The drive from Bremen, IL to Arcola, IL covers 173.2 miles and takes about 3h 36m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, North Main Street, IL 150 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 86.5 miles on I 57.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.08 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
86.6 miles from Bremen, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 36m. Total distance: 173.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 36m highway drive covering 173.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and North Main Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 86.5 miles on I 57.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 86.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and North Main Street. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near IL 150.
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 173.2 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.2 miles (IL 150): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 17 miles (IL 154): Navigation decision point; at 48.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|IL 150
Turn sharp left onto IL 150
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
17 mi into trip|~30m in|IL 154
At end of road, turn right onto IL 154
Navigation decision point
5
48.5 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
59.2 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward US 51: Centralia, Ashley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 51: Centralia, Ashley
6
171.6 mi into trip|~3h 33m in
Take the exit toward IL 133: Paris, Arcola
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 203
Toward IL 133: Paris, Arcola
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bremen, IL to Arcola, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Ashley along the way.
Ashley
59.2 mi in|~1h 23m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
86.5 mi
1h 33m
North Main Street
21.7 mi
26m
IL 150
16.7 mi
29m
I 64
10.3 mi
11m
IL 154
8.9 mi
13m
United States Route 51
8.8 mi
10m
US 50
7.8 mi
9m
County Road 180 East
4.3 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 86.5 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bremen, IL and Arcola, IL.
1
Start on Chester Road
0.2 mi·41 sec·Chester Road
2
Turn sharp left onto IL 150
17 mi·29 min·IL 150
3
At end of road, turn right onto IL 154
8.9 mi·13 min·IL 154
4
Enter roundabout onto Kennedy Drive
44 ft·0 sec·Kennedy Drive
5
Continue on Kennedy Drive
0.4 mi·34 sec·Kennedy Drive
6
Continue on IL 13; IL 154
0.6 mi·57 sec·West Water Street
7
Turn left onto IL 127
22 mi·26 min·North Main Street
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
9
Merge onto I 64
10 mi·11 min·I 64
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward US 51: Centralia, Ashley
11
Turn left onto US 51
8.8 mi·10 min·United States Route 51
12
Continue on US 51
2.6 mi·5 min·Elm Street
13
Continue on US 51
0.9 mi·1 min·South Broadway
14
Continue on US 51
4.3 mi·6 min·County Road 180 East
15
Continue on US 51
0.6 mi·54 sec·South Mine Street
16
Continue on US 50; US 51
0.2 mi·12 sec·N Mine St
17
Continue on US 50; US 51
347 ft·4 sec·North Mine Street
18
Take the exit
134 ft·3 sec
19
Turn right onto US 50
7.8 mi·9 min·US 50
20
Turn left
0.4 mi·54 sec
21
Merge onto I 57
47 mi·50 min·I 57
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
40 mi·42 min·I 57
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·29 sec
Exit 203Toward IL 133: Paris, Arcola
24
Keep slight left at fork
172 ft·4 sec
25
Turn left onto IL 133
473 ft·9 sec·East County Road 200 North
26
Continue on IL 133
0.8 mi·1 min·East Springfield Road
27
Turn right onto South Locust Street
0.3 mi·1 min·South Locust Street
28
Arrive at destination
North Locust 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 86.6 miles from Bremen, IL, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.5 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 38 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.6 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arcola, 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 173.2 miles and 3h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 I 57 for about 86.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.6 mi from Bremen, IL
· 2h 1m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.08 one way
$54.16 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.73
$59.46
premium
$4.89
$33.33
$66.66
diesel
$5.61
$38.24
$76.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
2 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
ChargePoint Charging Station
Mattoon, Illinois
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Mattoon, Illinois
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 1
Other: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52
0
$18.19
$8.31
Efficient EV
43.3
0
$15.15
$6.93
EV Truck/SUV
69.3
0
$24.25
$11.08
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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 Friday
Local time
9:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 6 to 15 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Arcola, IL
Morning
in Arcola on Friday
Local time
9:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
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
3h 36m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Arcola, IL covers 173.2 miles and takes about 3h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, North Main Street, IL 150. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.6 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 $27.08 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 173.2 miles you will encounter 17 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: at 0.2 miles (IL 150): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 17 miles (IL 154): Navigation decision point; at 48.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Bremen, IL to Arcola, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Ashley along the way.
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.
