Origin
Lake Bluff, IL
Night in Lake Bluff on Tuesday
Local time
9:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Bluff, IL to Bloomington, IL
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
3h 13m
Distance
158.6 mi
255 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 2m
★
6 AM
3h 13m
8 AM
3h 37m
10 AM
3h 22m
12 PM
3h 19m
3 PM
3h 23m
5 PM
3h 36m
8 PM
3h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Bluff, IL
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake Bluff, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 158.6 miles and takes about 3h 13m 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, Tri-State Tollway, I 55 Business for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 108.7 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.80 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
79.3 miles from Lake Bluff, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 13m highway drive covering 158.6 miles, with most of the trip on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Tri-State Tollway. The longest continuous stretch is about 108.7 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 21 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 108.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.4 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 158.6 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 13.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
13.4 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
6
40.9 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
42.1 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 23
Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
7
42.8 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
8
151.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 59m 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 Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lake Bluff, IL and Bloomington, IL, road signs point toward O'hare and St. Louis.
O'hare
13.4 mi in
|
~19m
|
via I 294
St. Louis
42.1 mi in
|
~55m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 108.7 mi | 2h 1m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 37.8 mi | 46m |
| I 55 Business | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Rockland Road | 3 mi | 5m |
| East Empire Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| North Veterans Parkway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West Scranton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Center Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
— 108.7 mi, about 2h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Bluff, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on East Center Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Center Avenue
2
Continue on West Scranton Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Scranton Avenue
3
Continue on IL 176
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Rockland Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 94 Toll East: Indiana
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 94
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
23 mi
·
28 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 23
Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 55
109 mi
·
2 hr 1 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Continue on I 55 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Veterans Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
Toward IL 9 West: Pekin
Use the right lane.
15
Turn straight onto IL 9
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
East Empire Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto US 150
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Clinton Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto East Mulberry Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
East Mulberry Street
18
Turn left onto North Prairie Street
275 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Prairie Street
19
Turn right onto East Douglas Street
504 ft
·
23 sec
·
East Douglas Street
20
Turn right onto US 51 Business
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
North East Street
21
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 79.3 miles from Lake Bluff, IL, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108.7 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.3 miles or 1h 37m 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 34m
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 Lake Bluff, 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 Lake Bluff, IL
This is one driving day of about 158.6 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lake Bluff, 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 108.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.3 mi from Lake Bluff, IL · 1h 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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 79.3 miles from Lake Bluff, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Adlai Stevenson Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 108.7 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.80 one way
$49.59 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $27.22 | $54.45 |
| premium | $4.89 | $30.52 | $61.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.02 | $70.03 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.26
Tri-state Tollway
(37.8 mi)
$2.26
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
$25
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.6 | 0 | $16.65 | $7.61 |
| Efficient EV | 39.7 | 0 | $13.88 | $6.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.4 | 0 | $22.20 | $10.15 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (65% 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
Night in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
9:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 13 to 20 mph
42% chance
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
16 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
3h 13m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lake Bluff, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 158.6 miles and takes about 3h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Tri-State 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 79.3 miles from Lake Bluff, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.80 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 158.6 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 13.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Lake Bluff, IL and Bloomington, IL, road signs point toward O'hare and St. Louis.
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