Origin
Bloomington, IL
Afternoon in Bloomington on Saturday
Local time
1:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bloomington, IL to Brookside, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 33m
Distance
119.1 mi
192 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 23m
★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 54m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 53m
8 PM
2h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brookside, IL
Mike Tyurin
Trip Overview
Bloomington, IL to Brookside, IL is 119.1 miles and takes about 2h 33m via I 55 and IL 47, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route keeps you within Illinois, traversing the heart of the Midwest. It's a straightforward drive, ideal for a single-day trip when you want to get from point A to point B efficiently. You’ll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a practical choice for those prioritizing speed and ease of navigation over a leisurely exploration.
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
59.6 miles from Bloomington, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 54.3 mi | 58m |
| IL 47 | 34.2 mi | 43m |
| Illinois Route 47 | 9.3 mi | 14m |
| South Bridge Street | 8.2 mi | 13m |
| North Main Street | 3.6 mi | 8m |
| US 30 | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Anderson Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| IL 64 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 54.3 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IL and Brookside, 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: Chicago
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 55
54 mi
·
58 min
·
I 55
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 220
Toward IL 47: Morris, Dwight
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left onto IL 47
34 mi
·
43 min
·
IL 47
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on South Bridge Street
8.2 mi
·
13 min
·
South Bridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Continue on US 30; IL 47
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 30; IL 47
9
Continue on IL 47
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Illinois Route 47
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on IL 47
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Route 47
11
Continue on IL 47
6.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Illinois Route 47
12
Turn right onto IL 38
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Highway
13
Turn left onto Anderson Road
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Anderson Road
14
At end of road, turn right onto IL 64
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 64
15
Turn left onto Brookside West Drive
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Brookside West Drive
16
Continue on Brookside West Drive
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Brookside West Drive
17
Turn right onto Circle Drive
420 ft
·
18 sec
·
Circle Drive
18
Arrive at destination
Circle Drive
Trip Plan
Given this is a relatively short, single-day trip of under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility. Consider leaving Bloomington, IL in the morning to arrive in Brookside, IL by midday, leaving your afternoon open. The main roads, I 55 and IL 47, are generally well-maintained, but always be aware of potential construction delays common on major highways. With a fuel cost estimated at $19, you likely won't need to worry about frequent fill-ups, but it’s wise to check your gauge before departing, especially since the longest stretch without a major exit is over 50 miles.
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 59.6 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.3 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.6 miles or 1h 9m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brookside, 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 119.1 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 54.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 59.6 miles from Bloomington, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 119.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8
58.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward IL 47: Morris, Dwight
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 220
Toward IL 47: Morris, Dwight
4
58.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
IL 47
Turn left onto IL 47
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
117.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 30m in
|
IL 64
At end of road, turn right onto IL 64
Navigation decision point
4
119.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 33m in
|
Circle Drive
Turn right onto Circle Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.62 one way
$37.24 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.44 | $40.89 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.92 | $45.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.30 | $52.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.7 | 0 | $12.51 | $5.72 |
| Efficient EV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.42 | $4.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.6 | 0 | $16.67 | $7.62 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Brookside, IL
Afternoon in Brookside on Saturday
Local time
1:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°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
7 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 33m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 86% of the journey taking place on interstates and major state routes. Expect about 2 hours and 33 minutes of travel time covering 119.1 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.3 miles on I 55, offering a consistent pace. As you progress, the landscape will likely shift subtly, but the primary character remains that of a well-traveled highway, designed for efficient transit between the two Illinois locations.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.3 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and IL 47. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 33m drive. You will face about 9 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 58.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.7 miles (IL 47): Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Brookside, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Dwight along the way.
Dwight
58.4 mi in
|
~1h 8m
About the Cities
Starting in Bloomington, IL
Full guide →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.
Top landmarks
- • David Davis Mansion — house museum in Bloomington, Illinois
- • Bloomington Central Business District — historic and central business district in Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois,...
- • George H. Miller House — Bloomington, Illinois, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 119.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.3 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 58.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.7 miles (IL 47): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brookside, IL before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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