The drive from Bloomington, IL to Albany Park, IL covers 136.9 miles and takes about 2h 49m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, South Pulaski Road, North Main Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 121.1 miles on I 55.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.40 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
68.5 miles from Bloomington, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 49m. Total distance: 136.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 2h 49m highway drive covering 136.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and South Pulaski Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 121.1 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 12 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 121.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and South Pulaski Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 49m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 126.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
3.6 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 North: Chicago
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
5
4.1 mi into trip|~9m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
126.3 mi into trip|~2h 28m in
Take the exit toward Pulaski Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 287
Toward Pulaski Road
8
126.5 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Little Village
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Little Village
7
133.5 mi into trip|~2h 43m in|West Belden Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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 Bloomington, IL to Albany Park, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Little Village along the way.
Little Village
126.5 mi in|~2h 29m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
121.1 mi
2h 17m
South Pulaski Road
6.9 mi
13m
North Main Street
3.6 mi
8m
North Pulaski Road
3.1 mi
6m
Stevenson Expressway
1.1 mi
1m
West Lawrence Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
West Belden Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
North East Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 121.1 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IL and Albany Park, IL.
1
Start on US 51 Business
136 ft·5 sec·North East Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on US 51 Business
3.6 mi·8 min·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 55
121 mi·2 hr 17 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 55
1.1 mi·1 min·Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 287Toward Pulaski RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Little VillageUse the left lane.
8
Turn straight onto South Pulaski Road
6.9 mi·13 min·South Pulaski Road
9
At end of road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue
170 ft·10 sec·West Belden Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto North Pulaski Road
3.1 mi·6 min·North Pulaski Road
11
Turn right onto West Lawrence Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·West Lawrence Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
West Lawrence Avenue
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.5 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.1 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 30 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.5 miles or 1h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albany Park, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bloomington, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bloomington, IL
This is one driving day of about 136.9 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Bloomington, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 121.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68.5 mi from Bloomington, IL
· 1h 22m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
11 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 127.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.40 one way
$42.81 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.50
$47.00
premium
$4.89
$26.35
$52.69
diesel
$5.61
$30.23
$60.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
28 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Bloomington, Illinois
Other
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Normal, Illinois
Other
1 DCFC
Rivian Waypoints
Normal, Illinois
Rivian
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Normal, Illinois
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Normal, Illinois
Tesla
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Bloomington, Illinois
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Normal, Illinois
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Bloomington, Illinois
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Other: 9
ChargePoint: 9
Tesla: 3
Rivian: 2
Tesla Destination: 2
Electrify America: 1
EV Connect: 1
Shell Recharge: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.1
0
$14.37
$6.57
Efficient EV
34.2
0
$11.98
$5.48
EV Truck/SUV
54.8
0
$19.17
$8.76
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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
Bloomington, IL
Late night
in Bloomington on Friday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Albany Park, IL
Late night
in Albany Park on Friday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
6 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
2h 49m 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
The drive from Bloomington, IL to Albany Park, IL covers 136.9 miles and takes about 2h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, South Pulaski Road, North 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 68.5 miles from Bloomington, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.40 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 49m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 126.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Bloomington, IL to Albany Park, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Little Village along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
