 mi, about 4h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between University Park, IL and Bremen, IL.
1
Start on this road
203 ft·16 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Sandra Drive
244 ft·12 sec·Sandra Drive
3
Turn right onto Burnham Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Burnham Drive
4
Turn left onto CH 49
1.8 mi·3 min·University Parkway
5
Turn left onto Stuenkel Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Stuenkel Road
6
Turn left onto South Governors Highway
2.2 mi·3 min·South Governors Highway
7
Turn right onto CH 21
1.1 mi·2 min·West Monee Manhattan Road
8
Turn left
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I-57 South: Kankakee
9
Merge onto I 57
177 mi·3 hr 10 min·I 57
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
61 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 64 West: Saint Louis
12
Merge onto I 64
23 mi·24 min·I 64
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward IL 127
14
Turn straight onto IL 127
22 mi·27 min·IL 127
15
Turn right onto IL 13; IL 154
0.6 mi·50 sec·West Water Street
16
Turn straight onto IL 13; IL 154
0.4 mi·34 sec·Kennedy Drive
17
Enter roundabout onto IL 154
168 ft·2 sec·IL 154
18
Continue on IL 154
8.9 mi·13 min·IL 154
19
Turn left onto IL 150
4.2 mi·7 min·IL 150
20
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 150
6.6 mi·11 min·Main Street
21
Continue on IL 4; IL 150
5.9 mi·10 min·Shawneetown
22
Turn sharp right onto Chester Road
0.2 mi·34 sec·Chester Road
23
Arrive at destination
Chester Road
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration, consider an early morning departure from University Park to maximize daylight and arrive in Bremen at a reasonable hour. Plan for one main stop to refuel and stretch, which should be manageable given the longest stretch is 238.3 miles. The $50 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but always check current prices. Since this is a single-day trip primarily on interstates, you have flexibility in timing your stops. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially around larger towns you'll pass through on I-57.
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 158.7 miles from University Park, IL, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 238.3 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 70 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.7 miles or 2h 56m 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 45m
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 University Park, 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 University Park, IL
This is one driving day of about 317.4 miles and 6h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from University Park, 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 238.3 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 317.1 — 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|Sandra Drive
Turn right onto Sandra Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Burnham Drive
Turn right onto Burnham Drive
Navigation decision point
5
6.2 mi into trip|~12m in
Turn left toward I-57 South: Kankakee
Navigation decision point
Toward I-57 South: Kankakee
5
183.7 mi into trip|~3h 23m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
5
317.1 mi into trip|~6h 6m in|Chester Road
Turn sharp right onto Chester Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.62 one way
$99.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$54.48
$108.97
premium
$4.89
$61.08
$122.16
diesel
$5.61
$70.08
$140.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.2
1
$33.33
$15.24
Efficient EV
79.4
0
$27.77
$12.70
EV Truck/SUV
127
1
$44.44
$20.31
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 Apr 14, 2026
Origin
University Park, IL
Morning
in University Park on Tuesday
Local time
8:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bremen, IL
Morning
in Bremen on Tuesday
Local time
8:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
S 17 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 14 at 12:19PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:55AM CDT until April 20 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
67°F
Shelbyville, IL
159 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
23 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
6h 7m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a largely highway-focused experience on this route, with 94% of the drive taking place on major interstates like I-57, I-64, and IL 127. The personality of this drive is one of efficiency, with a significant uninterrupted stretch of 238.3 miles on I-57. While it's not a winding scenic byway, the consistent highway travel means you can maintain a steady pace. This route is designed for covering ground, offering a direct connection between your origin and destination with minimal detours.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 238.3 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 64. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Sandra Drive.
Driving Effort5/10
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 317.4 miles you will encounter 17 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 (Sandra Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Burnham Drive): Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 7m. Total distance: 317.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 238.3 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bremen, 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: near the start (Sandra Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Burnham Drive): Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bremen, IL before the return drive.
