Origin
Bloomington, IL
Evening in Bloomington on Thursday
Local time
6:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bloomington, IL to Lakewood, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 12m
Distance
140.5 mi
226 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 1m
★
6 AM
3h 12m
8 AM
3h 36m
10 AM
3h 21m
12 PM
3h 18m
3 PM
3h 22m
5 PM
3h 35m
8 PM
3h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, IL
Mike Tyurin
Trip Overview
The drive from Bloomington, IL to Lakewood, IL covers 140.5 miles and takes about 3h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, IL 47, South Randall Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.3 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.97 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
70.3 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 3h 12m. Total distance: 140.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 12m highway drive covering 140.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and IL 47. The longest continuous stretch is about 54.3 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 22 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 54.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 3h 12m drive. You will face about 15 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 95 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese 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
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
5
95 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road
Navigation decision point
5
98.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
|
Minkler Road
Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
138 mi into trip
|
~3h 4m in
|
McHenry Avenue
Turn left onto McHenry Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left 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 Lakewood, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Dwight along the way.
Dwight
58.4 mi in
|
~1h 8m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 54.3 mi | 58m |
| IL 47 | 32 mi | 38m |
| South Randall Road | 24.9 mi | 41m |
| Orchard Road | 11.2 mi | 18m |
| Minkler Road | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| North Main Street | 3.6 mi | 8m |
| Ashley Road | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| North Randall Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 54.3 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IL and Lakewood, 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
32 mi
·
38 min
·
IL 47
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto Walker Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Walker Road
8
Turn left onto Ashley Road
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Ashley Road
9
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Schoolhouse Road
10
Turn left onto Minkler Road
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Minkler Road
11
Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road
126 ft
·
3 sec
·
Minkler Road
12
Continue on Minkler Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Minkler Road
13
Continue on Orchard Road
11 mi
·
18 min
·
Orchard Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto CR 34
25 mi
·
41 min
·
South Randall Road
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on V29
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Randall Road
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto McHenry Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
McHenry Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto Nash Road
285 ft
·
12 sec
·
Nash Road
18
Continue on Nash Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Nash Road
19
Turn left onto Golf Road
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
·
Golf Road
20
At end of road, turn right onto Country Club Road
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Country Club Road
21
Turn left onto Broadway Avenue
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Broadway Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Broadway Avenue
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 70.3 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 1h 22m 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 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.3 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakewood, 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 140.5 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 70.3 mi from Bloomington, IL · 1h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 70.3 miles from Bloomington, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lakewood, IL
The final approach into Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, 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
$21.97 one way
$43.93 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.12 | $48.23 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.04 | $54.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.02 | $62.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.2 | 0 | $14.75 | $6.74 |
| Efficient EV | 35.1 | 0 | $12.29 | $5.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.2 | 0 | $19.67 | $8.99 |
Gas CO2
49 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.
Destination
Lakewood, IL
Evening in Lakewood on Thursday
Local time
6:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
16 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 12m 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 Lakewood, IL covers 140.5 miles and takes about 3h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, IL 47, South Randall Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.3 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 $21.97 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 is a straightforward 3h 12m drive. You will face about 15 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 58.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Bloomington, IL to Lakewood, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Dwight along the way.
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