Origin
Bloomington, IL
Morning in Bloomington on Monday
Local time
8:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bloomington, IL to Park Ridge, IL
Drive Time
2h 43m
Distance
136.3 mi
219 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 33m
★
6 AM
2h 44m
8 AM
3h 5m
10 AM
2h 51m
12 PM
2h 49m
3 PM
2h 53m
5 PM
3h 4m
8 PM
2h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Park Ridge, IL
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
The drive from Bloomington, IL to Park Ridge, IL covers 136.3 miles and takes about 2h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, Tri-State Tollway, North Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 111.5 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.70 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
68.2 miles from Bloomington, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 43m highway drive covering 136.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and Tri-State Tollway. The longest continuous stretch is about 111.5 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 15 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 111.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 115.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 136.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 115.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 122.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 134.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
115.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 277A
Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
6
122.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
134.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 39m in
Take the exit toward Touhy Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
6
134.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Touhy Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
8
134.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Touhy Avenue East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 42A
Toward Touhy Avenue East
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 111.5 mi | 2h 4m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 16.6 mi | 20m |
| North Main Street | 3.6 mi | 8m |
| East Touhy Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North East Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Greenwood Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 111.5 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IL and Park Ridge, 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
112 mi
·
2 hr 4 min
·
I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
1.6 mi
·
3 min
Exit 277A
Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
7
Merge onto I 294
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 42A
Toward Touhy Avenue East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Touhy Avenue
13
Turn left onto North Greenwood Avenue
92 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Greenwood Avenue
14
Turn right
24 ft
·
1 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 68.2 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.5 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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.2 miles or 1h 21m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Park Ridge, 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 136.3 miles and 2h 43m.
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 I 55 for about 111.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68.2 mi from Bloomington, IL · 1h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
68 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 68.2 miles from Bloomington, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111.5 miles.
Arriving in Park Ridge, IL
The final approach into Park Ridge, 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 Park Ridge, IL.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.70 one way
$41.41 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $22.82 | $45.64 |
| premium | $4.80 | $25.73 | $51.46 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $30.28 | $60.56 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.99
Tri-state Tollway
(16.6 mi)
$0.99
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.9 | 0 | $14.31 | $6.54 |
| Efficient EV | 34.1 | 0 | $11.93 | $5.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.5 | 0 | $19.08 | $8.72 |
Gas CO2
48 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
Park Ridge, IL
Morning in Park Ridge on Monday
Local time
8:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°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 43m 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 Park Ridge, IL covers 136.3 miles and takes about 2h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, Tri-State Tollway, North Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68.2 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 $20.70 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 136.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 115.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 122.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 134.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bloomington, IL to Park Ridge, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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