Waterloo, IL to Berwyn, IL is 306.8 miles and takes about 5h 47m via I 55 and IL 3, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, taking you through the Midwest's varied landscapes. The route is primarily on the interstate, making it a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day travel time, this is a convenient option for reaching your destination efficiently.
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
153.4 miles from Waterloo, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
272.6 mi
5h
IL 3
27.7 mi
32m
South Harlem Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
North Market Street
1.4 mi
3m
Riverside Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Oak Park Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
West Mill Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
West Cermak Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 272.6 mi, about 5h
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,778 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,331
Quietest
2 AM
~165 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Waterloo, IL and Berwyn, IL.
1
Start on West Mill Street
258 ft·16 sec·West Mill Street
2
Turn left onto North Market Street
1.4 mi·3 min·North Market Street
3
Turn right onto IL 3
9.5 mi·10 min·IL 3
4
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 3
18 mi·21 min·IL 3
Toward I 255 North, IL 3 North, US 50 East: East Saint Louis, Chicago, Great River Road Illinois NorthUse the slight right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 North, I 70 East: Indianapolis, Chicago
6
Merge onto I 55; I 70; US 40
8.3 mi·9 min·I 55; I 70; US 40
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
Given the 5h 47m estimated drive time, leaving Waterloo in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. You'll have one primary road, I 55, for the bulk of your travel, covering 272.6 miles. While there's only one recommended stop, plan for breaks as needed, especially during the longer interstate segment. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $49, and services are plentiful along I 55. The final approach on IL 3 and South Harlem Avenue will involve more local traffic.
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 153.4 miles from Waterloo, IL, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 272.6 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 67 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 153.4 miles or 2h 51m 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 41m
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 Waterloo, 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 Waterloo, IL
This is one driving day of about 306.8 miles and 5h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Waterloo, 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 272.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 11 and 302.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
11 mi into trip|~14m in|IL 3
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 3 toward I 255 North, IL 3 North, US 50 East: East Saint Louis, Chicago, Great River Road Illinois North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 255 North, IL 3 North, US 50 East: Eas...
6
38.3 mi into trip|~47m 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
146.1 mi into trip|~2h 44m 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
175.5 mi into trip|~3h 15m 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
302.5 mi into trip|~5h 38m 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
$51.18 one way
$102.36 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$55.84
$111.68
premium
$5.25
$63.45
$126.90
diesel
$6.28
$75.81
$151.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92
1
$32.21
$14.73
Efficient EV
76.7
0
$26.85
$12.27
EV Truck/SUV
122.7
1
$42.95
$19.64
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Waterloo, IL
Late night
in Waterloo on Thursday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Clear
SE 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Berwyn, IL
Late night
in Berwyn on Thursday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Clear
SSW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
43°F
Athens, IL
153 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
7 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 47m 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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 116.4
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 306.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 98% of the 306.8 miles on major roads like I 55. You'll experience a long stretch of 272.6 miles on I 55 before transitioning to surface streets. Expect numerous exits along the interstate portion, indicating a well-traveled corridor. The final segment on South Harlem Avenue will feel more like local driving.
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: 272.6 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and IL 3. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11 miles in near IL 3.
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 306.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 11 miles (IL 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 146.1 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
759 ft522 ft
Total Climb
424 ft
Total Descent
512 ft
Highest Point
759 ft
~175.7 mi in
Elevation Range
237 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waterloo, IL and Berwyn, IL, road signs point toward Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City and Peoria.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 47m. Total distance: 306.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 47m 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 272.6 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 11 miles (IL 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 146.1 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 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 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.
