Origin
Bloomington, IL
Morning in Bloomington on Monday
Local time
9:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bloomington, IL to Frankfort, IL
Drive Time
4h 4m
Distance
198.4 mi
319 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
26 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 51m
★
6 AM
4h 4m
8 AM
4h 30m
10 AM
4h 13m
12 PM
4h 11m
3 PM
4h 15m
5 PM
4h 29m
8 PM
3h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Frankfort, IL
Mike Tyurin
Trip Overview
The drive from Bloomington, IL to Frankfort, IL covers 198.4 miles and takes about 4h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ken Gray Expressway, I 57, North Walnut Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.1 miles on Ken Gray Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.13 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
99.2 miles from Bloomington, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Bloomington, IL to Frankfort, IL covers 198.4 miles and takes about 4h 4m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ken Gray Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 27.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Chestnut Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 4m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 51 Business / North Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 79 miles (US 51; IL 16 / North 2600 East Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese 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
4
79 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
|
US 51; IL 16 / North 2600 East Road
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16 / North 2600 East Road
Navigation decision point
5
195.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 58m in
Take the exit toward IL 149: West Frankfort, Zeigler
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 149: West Frankfort, Zeigler
5
195.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 59m in
|
IL 149 / West Main Street
Enter roundabout onto IL 149 / West Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ken Gray Expressway | 27.1 mi | 29m |
| I 57 | 24.5 mi | 26m |
| North Walnut Street | 23.2 mi | 29m |
| South Business Route 51 | 19.6 mi | 23m |
| South Main Street | 16.5 mi | 21m |
| 300 East Road | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| United States Highway 51 | 13.4 mi | 15m |
| County Road 875 East | 11.1 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
Ken Gray Expressway
— 27.1 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IL and Frankfort, 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
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Madison Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Continue on US 51 Business
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Center Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 51 Business
17 mi
·
21 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 51
23 mi
·
29 min
·
North Walnut Street
9
Turn straight onto US 51 Business
9.9 mi
·
15 min
·
US 51 Business
10
Take the ramp onto US 51 Business
20 mi
·
23 min
·
South Business Route 51
11
Continue on US 51
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
North 2600 East Rd
12
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North 2600 East Road
13
Continue on US 51; IL 16
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Jackson Street
14
Turn left onto US 51; IL 16
467 ft
·
8 sec
·
Cedar Street
15
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1st Street
16
Turn left onto US 51; IL 16
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
South Poplar Street
17
Turn straight onto US 51
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Fair Avenue
18
Continue on US 51
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 2400 E
19
Continue on US 51
15 mi
·
17 min
·
300 East Road
20
Continue on US 51
11 mi
·
12 min
·
County Road 875 East
21
Continue on US 51
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kennedy Boulevard
22
Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Gallatin Street
23
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
24
Continue on US 51
13 mi
·
15 min
·
United States Highway 51
25
Continue on US 51
10 mi
·
11 min
·
250E
26
Turn left onto US 50
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
US 50
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
28
Merge onto I 57
24 mi
·
26 min
·
I 57
29
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
27 mi
·
29 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward IL 149: West Frankfort, Zeigler
31
Enter roundabout onto IL 149
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
West Main Street
32
Continue on IL 149
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
33
Turn left onto North Benton Road
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
North Benton Road
34
Turn right onto East Saint Louis Street
98 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Saint Louis Street
35
Arrive at destination
East Saint Louis Street
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 99.2 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.1 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 80 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.2 miles or 2h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Frankfort, 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 198.4 miles and 4h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 Ken Gray Expressway for about 27.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 99.2 mi from Bloomington, IL · 2h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
99 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 99.2 miles from Bloomington, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Frankfort, IL
The final approach into Frankfort, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Frankfort, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.13 one way
$60.27 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
69 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $33.22 | $66.44 |
| premium | $4.80 | $37.45 | $74.91 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $44.08 | $88.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
EV Charging Along Route
26 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Meijer - Tesla Supercharger
Normal, IL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Circle K - Tesla Supercharger
Normal, IL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Subway - Tesla Supercharger
Salem, IL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Normal, IL
Normal, IL
RIVIAN_ADVENTURE
8 DCFC
Uptown Station Parking Deck - Tesla Supercharger
Normal, IL
Tesla
8 DCFC
Mach 1 Convenience Store - Tesla Supercharger
Vandalia, IL
Tesla
8 DCFC
Holiday Inn Mt. Vernon - Tesla Supercharger
Mt. Vernon, IL
Tesla
8 DCFC
Mach 1 - Tesla Supercharger
Mt. Vernon, IL
Tesla
8 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 8
Tesla: 7
eVgo Network: 3
Electrify America: 2
UNIVERSAL: 2
RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 1
EV Connect: 1
Non-Networked: 1
CIRCLE_K: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.5 | 0 | $20.83 | $9.52 |
| Efficient EV | 49.6 | 0 | $17.36 | $7.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.4 | 0 | $27.78 | $12.70 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Frankfort, IL
Morning in Frankfort on Monday
Local time
9:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
26 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
4h 4m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Frankfort, IL covers 198.4 miles and takes about 4h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ken Gray Expressway, I 57, North Walnut Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 99.2 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 $30.13 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 4m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 79 miles (US 51; IL 16 / North 2600 East Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Bloomington, IL to Frankfort, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Frankfort, IL
More trips to Frankfort, IL
Explore more options from Bloomington, IL or browse trips ending in Frankfort, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Bloomington, IL or Frankfort, IL on MapSof.net.