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Trip from Downers Grove, IL to Bloomington, IL

Drive Time

2h 20m

Distance

117.5 mi

189 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 11m ★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 40m
10 AM
2h 28m
12 PM
2h 26m
3 PM
2h 29m
5 PM
2h 39m
8 PM
2h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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village in Downers Grove, Lisle, and York Townships, DuPage County, Illinois, United States

Downers Grove, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Downers Grove, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 117.5 miles and takes about 2h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Veterans Memorial Tollway, I 55 Business for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 100.9 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.85 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

58.8 miles from Downers Grove, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 20m highway drive covering 117.5 miles, with most of the trip on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Veterans Memorial Tollway. The longest continuous stretch is about 100.9 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 100.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Veterans Memorial Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 117.5 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 2.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
2.4 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the ramp toward I 355 South: Joliet

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 355 South: Joliet
8
9.2 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis

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 12A Toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
7
9.5 mi into trip | ~14m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Joliet Road South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward Joliet Road South
7
9.9 mi into trip | ~15m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
8
110.9 mi into trip | ~2h 6m in | I 55 Business

Take the exit onto I 55 Business toward I 55 Business South: Veterans Parkway, Central Illinois Regional Airport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 167 Toward I 55 Business South: Veterans Parkway, C...

Towns Along This Route

Between Downers Grove, IL and Bloomington, IL, road signs point toward Saint Louis, Joliet Road South and Illinois Regional Airport.

Saint Louis

9.2 mi in | ~13m

Joliet Road South

9.5 mi in | ~14m

Illinois Regional Airport

110.9 mi in | ~2h 6m | via I 55 Business

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Adlai Stevenson Expressway 100.9 mi 1h 51m
Veterans Memorial Tollway 6.6 mi 8m
I 55 Business 3.1 mi 5m
Ogden Avenue 2.4 mi 5m
East Empire Street 1.6 mi 3m
North Veterans Parkway 0.9 mi 1m
East Mulberry Street 0.3 mi <1m
North Clinton Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Adlai Stevenson Expressway — 100.9 mi, about 1h 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Downers Grove, IL and Bloomington, IL.

1

Start on Main Street

37 ft · 4 sec · Main Street
2

Turn right onto US 34

2.4 mi · 5 min · Ogden Avenue
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 355 South: Joliet Use the left lane.
4

Merge onto I 355

6.6 mi · 8 min · Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Exit 12A Toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward Joliet Road South Use the slight left lane.
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Merge onto I 55

101 mi · 1 hr 51 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit onto I 55 Business

3.1 mi · 5 min · I 55 Business
Exit 167 Toward I 55 Business South: Veterans Parkway, Central Illinois Regional Airport Use the slight right lane.
10

Continue on I 55 Business

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Veterans Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 22 sec
Toward IL 9 West: Pekin Use the right lane.
12

Turn straight onto IL 9

1.6 mi · 3 min · East Empire Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
13

Turn left onto US 150

0.3 mi · 50 sec · North Clinton Street
Use the left lane.
14

Turn right onto East Mulberry Street

0.3 mi · 59 sec · East Mulberry Street
15

Turn left onto North Prairie Street

275 ft · 14 sec · North Prairie Street
16

Turn right onto East Douglas Street

504 ft · 23 sec · East Douglas Street
17

Turn right onto US 51 Business

0.1 mi · 15 sec · North East Street
18

Arrive at destination

US 51 Business

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58.8 miles from Downers Grove, IL, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.9 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 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 58.8 miles or 1h 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 1h 50m

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 Downers Grove, 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 Downers Grove, IL

This is one driving day of about 117.5 miles and 2h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Downers Grove, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Adlai Stevenson Expressway for about 100.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 58.8 mi from Downers Grove, IL · 1h 9m into the drive

Downtown Joliet, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Joliet, IL

59 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.

Popular next leg

Joliet, IL to Bloomington, IL

96.9 mi · 1h 54m

Pacing Suggestions

Normal, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Joliet, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 58.8 miles from Downers Grove, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Adlai Stevenson Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100.9 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.

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pullman National Historical Park

Pullman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 8.1
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.85 one way

$35.69 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $19.67 $39.35
premium $4.80 $22.18 $44.36
diesel $5.64 $26.10 $52.21

Estimated Tolls: $0.46

Veterans Memorial Tollway (6.6 mi) $0.46

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

$18

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 35.3 0 $12.34 $5.64
Efficient EV 29.4 0 $10.28 $4.70
EV Truck/SUV 47 0 $16.45 $7.52

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Downers Grove, IL

Afternoon in Downers Grove on Monday

Local time

2:17 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bloomington, IL

Afternoon in Bloomington on Monday

Local time

2:17 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

6 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

2h 20m 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 Downers Grove, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 117.5 miles and takes about 2h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Veterans Memorial Tollway, I 55 Business. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.8 miles from Downers Grove, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.85 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 117.5 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 2.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Downers Grove, IL and Bloomington, IL, road signs point toward Saint Louis, Joliet Road South and Illinois Regional Airport.

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