The drive from Arcola, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 82.4 miles and takes about 1h 35m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 74, I 57, South Main Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 43.3 miles on I 74.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.88 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.
Midpoint
41.2 miles from Arcola, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Bloomington, pop. 77,000 (2010 census), is a city in the Midwestern state of Illinois in the United States of America, on the classic Route 66 highway across the country. With neighboring Normal, pop. 52,000 (2010 census), it forms a combined community of about 130,000 known locally as the Twin Cities. Illinois Wesleyan University is in Bloomington, and is not to be confused with Illinois State University in Normal.
This is a 1h 35m highway drive covering 82.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 74 and I 57. The longest continuous stretch is about 43.3 miles on I 74.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 74 is the longest continuous segment at about 43.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and I 57. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near IL 133 / East Springfield Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 35m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (IL 133 / East Springfield Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|IL 133 / East Springfield Road
Turn left onto IL 133 / East Springfield Road
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I-57 North: Champaign
Navigation decision point
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in
Turn left toward I-57 North: Champaign
Navigation decision point
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
5
35 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the exit toward I 74 West: Peoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 237B
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
6
78.9 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 135
Toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Bloom...
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
43.3 mi
46m
I 57
33.5 mi
35m
South Main Street
2.8 mi
5m
East Springfield Road
0.6 mi
1m
South East Street
0.5 mi
1m
North Locust Street
0.3 mi
1m
E County Road 200 N
0.3 mi
<1m
North East Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 43.3 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arcola, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on North Locust Street
0.3 mi·1 min·North Locust Street
2
Turn left onto IL 133
0.6 mi·1 min·East Springfield Road
3
Continue on IL 133
0.3 mi·27 sec·E County Road 200 N
4
Take the ramp
467 ft·13 sec
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
5
Turn left
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
6
Merge onto I 57
34 mi·35 min·I 57
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 237BToward I 74 West: Peoria
8
Merge onto I 74
43 mi·46 min·I 74
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 135Toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Bloomington
10
Turn right onto US 51 Business
2.8 mi·5 min·South Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on US 51 Business
0.5 mi·1 min·South East Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.2 miles from Arcola, IL, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.3 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 18 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.2 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bloomington, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arcola, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arcola, IL
This is one driving day of about 82.4 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Arcola, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 74 for about 43.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.2 mi from Arcola, IL
· 46m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.88 one way
$25.76 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.14
$28.29
premium
$4.89
$15.86
$31.71
diesel
$5.61
$18.19
$36.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.7
0
$8.65
$3.96
Efficient EV
20.6
0
$7.21
$3.30
EV Truck/SUV
33
0
$11.54
$5.27
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Arcola, IL
Evening
in Arcola on Friday
Local time
7:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IL
Evening
in Bloomington on Friday
Local time
7:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 22 mph16% chanceLive forecast
52°F
Blue Ridge, IL
41 mi in
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
9 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
1h 35m 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 Arcola, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 82.4 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 74, I 57, South Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.2 miles from Arcola, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.88 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 35m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (IL 133 / East Springfield Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Arcola, IL to Bloomington, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
