Origin
Bloomington, IL
Late night in Bloomington on Friday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
120.9 mi
194 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
27 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Geneseo, IL
Wikimedia Commons
This 120.9-mile drive from Bloomington, IL to Geneseo, IL is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 20 minutes. Designed for a single day, it's a highway-focused journey through the heart of the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $19, this route offers an economical option for a quick getaway. You'll primarily be on I-80 and I-39, making for a consistent driving experience. This trip is ideal if you're looking for a no-fuss way to travel between these two Illinois locations without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.4 miles from Bloomington, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 120.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Straightforward navigation.
Expect a highway-focused drive for 88% of this journey, primarily utilizing I-80 and I-39. The longest stretch without a turn is a significant 55.2 miles on I-80, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While largely interstate, you will briefly use East 2nd Road, providing a slight change of scenery before returning to the main highways. The road character remains consistent, emphasizing efficient travel over winding exploration.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 39. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 20m 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 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward IL 251: La Salle, Peru
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto IL 251 / East 2nd Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bloomington, IL and Geneseo, IL, road signs point toward Peru and Rock Island.
Peru
Rock Island
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 55.2 mi | 59m |
| I 39 | 51.8 mi | 55m |
| East 2nd Road | 7.1 mi | 10m |
| North Main Street | 3.8 mi | 9m |
| South Oakwood Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North East Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IL and Geneseo, IL.
Start on US 51 Business
Continue on US 51 Business
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on I 39; US 51
Take the exit
Turn left onto IL 251
Turn left
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Turn right onto IL 82
Turn left onto US 6; IL 82
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 20 minutes, you can depart Bloomington at your convenience. There are no specific recommended stops built into this route, so you can decide on breaks as needed, keeping in mind the longest stretch is over 55 miles. Monitor your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the longer interstate segments. The estimated fuel cost is $19, so plan accordingly. A good tip for this route is to check traffic on I-80 before you leave, as it's a major artery and can experience delays.
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.
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 27 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.4 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Geneseo, IL than in the middle of the route.
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 120.9 miles and 2h 20m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 60.4 mi from Bloomington, IL · 1h 12m into the drive
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.
A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 60.4 miles from Bloomington, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Geneseo, 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 Geneseo, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$18.90 one way
$37.80 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.75 | $41.51 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.27 | $46.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.69 | $53.39 |
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: 42.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
27 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Bloomington, Illinois
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Normal, Illinois
1 DCFC
Rivian Waypoints
Normal, Illinois
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Normal, Illinois
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Normal, Illinois
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Bloomington, Illinois
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Normal, Illinois
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Bloomington, Illinois
1 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.3 | 0 | $12.69 | $5.80 |
| Efficient EV | 30.2 | 0 | $10.58 | $4.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.4 | 0 | $16.93 | $7.74 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Bloomington on Friday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Geneseo on Friday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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.
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