Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Elmwood Park, 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

2h 45m

Distance

133.9 mi

216 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 34m ★
6 AM
2h 45m
8 AM
3h 7m
10 AM
2h 53m
12 PM
2h 50m
3 PM
2h 54m
5 PM
3h 6m
8 PM
2h 39m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Elmwood Park, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Elmwood Park, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 133.9 miles and takes about 2h 45m 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, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 100.9 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.93 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

67 miles from Elmwood Park, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Adlai Stevenson Expressway 100.9 mi 1h 51m
Veterans Memorial Tollway 8.6 mi 10m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway 7.6 mi 9m
Eisenhower Expressway 5 mi 6m
North Harlem Avenue 3.3 mi 8m
I 55 Business 3.1 mi 5m
East Empire Street 1.6 mi 3m
North Veterans Parkway 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Adlai Stevenson Expressway — 100.9 mi, about 1h 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elmwood Park, IL and Bloomington, IL.

1

Start on this road

186 ft · 15 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto West Belden Avenue

0.1 mi · 31 sec · West Belden Avenue
3

Turn right

104 ft · 12 sec
4

Turn left

171 ft · 14 sec
5

Turn right onto IL 43

3.3 mi · 8 min · North Harlem Avenue
Use the left lane.
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 290 West Use the right lane.
7

Merge onto I 290; IL 110

5.0 mi · 6 min · Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110

1.9 mi · 2 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 15A Toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora, Indiana Use the slight left lane.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110

5.8 mi · 6 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 138 Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road) Use the slight right lane.
10

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 55 sec
Exit 131A Toward I 355 South: Joliet Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Merge onto I 355

8.6 mi · 10 min · Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Exit 12A Toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward Joliet Road South Use the slight left lane.
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Merge onto I 55

101 mi · 1 hr 51 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

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.
17

Continue on I 55 Business

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Veterans Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 22 sec
Toward IL 9 West: Pekin Use the right lane.
19

Turn straight onto IL 9

1.6 mi · 3 min · East Empire Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
20

Turn left onto US 150

0.3 mi · 50 sec · North Clinton Street
Use the left lane.
21

Turn right onto East Mulberry Street

0.3 mi · 59 sec · East Mulberry Street
22

Turn left onto North Prairie Street

275 ft · 14 sec · North Prairie Street
23

Turn right onto East Douglas Street

504 ft · 23 sec · East Douglas Street
24

Turn right onto US 51 Business

0.1 mi · 15 sec · North East Street
25

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67 miles from Elmwood Park, IL, or about 1h 24m 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 29 miles or 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 67 miles or 1h 24m 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 11m

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 Elmwood Park, 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 Elmwood Park, IL

This is one driving day of about 133.9 miles and 2h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Elmwood Park, 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 Adlai Stevenson Expressway for about 100.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Joliet, IL

67 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

Romeoville, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Morris, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67 miles from Elmwood Park, 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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Tacochela Mexican Restaurant and Catering

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Downers Grove, Illinois

Near the start, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 19.1

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+16304478226

Visit website

Steven's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Woodridge, Illinois

2 mi

J. Alexander's Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Oak Brook, Illinois

2.1 mi

Tacochela Mexican Restaurant and Catering

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 19.1

Downers Grove, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+16304478226

Visit website

Steven's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 19.1

Woodridge, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+16308109812

Visit website

J. Alexander's Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour Expensive mile 9.6

Oak Brook, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+16305738180

Visit website

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour Moderately

Oak Park, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+17086132999

Visit website

Ditka's Oakbrook

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour Expensive mile 9.6

Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+16305722200

Visit website

Subway

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 28.7

Romeoville, Illinois

Hours: 7:30 am–9 pm

+18155243248

Visit website

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour Moderately mile 19.1

Downers Grove, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13312159463

Visit website

Piacere Mio Italian Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

Forest Park, Illinois

Hours: 4–9 pm

+17083664010

Visit website

Friendly Coffee Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10

Berwyn, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+17084849794

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 133.9

Normal, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 133.9

Normal, Illinois

+13094549590

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 133.9

Bloomington, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+13096641222

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 133.9

Bloomington, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–12 pm

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 133.9

Bloomington, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 133.9

Normal, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.4 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 133.9

Bloomington, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 133.9

Bloomington, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 127.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
3.5 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the ramp toward I 290 West

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 290 West
9
8.7 mi into trip | ~17m in | I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora, Indiana

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 15A Toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora...
8
10.6 mi into trip | ~19m in | I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 138 Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
8
25.6 mi into trip | ~38m 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
8
127.3 mi into trip | ~2h 31m 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...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.93 one way

$41.87 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $22.98 $45.97
premium $4.89 $25.77 $51.54
diesel $5.61 $29.56 $59.13

Estimated Tolls: $1.06

Veterans Memorial Tollway (8.6 mi) $0.60
Reagan Memorial Tollway (7.6 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

$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: 46.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.2 0 $14.06 $6.43
Efficient EV 33.5 0 $11.72 $5.36
EV Truck/SUV 53.6 0 $18.75 $8.57

Gas CO2

47 kg

EV CO2

16 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Elmwood Park, IL

Afternoon in Elmwood Park on Saturday

Local time

2:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bloomington, IL

Afternoon in Bloomington on Saturday

Local time

2:26 PM

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

19 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 45m 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.

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...

17 mi from route ~42 min detour Free near mile 4.6
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

133.9 mi in 2h 45m, mostly highway — 100.9 mi of that is on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.

82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.9 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 3.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 133.9 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 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Elmwood Park, IL and Bloomington, IL, road signs point toward Indiana, 22Nd Street (Cermak Road), Saint Louis and Joliet Road South.

Indiana

8.7 mi in | ~17m | via I 88; IL 110

22Nd Street (Cermak Road)

10.6 mi in | ~19m | via I 88; IL 110

Saint Louis

25.6 mi in | ~38m

Joliet Road South

25.9 mi in | ~38m

About the Cities

Starting in Elmwood Park, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1914

The Northwest Suburbs are in Chicagoland, primarily in northwestern Cook, southern Lake and northern DuPage County, centered along Metra’s North Central Service, though encompassing areas well beyond the rail line. The Northwestern Suburbs constitute the largest portion of Chicagoland outside of the city. For further-out suburbs, see Fox River Valley.

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 2h 45m. Total distance: 133.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 100.9 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.06 in tolls one way, starting with Veterans Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bloomington, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bloomington, IL before heading back.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Bloomington, IL

Carbondale, IL 221.1 mi · 4h 33m Cambria, IL 213.2 mi · 4h 24m Bremen, IL 213 mi · 4h 19m Campton, IL 208.2 mi · 4h 11m

More from Elmwood Park, IL

Quincy, IL 311.4 mi · 5h 58m Aurora, IL 35.9 mi · 53m Bolingbrook, IL 26.7 mi · 42m Wheaton, IL 19.5 mi · 39m Evanston, IL 14.8 mi · 28m Chicago, IL 12.7 mi · 24m

More trips to Bloomington, IL

Makanda, IL 231.6 mi Crestwood, IL 220.7 mi Sleepy Hollow, IL 219.5 mi Crainville, IL 213.7 mi Johnston City, IL 203.1 mi Christopher, IL 196.5 mi
Escape planner: Elmwood Park, IL Scenic drives in IL

Explore more options from Elmwood Park, IL or browse trips ending in Bloomington, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.