How far is Bremen, IL from Charleston, IL?

The driving distance from Bremen, IL to Charleston, IL is about 166.6 miles (268.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 135.1 miles (217.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
166.57 mi
03h 32m
Flight
135.17 mi
217.54 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bremen.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
135.17 mi
Kilometers
217.54 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
166.57 mi
Kilometers
268.07 km
Drive Time
03h 32m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Charleston
Tue, May 5, 8:45 AM CDT
Return by in Bremen
Tue, May 5, 12:18 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bremen
2026-05-05T05:13
Arrive Charleston
Tue, May 5, 8:45 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:33 AM to 11:33 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:54 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bremen
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Salem
IL

City in Illinois

From Bremen
83.3 mi
01h 46m
To Charleston
83.3 mi
01h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph SW
Destination
62°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bremen and Charleston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bremen and Charleston.

  1. 1

    Start on Chester Road

    1255 ft · 42 sec · Chester Road

  2. 2

    Turn sharp left

    16.7 mi · 30 min

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right

    8.9 mi · 13 min

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Kennedy Drive

    13 m · 1 sec · Kennedy Drive

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto Kennedy Drive

    2031 ft · 34 sec · Kennedy Drive

  6. 6

    Continue on West Water Street

    2977 ft · 58 sec · West Water Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    21.7 mi · 27 min · North Main Street

  8. 8

    Take the exit right

    1855 ft · 45 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    10.3 mi · 11 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 51: Centralia, Ashley

    1557 ft · 39 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto United States Route 51

    8.8 mi · 11 min · United States Route 51

  12. 12

    Continue on Elm Street

    2.6 mi · 6 min · Elm Street

  13. 13

    Continue on South Broadway

    1.4 km · 1 min · South Broadway

  14. 14

    Continue on County Road 180 East

    4.3 mi · 6 min · County Road 180 East

  15. 15

    Continue on South Mine Street

    3231 ft · 54 sec · South Mine Street

  16. 16

    Continue on N Mine St

    990 ft · 13 sec · N Mine St

  17. 17

    Continue on North Mine Street

    106 m · 5 sec · North Mine Street

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right

    41 m · 4 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right

    7.8 mi · 9 min

  20. 20

    Turn left

    2149 ft · 54 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left

    46.6 mi · 50 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    26 mi · 28 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 16 East: Charleston

    2744 ft · 2 min

  24. 24

    Turn straight onto Charleston Avenue East

    2142 ft · 43 sec · Charleston Avenue East

  25. 25

    Continue on Illinois Route 16

    6 mi · 8 min · Illinois Route 16

  26. 26

    Continue on West Lincoln Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · West Lincoln Avenue

  27. 27

    Turn left onto 4th Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · 4th Street

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Madison Avenue

    146 m · 15 sec · Madison Avenue

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Madison Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bremen and Charleston.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
29 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Mine Street
46.7 mi · 28%
North Main Street
32.4 mi · 19%
I 57 North
26 mi · 16%
United States Route 51
8.76 mi · 5%
Illinois Route 16
6.01 mi · 4%
County Road 180 East
4.29 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

North Mine Street

Merge slight left

46.6 mi · 00h 50m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 32m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.5 mi
135.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Salem
01h 46m from Bremen
Leave By
9:54 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Bremen and Showers And Thunderstorms near Charleston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bremen to Charleston?

The road trip is about 166.6 miles (268.1 km) and usually takes 03h 32m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Salem is a useful midpoint, sitting about 83.3 miles from Bremen and 83.3 miles from Charleston.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 135.1 miles (217.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:54 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.17 one way or $44.35 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Bremen and Showers And Thunderstorms near Charleston.

Stop Ideas Near Salem

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Salem, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Salem.

RAIL

Centralia station

20 mi away
108 East Broadway
BUS

Mt. Vernon, IL

35 mi away
102 Potomac Boulevard
RAIL

Effingham

65 mi away
401 West National Ave.
RAIL

Du Quoin

73 mi away
20 North Chestnut St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bremen and Charleston. Straight-line distance: 135.17 mi (217.54 km).

Bremen

#1 Bremen

A village in Ford County, Illinois.

Population106,197
Coordinates37.9711600, -89.7473300
Altitude171
CountryUnited States
Charleston

#2 Charleston

City in Illinois

Population20,034
Coordinates39.4961500, -88.1761500
Altitude204
CountryUnited States
Start: Bremen (-89.74733, 37.97116)
End: Charleston (-88.17615, 39.49615)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 268 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.88 gal
22.25 L · about $22.17
Round trip
$44.35
11.76 gal · 44.5 L
Estimated CO2
52.3 kg one way
Round trip: 104.5 kg / 230 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.17 $44.35
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.01 $50.02
Premium $4.65 $27.37 $54.73
Diesel $5.30 $31.19 $62.38

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · May 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Bremen and Charleston. The current time is 05:13:02.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.