Low Clearance Bridges in Illinois
Illinois has 1,908 low-clearance bridges, tunnels, and overpasses in our database. The lowest railroad bridge in our database is in Benton, at 7'6", and 761 structures are lower than 13'6", the height of a standard semi-trailer. Every height is checked by hand and tagged with the direction of travel it affects.
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The 15 lowest bridges in Illinois
Road and railroad structures with the least clearance, and the directions of travel each one affects. Footbridges over bike paths are left out. Open the map to see every structure by name and location.
| # | Structure | Location | Affects traffic | Clearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Railroad bridge | Benton | S & N | 7'6" |
| 2 | Railroad bridge | Springfield | W & E | 7'8" |
| 3 | Railroad bridge | Woodstock | W & E | 8'0" |
| 4 | Railroad bridge | Beardstown | NE & SW | 8'6" |
| 5 | Truss bridge | Long Grove | S & N | 8'6" |
| 6 | Railroad bridge | Roodhouse | E & W | 8'6" |
| 7 | Railroad bridge | St. Elmo | S & N | 8'6" |
| 8 | Railroad bridge | Beardstown | SW & NE | 8'6" |
| 9 | Railroad bridge | Mount Vernon | W & E | 9'0" |
| 10 | Railroad bridge | Worden | N & S | 9'0" |
| 11 | Railroad bridge | Pinckneyville | NE & SW | 9'0" |
| 12 | Railroad tunnel | Mendota | N & S | 9'0" |
| 13 | Railroad bridge | Des Plaines | S & N | 9'0" |
| 14 | Railroad bridge | Riverton | S & N | 9'6" |
| 15 | Truss bridge | Illinois | N & S | 9'6" |
Showing 15 of 1,908 structures. Clearances are posted or measured heights, verified by the Low Clearance Map team. Locations are the town or county the structure sits in.
How low do Illinois bridges go?
About 1 in 3 structures in Illinois is lower than 13'6", the height of a standard semi-trailer. Most RVs, box trucks, and rental moving trucks are between 10 and 13 feet tall, so anything in the red bars is a risk for them too.
Structures by clearance
Below 13'6"Illinois towns with the most low bridges
Plan a route through any of them and Low Clearance Map checks every structure against your vehicle height.
How to avoid low bridges in Illinois
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01
Enter your route
Type your start and destination into the Low Clearance Map web app.
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02
Set your vehicle height
Measure to the highest point, including roof air conditioners, antennas, and ladders. Rental trucks post it on the cab.
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03
Drive it with HeadRoom
Voice-guided directions on CarPlay and Android Auto that warn you before any structure too low for your direction. Get HeadRoom.
How many low clearance bridges are in Illinois?
Low Clearance Map lists 1,908 low-clearance bridges, tunnels, and overpasses in Illinois. 761 of them are lower than 13'6", the height of a standard semi-trailer. Chicago, Joliet, and Evanston have the most low structures.
What is the lowest bridge in Illinois?
The lowest railroad bridge in our database is in Benton, at 7'6". Every clearance in our database is checked by a person and tagged with the direction of travel it affects, so you are only warned when it applies to you.
Does Google Maps avoid low bridges in Illinois?
No. Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze do not check your vehicle height against bridge clearances. Low Clearance Map checks your route against every verified structure in Illinois, then sends the safe route to Google Maps or Apple Maps, or to HeadRoom for voice-guided navigation.
How do I avoid low bridges in Illinois?
Plan your trip in Low Clearance Map with your vehicle height set. It flags every structure that is too low for you in your direction of travel and builds a route around them. Then drive it in HeadRoom, which gives voice guidance on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and warns you before any low bridge.
How accurate is the Illinois bridge clearance data?
Each of the 1,908 structures in Illinois was verified by the Low Clearance Map team using public records, imagery, and driver reports, and carries Hazard Headings so alerts only fire for the affected direction of travel. The database was last updated in September 2026.
Plan a Illinois route that clears every bridge
$4.99 a month after a 7-day free trial. Includes the web app and HeadRoom for iOS and Android, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.