Washington Park, IL to Berwyn, IL is 282.9 miles and takes about 5h 18m via I 55, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, moving through the Midwest region. With 98% of the route on the highway, expect a fairly direct trip focused on covering distance efficiently. It's a straightforward drive, best suited for those prioritizing speed and simplicity over a leisurely exploration of smaller towns. Consider this if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
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
141.4 miles from Washington Park, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
276.4 mi
5h 4m
South Harlem Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
Kingshighway
1.7 mi
3m
Riverside Drive
0.8 mi
1m
IL 111
0.2 mi
<1m
Oak Park Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Collinsville Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
West Cermak Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 276.4 mi, about 5h 4m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,733 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,150
Quietest
2 AM
~161 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
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 Washington Park, IL and Berwyn, IL.
1
Start on North Park Drive
62 ft·4 sec·North Park Drive
2
Turn right onto IL 111
1.7 mi·3 min·Kingshighway
3
Turn left onto IL 111
373 ft·12 sec·Collinsville Road
4
Turn slight right onto IL 111
0.2 mi·35 sec·IL 111
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
6
Merge onto I 55; I 70; US 40
12 mi·13 min·I 55; I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
108 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi·31 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
127 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, PeoriaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 283Toward IL 43: Harlem AvenueUse the right lane.
11
Turn left onto IL 43
2.9 mi·5 min·South Harlem Avenue
12
Turn right onto Riverside Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Riverside Drive
13
Turn slight left onto Oak Park Avenue
0.1 mi·26 sec·Oak Park Avenue
14
Turn left onto West Cermak Road
91 ft·1 sec·West Cermak Road
15
Arrive at destination
West Cermak Road
Trip Plan
Since this drive is under six hours, you can easily complete it in one day. Leaving in the morning, around 9 AM, should allow you to arrive by mid-afternoon, well before evening traffic intensifies. The longest stretch on I 55 is over 270 miles, so plan for a fuel stop before you begin or be sure your tank is full, as services can be more spread out on the highway. With a $43 fuel estimate, it's a budget-friendly trip. You can take your time with stops, but consider a brief break around the halfway point to stretch your legs and stay alert for the final leg.
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 141.4 miles from Washington Park, IL, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 276.4 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 62 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.4 miles or 2h 35m 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 16m
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 Washington 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 Washington Park, IL
This is one driving day of about 282.9 miles and 5h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Washington 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 55 for about 276.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 278.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
14.4 mi into trip|~18m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springf...
7
122.3 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
8
151.6 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
7
278.7 mi into trip|~5h 9m in
Take the exit toward IL 43: Harlem Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 283
Toward IL 43: Harlem Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.78 one way
$83.56 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$46.12
$92.24
premium
$4.72
$52.53
$105.05
diesel
$4.80
$53.42
$106.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.9
1
$29.70
$13.58
Efficient EV
70.7
0
$24.75
$11.32
EV Truck/SUV
113.2
1
$39.61
$18.11
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Washington Park, IL
Late night
in Washington Park on Sunday
Local time
4:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Berwyn, IL
Late night
in Berwyn on Sunday
Local time
4:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SW 5 to 10 mph42% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
85°F
Bloomington, IL
141 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 18m 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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 87.8
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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 282.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 98% of the drive on I 55. You'll experience a long stretch of 276.4 miles on I 55, which means you'll encounter a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits. The transition to surface roads happens late in the trip, with South Harlem Avenue and Kingshighway making up the final 1.8% of the drive. Expect to see frequent exit signs and potentially some merging traffic as you approach your destination.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 276.4 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and South Harlem Avenue. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.
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 282.9 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 14.4 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
841 ft412 ft
Total Climb
654 ft
Total Descent
448 ft
Highest Point
841 ft
~161.7 mi in
Elevation Range
428 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Washington Park, IL and Berwyn, IL, road signs point toward Springfield, Kansas City and Peoria.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 18m. Total distance: 282.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 276.4 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 35 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 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 14.4 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 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.
