Trip from Energy, IL to Bloomington, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 16m

Distance

209 mi

336 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 3m ★

6 AM

4h 16m

8 AM

4h 43m

10 AM

4h 25m

12 PM

4h 23m

3 PM

4h 27m

5 PM

4h 41m

8 PM

4h 8m

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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Energy, IL

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Trip Overview

The drive from Energy, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 209 miles and takes about 4h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Ken Gray Expressway, US 51, North Water Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57.1 miles on Ken Gray Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.67 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

104.5 miles from Energy, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 59m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 16m. Total distance: 209 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Energy, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 209 miles and takes about 4h 16m, 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 35 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 57.1 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 7.2 miles in.

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 209 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 7.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 44.1 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 64.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

7.2 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

44.1 mi into trip | ~51m 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

64.6 mi into trip | ~1h 13m 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

97.1 mi into trip | ~1h 51m 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

159.1 mi into trip | ~3h 7m 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 Energy, IL and Bloomington, IL, road signs point toward Sandoval and Decatur.

Sandoval

64.6 mi in | ~1h 13m

Decatur

158.6 mi in | ~3h 6m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Ken Gray Expressway	57.1 mi	1h 1m
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 — 57.1 mi, about 1h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on West College Street

15 ft · 7 sec · West College Street

Turn left onto IL 148

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Pershing Street

Continue on IL 148

1.8 mi · 3 min · South Park Avenue

Turn right onto East Herrin Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · East Herrin Street

Continue on Herrin Road

3.3 mi · 4 min · Herrin Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Merge onto I 57

37 mi · 39 min · Ken Gray Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57

20 mi · 22 min · Ken Gray Expressway

Toward I 57 North: Chicago

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec

Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval

Merge onto US 50

2.4 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

Continue on US 50

2.7 mi · 3 min · East Poplar Street

Continue on US 50

2.7 mi · 3 min · Poplar

Turn right onto US 51

10 mi · 11 min · 150E

Continue on US 51

13 mi · 15 min · 300E

Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185

0.5 mi · 35 sec · US 40; US 51; IL 185

Turn right onto US 40; US 51; IL 185

1.6 mi · 1 min · North Kennedy Boulevard

Continue on US 51

11 mi · 12 min · County Road 875 East

Continue on US 51

15 mi · 17 min · South Superior Street

Continue on US 51

2.0 mi · 2 min · County Road 2400 East

Continue on US 51

0.6 mi · 2 min · Fair Avenue

Continue on US 51

0.4 mi · 31 sec · South Poplar Street

Turn right onto US 51; IL 16

0.4 mi · 1 min · East 1st Street

Turn left onto US 51; IL 16

382 ft · 5 sec · Cedar Street

Turn right onto US 51; IL 16

0.5 mi · 1 min · Jackson Street

Continue on US 51; IL 16

1.0 mi · 1 min · North 2600 East Road

Turn left onto US 51

29 mi · 33 min · US 51

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward Decatur

Keep slight right at fork

144 ft · 3 sec

Toward Decatur

Turn straight onto US 51 Business

2.6 mi · 3 min · South Business Route 51

Continue on US 51 Business

0.1 mi · 19 sec · South Main Street

Continue on US 51 Business

1.6 mi · 2 min · South Franklin Street

Continue on US 51 Business

27 mi · 36 min · North Water Street

Continue on US 51

18 mi · 23 min · North 1450 East Road

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 51 Business

0.5 mi · 1 min · South East Street

Use the straight / left lanes.

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 104.5 miles from Energy, IL, or about 1h 59m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.1 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 46 miles or 53m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 104.5 miles or 1h 59m 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 24m

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 Energy, 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 Energy, IL

This is one driving day of about 209 miles and 4h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Energy, 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 57.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 104.5 mi from Energy, IL · 1h 59m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lakewood, IL

105 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

Odin, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lakewood, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 104.5 miles from Energy, 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

$32.67 one way

$65.35 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 73 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$35.88	$71.75
premium	$4.89	$40.22	$80.44
diesel	$5.61	$46.14	$92.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 73.1 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	62.7	0	$21.94	$10.03
Efficient EV	52.3	0	$18.29	$8.36
EV Truck/SUV	83.6	1	$29.26	$13.38

Gas CO2

73 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Energy, IL

Afternoon in Energy on Thursday

Local time

1:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bloomington, IL

Afternoon in Bloomington on Thursday

Local time

1:21 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

5 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 16m 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 Energy, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 209 miles and takes about 4h 16m 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 104.5 miles from Energy, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.67 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.