The drive from Berwyn, IL to Alton, IL covers 277.7 miles and takes about 5h 21m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, Adlai Stevenson Expressway, State Route 140 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 127.4 miles on I 55.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.42 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
138.8 miles from Berwyn, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 21m. Total distance: 277.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 21m highway drive covering 277.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 127.4 miles on I 55.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 127.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Adlai Stevenson Expressway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Oak Park Avenue.
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 277.7 miles you will encounter 13 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 (Oak Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Oak Park Avenue
Turn right onto Oak Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
3.7 mi into trip|~7m in
Turn right
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
3.8 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 55 South
5
4 mi into trip|~8m in|I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge onto I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
129.9 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
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 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Berwyn, IL and Alton, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Greenville.
Springfield
129.9 mi in|~2h 30m|via I 55
Greenville
257.3 mi in|~4h 47m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
127.4 mi
2h 17m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
125.9 mi
2h 22m
State Route 140
9.6 mi
13m
College Avenue
3.9 mi
6m
South Harlem Avenue
2.8 mi
5m
East Bethalto Drive
1.8 mi
3m
East MacArthur Drive
1.4 mi
2m
West Macarthur Drive
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 127.4 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Berwyn, IL and Alton, IL.
1
Start on West Cermak Road
91 ft·5 sec·West Cermak Road
2
Turn right onto Oak Park Avenue
0.1 mi·21 sec·Oak Park Avenue
3
Turn right onto Riverside Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Riverside Drive
4
Turn left onto IL 43
2.8 mi·5 min·South Harlem Avenue
5
Turn right
137 ft·5 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 55 South
7
Merge onto I 55
126 mi·2 hr 22 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
63 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
11
Turn right onto IL 140
0.7 mi·1 min·East State Street
12
Continue on IL 140
9.6 mi·13 min·State Route 140
13
Continue on IL 140
1.8 mi·3 min·East Bethalto Drive
14
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
1.4 mi·2 min·East MacArthur Drive
15
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
1.3 mi·2 min·West Macarthur Drive
16
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
3.6 mi·6 min·College Avenue
17
Enter roundabout onto College Avenue
397 ft·7 sec·College Avenue
18
Continue on College Avenue
0.3 mi·27 sec·College Avenue
19
Turn left onto US 67
0.9 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Drive
20
Continue on US 67
0.4 mi·36 sec·Piasa Street
21
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·West 3rd Street
22
Turn right onto Alby Street
118 ft·5 sec·Alby Street
23
Arrive at destination
Alby Street
Trip Plan
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 138.8 miles from Berwyn, IL, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.4 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 61 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.8 miles or 2h 40m 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 Alton, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Berwyn, 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 Berwyn, IL
This is one driving day of about 277.7 miles and 5h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Berwyn, 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 127.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 138.8 mi from Berwyn, IL
· 2h 40m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 191.5
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...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.3
1
$29.16
$13.33
Efficient EV
69.4
0
$24.30
$11.11
EV Truck/SUV
111.1
1
$38.88
$17.77
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 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 15, 2026
Origin
Berwyn, IL
Afternoon
in Berwyn on Friday
Local time
2:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alton, IL
Afternoon
in Alton on Friday
Local time
2:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Bloomington, IL
139 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
10 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 21m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Berwyn, IL to Alton, IL covers 277.7 miles and takes about 5h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, Adlai Stevenson Expressway, State Route 140. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 138.8 miles from Berwyn, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.42 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 277.7 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Oak Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Berwyn, IL and Alton, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Greenville.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
