Bremen to Independence is 159 miles and takes about 3 hours 50 minutes via Godfrey Road and IL 255, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, taking you through the Midwest region. It's a straightforward, single-day drive that offers a practical way to travel between these two points. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient journey with a clear path and a manageable duration.
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
79.5 miles from Bremen, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 159 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 49% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on Godfrey Road, including one segment that lasts for 25.7 miles without interruption. The route transitions between these more open highway sections and other roads like IL 255 and IL 159. Expect a drive that balances higher-speed travel with potentially more local road characteristics as you progress towards your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Godfrey Road is the longest continuous segment at about 25.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 51.5 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 50m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 51.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 60 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.7 miles (I 255; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
51.5 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
60 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 255 North, US 50 North: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 255 North, US 50 North: Chicago
5
60.7 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|I 255; US 50
Merge onto I 255; US 50
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
120.5 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|IL 108 / North Main Street
Turn left onto IL 108 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
132 mi into trip|~2h 57m in|IL 100 / Broadway
At end of road, turn right onto IL 100 / Broadway
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Godfrey Road
25.7 mi
30m
IL 255
21 mi
24m
IL 159
19.2 mi
28m
South State Street
17.7 mi
22m
I 255
13.2 mi
15m
North Main Street
11.1 mi
19m
IL 15
8.4 mi
9m
1640E
8.2 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
Godfrey Road
— 25.7 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bremen, IL and Independence, IL.
1
Start on Chester Road
0.2 mi·34 sec·Chester Road
2
Turn slight right onto IL 150
6.1 mi·10 min·IL 150
3
Turn right onto IL 3
0.5 mi·32 sec·East Holmes Street
4
Continue on IL 3
7.8 mi·8 min·Lehmen Drive
5
Continue on IL 3
18 mi·22 min·South State Street
6
Continue on IL 159
19 mi·28 min·IL 159
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
8
Merge onto IL 15
8.4 mi·9 min·IL 15
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 255 North, US 50 North: Chicago
10
Merge onto I 255; US 50
13 mi·15 min·I 255; US 50
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on IL 255
21 mi·24 min·IL 255
12
Continue on US 67
26 mi·30 min·Godfrey Road
13
Turn left onto IL 108
11 mi·19 min·North Main Street
14
Continue on IL 108
0.2 mi·4 min·Kampsville Ferry
15
Continue on IL 108
0.1 mi·16 sec·Marquette Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto IL 100
0.2 mi·14 sec·Broadway
17
Continue on IL 100
4.4 mi·6 min·1630E
18
Continue on IL 100
8.2 mi·12 min·1640E
19
Turn left onto County Highway 10
4.4 mi·9 min·County Highway 10
20
Continue on Nebo Road
3.0 mi·7 min·Nebo Road
21
Continue on County Highway 10
0.2 mi·34 sec·County Highway 10
22
Continue on Vin Fiz Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·Vin Fiz Road
23
Turn right onto Pittsfield Road
0.1 mi·16 sec·Pittsfield Road
24
Continue on Pittsfield Street
0.3 mi·47 sec·Pittsfield Street
25
Continue on County Highway 7
5.9 mi·14 min·County Highway 7
26
Turn left onto Road 900
259 ft·11 sec·Road 900
27
Arrive at destination
Road 900
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day trip of under 4 hours, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you ample time to arrive and settle in before evening. With only one recommended stop, plan your breaks strategically. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto longer stretches like the 25.7-mile section on Godfrey Road, as services might be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $25 is a good baseline for budgeting.
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 79.5 miles from Bremen, IL, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.7 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 35 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.5 miles or 1h 45m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Independence, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bremen, 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 Bremen, IL
This is one driving day of about 159 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Bremen, 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 Godfrey Road for about 25.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.5 mi from Bremen, IL
· 1h 45m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.7
0
$16.69
$7.63
Efficient EV
39.8
0
$13.91
$6.36
EV Truck/SUV
63.6
0
$22.26
$10.18
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 as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Bremen, IL
Morning
in Bremen on Saturday
Local time
8:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Independence, IL
Morning
in Independence on Saturday
Local time
8:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
7 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 50m 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 Bremen, IL to Independence, IL covers 159 miles and takes about 3h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Godfrey Road, IL 255, IL 159. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.5 miles from Bremen, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.86 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.
This is a straightforward 3h 50m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 51.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 60 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.7 miles (I 255; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bremen, IL to Independence, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
