Trip from Bellevue, IL to Bloomington, IL

Q: How long is the trip from Bellevue, IL to Bloomington, IL?

The drive from Bellevue, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 45.6 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are I 74, I 474, West Market Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 22.8 miles from Bellevue, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.13 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

55m

Distance

45.6 mi

73 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min

4 AM

0h 51m ★

6 AM

0h 55m

8 AM

1h 5m

10 AM

0h 59m

12 PM

0h 58m

3 PM

0h 59m

5 PM

1h 4m

8 PM

0h 53m

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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Trip Overview

This straightforward 45.6-mile drive from Bellevue, IL to Bloomington, IL is an easy 55-minute trip, perfectly suited for a single day. The route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 88% of the journey on major interstates like I-74 and I-474. With an estimated fuel cost of just $7, this is an economical option for a quick hop within the Midwest. You'll be spending most of your time on the faster roads, making it an efficient way to get from point A to point B without significant detours. Consider this a simple point-to-point journey rather than a destination drive in itself.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 45.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 55-minute trip, with 88% of the drive utilizing major interstates. You'll primarily be on I-74 and I-474, which allow for consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 30.8 miles on I-74, so you can settle in for a good portion of the drive. While the majority is interstate, the final leg will involve West Market Street as you approach Bloomington. This route prioritizes efficiency over scenic byways, offering a direct connection between these two Illinois communities.

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 30.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and I 474. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Main Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 45.6 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 39.2 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Main Street

Turn right onto South Main Street

Navigation decision point

6

39.2 mi into trip | ~45m in | I 74

Keep slight right at fork onto I 74 toward I 55 South, I 74 East, US 51 South: Saint Louis, Indianapolis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 55 South, I 74 East, US 51 South: Sain...

8

43 mi into trip | ~49m in

Take the exit toward US 150, IL 9: Pekin

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Exit 160 Toward US 150, IL 9: Pekin

5

43.4 mi into trip | ~50m in | US 150; IL 9 / West Market Street

Turn left onto US 150; IL 9 / West Market Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

5

45.4 mi into trip | ~55m in | US 51 Business / North East Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 51 Business / North East Street

Navigation decision point

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 Bellevue, IL to Bloomington, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Indianapolis along the way.

Indianapolis

39.2 mi in | ~45m | via I 74

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 74	30.8 mi	32m
I 474	9.1 mi	9m
West Market Street	2 mi	5m
West Plank Road	1.3 mi	2m
South Airport Road	1 mi	1m
South Main Street	0.3 mi	1m
North East Street	0.1 mi	<1m
West Closen Road	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 74 — 30.8 mi, about 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bellevue, IL and Bloomington, IL.

1

Start on West Closen Road

72 ft · 4 sec · West Closen Road

2

Turn right onto South Main Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · South Main Street

3

At end of road, turn right onto IL 116

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Plank Road

4

Turn sharp right onto South Airport Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Airport Road

5

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min

6

Merge onto I 474

9.1 mi · 9 min · I 474

7

Merge onto I 74

27 mi · 28 min · I 74

8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 74

3.8 mi · 4 min · I 74

Toward I 55 South, I 74 East, US 51 South: Saint Louis, Indianapolis

9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 45 sec

Exit 160 Toward US 150, IL 9: Pekin Use the left lane.

10

Turn left onto US 150; IL 9

2.0 mi · 5 min · West Market Street

Use the left lane.

11

At end of road, turn left onto US 51 Business

0.1 mi · 20 sec · North East Street

12

Arrive at destination

US 51 Business

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 22.8 mi from Bellevue, IL · 27m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Morton, IL

23 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.

Pacing Suggestions

East Peoria, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cruger, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 22.8 miles from Bellevue, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bloomington, IL

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Bloomington, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.13 one way

$14.26 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$7.83	$15.65
premium	$4.89	$8.78	$17.55
diesel	$5.61	$10.07	$20.14

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	13.7	$4.79	$2.19
Efficient EV	11.4	$3.99	$1.82
EV Truck/SUV	18.2	$6.38	$2.92

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (69% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Bellevue, IL

Morning in Bellevue on Thursday

Local time

11:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bloomington, IL

Morning in Bloomington on Thursday

Local time

11:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

1 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

55m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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

Frequently Asked Questions