Origin
Dale, IL
Morning in Dale on Saturday
Local time
10:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dale, IL to Bloomington, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 20m
Distance
205.6 mi
331 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 8m
★
6 AM
4h 21m
8 AM
4h 48m
10 AM
4h 30m
12 PM
4h 28m
3 PM
4h 32m
5 PM
4h 46m
8 PM
4h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dale, IL
Zülfü Demir📸
Trip Overview
The drive from Dale, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 205.6 miles and takes about 4h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 51, North Water Street, Ken Gray Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.7 miles on US 51. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.14 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
102.8 miles from Dale, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .
About the Cities
Arriving in Bloomington, IL
Full guide →Bloomington, pop. 77,000 (2010 census), is a city in the Midwestern state of Illinois in the United States of America, on the classic Route 66 highway across the country. With neighboring Normal, pop. 52,000 (2010 census), it forms a combined community of about 130,000 known locally as the Twin Cities. Illinois Wesleyan University is in Bloomington, and is not to be confused with Illinois State University in Normal.
Top landmarks
- • David Davis Mansion — house museum in Bloomington, Illinois
- • Bloomington Central Business District — historic and central business district in Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois,...
- • George H. Miller House — Bloomington, Illinois, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 20m. Total distance: 205.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from Dale, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 205.6 miles and takes about 4h 20m, 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 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 51 is the longest continuous segment at about 28.7 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 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.4 miles in near IL 142 / Market Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 205.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 7.4 miles (IL 142 / Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.7 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 61.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
7.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
IL 142 / Market Street
Turn left onto IL 142 / Market Street
Navigation decision point
5
40.7 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
5
61.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
4
93.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
|
US 40; US 51; IL 185 / North Kennedy Boulevard
Turn right onto US 40; US 51; IL 185 / North Kennedy Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
155.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Decatur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Decatur
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dale, IL and Bloomington, IL, road signs point toward Sandoval and Decatur.
Sandoval
61.2 mi in
|
~1h 18m
Decatur
155.1 mi in
|
~3h 10m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 51 | 28.7 mi | 33m |
| North Water Street | 27.4 mi | 36m |
| Ken Gray Expressway | 20.5 mi | 22m |
| North 1450 East Road | 17.6 mi | 23m |
| Market Street | 15.4 mi | 22m |
| South Superior Street | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| I 64 | 14.4 mi | 15m |
| 300E | 13.5 mi | 15m |
Longest stretch:
US 51
— 28.7 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dale, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on IL 142
6.8 mi
·
10 min
·
County Road 1165 East
2
Continue on IL 142
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Jackson Street
3
Turn left onto IL 142
15 mi
·
22 min
·
Market Street
4
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
North Main Street
5
Continue on North Brehm Lane
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Brehm Lane
6
Continue on County Highway 17
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
County Highway 17
7
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
8
Merge onto I 64
14 mi
·
15 min
·
I 64
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
11
Merge onto US 50
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
12
Continue on US 50
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East Poplar Street
13
Continue on US 50
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Poplar
14
Turn right onto US 51
10 mi
·
11 min
·
150E
15
Continue on US 51
13 mi
·
15 min
·
300E
16
Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 40; US 51; IL 185
17
Turn right onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kennedy Boulevard
18
Continue on US 51
11 mi
·
12 min
·
County Road 875 East
19
Continue on US 51
15 mi
·
17 min
·
South Superior Street
20
Continue on US 51
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 2400 East
21
Continue on US 51
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Fair Avenue
22
Continue on US 51
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Poplar Street
23
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1st Street
24
Turn left onto US 51; IL 16
382 ft
·
5 sec
·
Cedar Street
25
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Jackson Street
26
Continue on US 51; IL 16
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North 2600 East Road
27
Turn left onto US 51
29 mi
·
33 min
·
US 51
28
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward Decatur
29
Keep slight right at fork
144 ft
·
3 sec
Toward Decatur
30
Turn straight onto US 51 Business
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Business Route 51
31
Continue on US 51 Business
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
South Main Street
32
Continue on US 51 Business
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Franklin Street
33
Continue on US 51 Business
27 mi
·
36 min
·
North Water Street
34
Continue on US 51
18 mi
·
23 min
·
North 1450 East Road
Use the straight lane.
35
Continue on US 51 Business
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South East Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
36
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
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 102.8 miles from Dale, IL, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.7 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 45 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.8 miles or 2h 6m 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 30m
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 Dale, 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 Dale, IL
This is one driving day of about 205.6 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Dale, 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 US 51 for about 28.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 102.8 mi from Dale, IL · 2h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 102.8 miles from Dale, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$32.14 one way
$64.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $35.29 | $70.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $39.57 | $79.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.39 | $90.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.7 | 0 | $21.59 | $9.87 |
| Efficient EV | 51.4 | 0 | $17.99 | $8.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.2 | 1 | $28.78 | $13.16 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Bloomington, IL
Morning in Bloomington on Saturday
Local time
10:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
4 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 20m 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 Dale, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 205.6 miles and takes about 4h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 51, North Water Street, Ken Gray Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 102.8 miles from Dale, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.14 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 205.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 7.4 miles (IL 142 / Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.7 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 61.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Dale, IL and Bloomington, IL, road signs point toward Sandoval and Decatur.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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