Origin
Crestwood, IL
Afternoon in Crestwood on Sunday
Local time
3:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Crestwood, IL to Bloomington, IL
Drive Time
4h 32m
Distance
220.7 mi
355 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 19m
★
6 AM
4h 33m
8 AM
5h 0m
10 AM
4h 42m
12 PM
4h 39m
3 PM
4h 43m
5 PM
4h 58m
8 PM
4h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Crestwood, IL
Choco Kitty
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Crestwood to Bloomington, expect a 220.7-mile journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 32 minutes to complete. This route keeps you within the Midwest, making it a straightforward drive that is easily manageable in a single day. With a fuel budget of approximately $34, it is an economical choice for a quick getaway or a necessary commute. Because the trip is well under five hours, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. The combination of local roads and expressways ensures you get a good balance of travel efficiency and regional scenery as you traverse Illinois.
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
110.4 miles from Crestwood, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive features a mixed profile, shifting from urban-adjacent roads to more open stretches as you head toward Bloomington. You will spend roughly 47% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted segment covering 70.9 miles on the Ken Gray Expressway. Expect to transition between the high-speed flow of the expressway and the more measured pace of US 51 and North Water Street. The road character evolves significantly, moving from the denser traffic patterns near Crestwood into the steadier, more predictable rhythms of central Illinois. It is a functional drive that requires steady focus rather than technical maneuvering.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 38 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 70.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Ridgeway.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 220.7 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Ridgeway): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (McKinney Chapel Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles (Lake Egypt Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 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
|
Ridgeway
Turn right onto Ridgeway
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
McKinney Chapel Road
Turn left onto McKinney Chapel Road
Navigation decision point
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Lake Egypt Road
At end of road, turn left onto Lake Egypt Road
Navigation decision point
5
4.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
IL 148
At end of road, turn right onto IL 148
Navigation decision point
6
141.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
|
US 51
Turn left onto US 51
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Towns Along This Route
Between Crestwood, IL and Bloomington, IL, road signs point toward Sandoval and Decatur.
Sandoval
76.3 mi in
|
~1h 30m
Decatur
170.3 mi in
|
~3h 22m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ken Gray Expressway | 70.9 mi | 1h 16m |
| US 51 | 28.7 mi | 33m |
| North Water Street | 27.4 mi | 36m |
| North 1450 East Road | 17.6 mi | 23m |
| South Superior Street | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| 300E | 13.5 mi | 15m |
| County Road 875 East | 11.1 mi | 12m |
| 150E | 10.4 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
Ken Gray Expressway
— 70.9 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crestwood, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on Pinewood Drive
385 ft
·
19 sec
·
Pinewood Drive
2
Turn right onto Ridgeway
283 ft
·
18 sec
·
Ridgeway
3
Turn left onto McKinney Chapel Road
255 ft
·
11 sec
·
McKinney Chapel Road
4
Continue on McKinney Chapel Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
McKinney Chapel Road
5
Turn right onto Power Plant Road
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Power Plant Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto Lake Egypt Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Lake Egypt Road
7
Turn left onto IL 37
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
IL 37
8
At end of road, turn right onto IL 148
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
IL 148
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
10
Merge onto I 57
50 mi
·
54 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
13
Merge onto US 50
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
14
Continue on US 50
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East Poplar Street
15
Continue on US 50
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Poplar
16
Turn right onto US 51
10 mi
·
11 min
·
150E
17
Continue on US 51
13 mi
·
15 min
·
300E
18
Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 40; US 51; IL 185
19
Turn right onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kennedy Boulevard
20
Continue on US 51
11 mi
·
12 min
·
County Road 875 East
21
Continue on US 51
15 mi
·
17 min
·
South Superior Street
22
Continue on US 51
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 2400 East
23
Continue on US 51
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Fair Avenue
24
Continue on US 51
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Poplar Street
25
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1st Street
26
Turn left onto US 51; IL 16
382 ft
·
5 sec
·
Cedar Street
27
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Jackson Street
28
Continue on US 51; IL 16
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North 2600 East Road
29
Turn left onto US 51
29 mi
·
33 min
·
US 51
Use the none lane.
30
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward Decatur
31
Keep slight right at fork
144 ft
·
3 sec
Toward Decatur
32
Turn straight onto US 51 Business
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Business Route 51
33
Continue on US 51 Business
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
South Main Street
34
Continue on US 51 Business
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Franklin Street
35
Continue on US 51 Business
27 mi
·
36 min
·
North Water Street
Use the none lane.
36
Continue on US 51
18 mi
·
23 min
·
North 1450 East Road
Use the straight lane.
37
Continue on US 51 Business
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South East Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
38
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 4-hour-plus drive. Since you are covering 220.7 miles, leaving early in the morning helps you avoid potential congestion on the more heavily traveled sections of the route. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $34 estimate can fluctuate depending on your vehicle’s efficiency and idling time in traffic. The flexibility of a single-day trip means you can easily adjust your departure time based on your own schedule. Given the length of the Ken Gray Expressway stretch, ensure you are well-rested before tackling that specific 70.9-mile leg to stay sharp behind the wheel.
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 110.4 miles from Crestwood, IL, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.9 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 110.4 miles or 2h 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 3h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bloomington, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Crestwood, 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 Crestwood, IL
This is one driving day of about 220.7 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Crestwood, 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 70.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 110.4 mi from Crestwood, IL · 2h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
110 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 110.4 miles from Crestwood, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ken Gray Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.9 miles.
Arriving in Bloomington, IL
The final approach into Bloomington, 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 Bloomington, 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
$33.52 one way
$67.04 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
77 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $36.95 | $73.91 |
| premium | $4.80 | $41.66 | $83.33 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $49.03 | $98.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.2 | 0 | $23.17 | $10.59 |
| Efficient EV | 55.2 | 0 | $19.31 | $8.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 88.3 | 1 | $30.90 | $14.12 |
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Bloomington, IL
Afternoon in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
3:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°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
22 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
4h 32m 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 Crestwood, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 220.7 miles and takes about 4h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ken Gray Expressway, US 51, North Water Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 110.4 miles from Crestwood, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.52 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 220.7 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Ridgeway): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (McKinney Chapel Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles (Lake Egypt Road): Navigation decision point.
Between Crestwood, IL and Bloomington, IL, road signs point toward Sandoval and Decatur.
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