The drive from Bloomington, IL to Alorton, IL covers 160 miles and takes about 3h 1m 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 Veterans Parkway, I 255 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 82 miles on I 55.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.01 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
80 miles from Bloomington, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 1m. Total distance: 160 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 1m highway drive covering 160 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and South Veterans Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 82 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 18 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 82 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and South Veterans Parkway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Chestnut Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 160 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 0.1 miles (West Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 51 Business / North Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 68.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West Chestnut Street
Turn left onto West Chestnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 51 Business / North Center Street
Turn left onto US 51 Business / North Center Street
Navigation decision point
7
68.3 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
6
150.3 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Take the exit toward I 255: Memphis, Interstate 270
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 10
Toward I 255: Memphis, Interstate 270
8
158.7 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward IL 15 West: Missouri Avenue, East Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17B
Toward IL 15 West: Missouri Avenue, East Saint...
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
82 mi
1h 28m
South Veterans Parkway
65.7 mi
1h 11m
I 255
7 mi
8m
North Morris Avenue
1.7 mi
4m
New Missouri Avenue
0.6 mi
<1m
West Market Street
0.5 mi
1m
North Madison Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North 42nd Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 82 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IL and Alorton, IL.
1
Start on US 51 Business
136 ft·5 sec·North East Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on US 51 Business
396 ft·16 sec·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto West Chestnut Street
273 ft·19 sec·West Chestnut Street
4
Turn left onto US 51 Business
393 ft·13 sec·North Center Street
5
Continue on US 51 Business
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Madison Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Turn right onto West Market Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Market Street
7
Turn left onto North Morris Avenue
1.7 mi·4 min·North Morris Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto I 55 Business
66 mi·1 hr 11 min·South Veterans Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
82 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 10Toward I 255: Memphis, Interstate 270
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi·2 min
Toward I 255 South: Memphis
12
Merge onto I 255
7.0 mi·8 min·I 255
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 17BToward IL 15 West: Missouri Avenue, East Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto IL 15
0.6 mi·51 sec·New Missouri Avenue
15
Turn left onto IL 163
492 ft·22 sec·Old Missouri Avenue
16
Turn right onto North 42nd Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·North 42nd Street
17
Turn left onto East Broadway
19 ft·0 sec·East Broadway
18
Arrive at destination
East Broadway
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82 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 35 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80 miles or 1h 31m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alorton, 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 160 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 82 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 80 mi from Bloomington, IL
· 1h 31m 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.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.01 one way
$50.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.46
$54.93
premium
$4.89
$30.79
$61.58
diesel
$5.61
$35.33
$70.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48
0
$16.80
$7.68
Efficient EV
40
0
$14.00
$6.40
EV Truck/SUV
64
0
$22.40
$10.24
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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 15, 2026
Origin
Bloomington, IL
Late night
in Bloomington on Saturday
Local time
2:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alorton, IL
Late night
in Alorton on Saturday
Local time
2:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Grandview, IL
80 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
28 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
3h 1m 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 Alorton, IL covers 160 miles and takes about 3h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, South Veterans Parkway, I 255. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80 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 $25.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 160 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 51 Business / North Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 68.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bloomington, IL to Alorton, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
