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Trip from Berwyn, IL to Galena, IL

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

3h 32m

Distance

161 mi

259 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 20m ★
6 AM
3h 32m
8 AM
3h 57m
10 AM
3h 41m
12 PM
3h 38m
3 PM
3h 42m
5 PM
3h 56m
8 PM
3h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Berwyn, IL

Wikimedia Commons

county seat of Jo Daviess County, Illinois

Galena, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Berwyn, IL to Galena, IL covers 161 miles and takes about 3h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Cermak Road, 1st Avenue Cutoff, Harrison Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.17 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

80.5 miles from Berwyn, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 3h 32m drive with frequent turns across 161 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Cermak Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Berwyn, IL to Galena, IL is easy. At 3h 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Berwyn, IL to Galena, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Cermak Road Unavailable Refreshing
1st Avenue Cutoff Unavailable Refreshing
Harrison Street Unavailable Refreshing
I 290 West Unavailable Refreshing
Eisenhower Expressway Unavailable Refreshing
IL 72 Unavailable Refreshing
East Higgins Road Unavailable Refreshing
North Meacham Road Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Cermak Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Berwyn, IL and Galena, IL.

1

Start on West Cermak Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Cermak Road
2

Continue on Cermak Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · Cermak Road
3

Turn slight right onto 1st Avenue Cutoff

1.7 mi · 3 min · 1st Avenue Cutoff
4

Turn left onto Harrison Street

354 ft · 10 sec · Harrison Street
5

Take the ramp slight left toward I 290 West

0.1 mi · 20 sec · I 290 West
6

Merge slight left onto Eisenhower Expressway

3.5 mi · 4 min · Eisenhower Expressway
7

Keep slight right to continue on I 290 West, I 294 North Toll: Rockford, Milwaukee

15 mi · 19 min · I 290 West, I 294 North Toll: Rockford, Milwaukee
8

Take the exit slight right toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Road, Golf Road

0.4 mi · 48 sec · IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Road, Golf Road
9

Turn left onto East Higgins Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Higgins Road
10

Turn right onto North Meacham Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Meacham Road
11

Turn left onto I 90 Toll West: Rockford

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 90 Toll West: Rockford
12

Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

49 mi · 52 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
13

Take the exit slight right toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington

0.7 mi · 1 min · I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
14

Merge slight right

0.5 mi · 30 sec
15

Continue straight

2.1 mi · 2 min
16

Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

30 mi · 34 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
17

Take the exit slight right toward US 20 BUS: Freeport

3.6 mi · 5 min · US 20 BUS: Freeport
18

Turn slight right onto South Galena Avenue

7.3 mi · 13 min · South Galena Avenue
19

Turn left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

14 mi · 19 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
20

Continue on East North Avenue

2.1 mi · 3 min · East North Avenue
21

Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

6.4 mi · 8 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
22

Continue on East Woodbine Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Woodbine Street
23

Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

4.6 mi · 6 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
24

Continue on South Main Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
25

Turn straight onto Diagonal Street

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Diagonal Street
26

Continue on West Madison Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Madison Street
27

Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

13 mi · 17 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
28

Continue on Decatur Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Decatur Street
29

Take the exit right

79 ft · 4 sec
30

Turn right onto South Main Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
31

Turn left onto Hill Street

253 ft · 17 sec · Hill Street
32

Turn left onto South Bench Street

52 ft · 2 sec · South Bench Street
33

Arrive at your destination

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 80.5 miles from Berwyn, IL, or about 1h 46m into the drive.

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 80 miles or 1h 45m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 80.5 miles or 1h 46m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 53m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Galena, 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 161 miles and 3h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 80.5 mi from Berwyn, IL · 1h 46m into the drive

Downtown Rockford, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

81 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 80.5 miles from Berwyn, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Galena, IL

The final approach into Galena, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Galena, IL.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.17 one way

$50.34 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 56 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $27.64 $55.27
premium $4.89 $30.98 $61.97
diesel $5.61 $35.55 $71.09

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48.3 0 $16.90 $7.73
Efficient EV 40.3 0 $14.09 $6.44
EV Truck/SUV 64.4 0 $22.54 $10.30

Gas CO2

56 kg

EV CO2

19 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Berwyn, IL

Night in Berwyn on Tuesday

Local time

11:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Galena, IL

Night in Galena on Tuesday

Local time

11:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

4 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

3h 32m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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 Galena, IL covers 161 miles and takes about 3h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Cermak Road, 1st Avenue Cutoff, Harrison Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80.5 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 $25.17 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Berwyn, IL to Galena, IL is easy. At 3h 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Berwyn, IL to Galena, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Berwyn, IL to Galena, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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