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Trip from Galena, IL to Bremen, IL

Drive Time

7h 52m

Distance

383.9 mi

618 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$58

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

37 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
7h 43m ★
6 AM
7h 52m
8 AM
8h 10m
10 AM
7h 59m
12 PM
7h 57m
3 PM
8h 0m
5 PM
8h 10m
8 PM
7h 47m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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county seat of Jo Daviess County, Illinois

Galena, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Galena, IL to Bremen, IL covers 383.9 miles and takes about 7h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 55, Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, I 155 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 111.9 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $58.31 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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

192 miles from Galena, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 7h 52m highway drive covering 383.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 111.9 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 36 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 111.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near South Bench Street.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 383.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (South Bench Street): Navigation decision point; at 205.2 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 239.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | South Bench Street

At end of road, turn right onto South Bench Street

Navigation decision point

5
205.2 mi into trip | ~4h 14m in | I 55

Merge onto I 55

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
239.2 mi into trip | ~4h 51m in | I 55

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
5
317.1 mi into trip | ~6h 15m in

Take the exit toward IL 159 South: Collinsville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 15A Toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
5
331.4 mi into trip | ~6h 38m in | IL 159 / South Illinois Street

Enter roundabout onto IL 159 / South Illinois Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 111.9 mi 2h 1m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway 72.3 mi 1h 17m
I 155 31.8 mi 34m
Viaduct Road 23.7 mi 35m
IL 3 23.3 mi 28m
Waller Road 14.9 mi 22m
Jefferson Street 14.4 mi 21m
I 474 13.8 mi 14m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 111.9 mi, about 2h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Bench Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · South Bench Street
2

At end of road, turn right onto South Bench Street

106 ft · 10 sec · South Bench Street
3

Turn left onto US 20; IL 84

0.7 mi · 1 min · Decatur Street
4

Continue on US 20; IL 84

11 mi · 15 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
5

Turn right onto IL 84

4.9 mi · 7 min · Washington Street
6

Turn left onto IL 84

0.4 mi · 54 sec · Jefferson Street
7

Continue on IL 84

14 mi · 20 min · Jefferson Street
8

Continue on US 52; IL 64; IL 84

1.1 mi · 2 min · Chicago Avenue
9

Turn right onto IL 84

24 mi · 35 min · Viaduct Road
10

Continue on IL 84

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
11

Continue on IL 84

15 mi · 22 min · Waller Road
12

Continue on IL 84

2.0 mi · 3 min · 2nd Avenue
13

Turn left

0.5 mi · 1 min
14

Merge onto I 80

9.5 mi · 10 min · I 80
15

Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110

72 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
16

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min
Toward I 474 East: Indianapolis
17

Merge onto I 474

14 mi · 14 min · I 474
18

Merge onto I 74

1.4 mi · 1 min · I 74
19

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward I 155 South: Lincoln
20

Continue on I 155

32 mi · 34 min · I 155
21

Merge onto I 55

34 mi · 37 min · I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55

78 mi · 1 hr 23 min · I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 47 sec
Exit 15A Toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
24

Continue on IL 159

3.0 mi · 4 min · Vandalia Street
25

Continue on IL 159

1.3 mi · 1 min · South Morrison Avenue
26

Continue on IL 159

9.8 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street
27

Enter roundabout onto IL 159

181 ft · 4 sec · South Illinois Street
28

Continue on IL 159

8.3 mi · 12 min · South Illinois Street
29

Continue on IL 159

6.1 mi · 9 min · State Route 159
30

Continue on IL 156; IL 159

0.2 mi · 19 sec · North Main Street
31

Continue on IL 159

0.2 mi · 13 sec · N Main St
32

Continue on IL 159

8.0 mi · 11 min · Main Street
33

Continue on IL 3

23 mi · 28 min · IL 3
34

Turn left onto IL 150

6.1 mi · 10 min · State Street
35

Turn slight left onto Chester Road

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Chester Road
36

Arrive at destination

Chester Road

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 192 miles from Galena, IL, or about 4h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.9 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 84 miles or 2h 3m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 192 miles or 4h in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 26m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bremen, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Galena, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Galena, IL

This is one driving day of about 383.9 miles and 7h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Galena, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 111.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 192 mi from Galena, IL · 4h into the drive

Downtown Decatur, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Decatur, IL

192 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.

Popular next leg

Decatur, IL to Bremen, IL

167.1 mi · 3h 40m

Pacing Suggestions

Peoria, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 84 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Peoria, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 192 miles from Galena, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111.9 miles.

Arriving in Bremen, IL

The final approach into Bremen, 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 Bremen, IL.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

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...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 238.3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$58.31 one way

$116.62 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 134 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $64.28 $128.56
premium $4.80 $72.47 $144.94
diesel $5.64 $85.29 $170.58

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$58

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$83–$108

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 134.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

37 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

County Market - Tesla Supercharger

Springfield, IL

Tesla

16 DCFC

Hy-Vee - Tesla Supercharger

Galesburg, IL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Culver's - Tesla Supercharger

East Peoria, IL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Haymakers - Tesla Supercharger

Springfield, IL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Springfield, IL Rechargery Relay - S Dirksen Pkwy

Springfield, IL

IONNA

12 DCFC

University Pointe I - Tesla Supercharger

Edwardsville, IL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Hy-Vee Peoria - Tesla Supercharger

Peoria, IL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Legacy Pointe - Tesla Supercharger

Springfield, IL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Tesla: 7 ChargePoint Network: 7 EV Connect: 4 UNIVERSAL: 3 FORD_CHARGE: 3 Non-Networked: 3 Blink Network: 2 CIRCLE_K: 2 ZEFNET: 1 RED_E: 1 eVgo Network: 1 IONNA: 1 Electrify America: 1 RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 115.2 1 $40.31 $18.43
Efficient EV 96 1 $33.59 $15.36
EV Truck/SUV 153.6 1 $53.75 $24.57

Gas CO2

134 kg

EV CO2

45 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 data refreshed 3 hours ago

Origin

Galena, IL

Afternoon in Galena on Monday

Local time

12:29 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bremen, IL

Afternoon in Bremen on Monday

Local time

12:29 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Mostly Sunny

S 12 to 17 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

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

37 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

7h 52m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Galena, IL to Bremen, IL covers 383.9 miles and takes about 7h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, I 155. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 192 miles from Galena, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $58.31 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 383.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (South Bench Street): Navigation decision point; at 205.2 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 239.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Galena, IL to Bremen, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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