Trip from Markham, IL to Bloomington, IL

Drive Time

2h 9m

Distance

113.1 mi

182 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
2h 1m ★
6 AM
2h 10m
8 AM
2h 28m
10 AM
2h 16m
12 PM
2h 14m
3 PM
2h 17m
5 PM
2h 27m
8 PM
2h 4m

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

Downtown Markham, IL, IL

Markham, IL

Mike Tyurin

Trip Overview

Connecting Markham to Bloomington, this 113.1-mile journey is a straightforward trek through the Illinois Midwest. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 9 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With a projected fuel cost of $17, it is an affordable excursion that does not require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-55, I-72, and US Highway 67 to reach your destination. Because the entire route remains within Illinois, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick getaway, the simplicity of this drive allows for a stress-free travel experience.

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

56.5 miles from Markham, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .

Drive Character

This highway-focused route is built for efficiency, with 97% of your travel time spent on major roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm quickly, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 50.9 miles along I-72. While the drive is predominantly an interstate grind, the transition between these major arteries keeps the journey moving at a consistent pace. You won't encounter many technical local roads, as the path prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours. Expect a practical experience where the focus is firmly on reaching Bloomington with minimal navigation hurdles.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 72 is the longest continuous segment at about 50.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 72 and I 55. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.5 miles in.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 113.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 79.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.6 miles (I 55 Business / South Veterans Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

4
7.5 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the exit toward I 72 East: Quincy

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 72 East: Quincy
7
79.2 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in | I 55

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 North: Chicago
7
108.6 mi into trip | ~2h in | I 55 Business / South Veterans Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 Business / South Veterans Parkway toward I 55 Business North, I 74 East: Indianapolis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 157A; 157B Toward I 55 Business North, I 74 East: Indianap...
4
108.9 mi into trip | ~2h 1m in | I 55 Business / South Veterans Parkway

Continue onto I 55 Business / South Veterans Parkway toward I 55 Business North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes. Exit 157B Toward I 55 Business North
4
111 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in

Take the exit toward US 51 Business

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward US 51 Business

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 72 50.9 mi 55m
I 55 49.9 mi 53m
US Highway 67 6.4 mi 6m
South Veterans Parkway 2.5 mi 3m
South Main Street 1.3 mi 3m
Markham Road 1.1 mi 4m
South East Street 0.5 mi 1m
North East Street Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: I 72 — 50.9 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Markham Road

1.1 mi · 4 min · Markham Road
2

Turn right onto US 67; IL 104

6.4 mi · 6 min · US Highway 67
3

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward I 72 East: Quincy
4

Merge onto I 72; US 36

51 mi · 55 min · I 72; US 36
5

Continue on I 55

20 mi · 21 min · I 55
Use the none lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55

29 mi · 31 min · I 55
Toward I 55 North: Chicago Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 Business

0.3 mi · 20 sec · South Veterans Parkway
Exit 157A; 157B Toward I 55 Business North, I 74 East: Indianapolis
8

Continue on I 55 Business

2.1 mi · 3 min · South Veterans Parkway
Exit 157B Toward I 55 Business North Use the left / straight lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward US 51 Business
10

Turn left onto US 51 Business

1.3 mi · 3 min · South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
11

Continue on US 51 Business

0.5 mi · 1 min · South East Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
12

Arrive at destination

US 51 Business

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the trip in one go without needing scheduled stops, as the duration is just over two hours. If you want to avoid peak traffic, plan your departure to bypass the busiest commuting windows. Keep in mind that your $17 fuel budget is an estimate, so it is wise to monitor your vehicle's efficiency as you navigate the interstate segments. A helpful tip for this specific route is to prepare your music or podcasts beforehand, as the 50.9-mile stretch on I-72 offers a long, consistent window to settle in and enjoy your audio entertainment.

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 56.5 miles from Markham, IL, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.9 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 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 56.5 miles or 1h 4m 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 43m

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 Markham, 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 Markham, IL

This is one driving day of about 113.1 miles and 2h 9m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Markham, 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 I 72 for about 50.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 56.5 mi from Markham, IL · 1h 4m into the drive

Downtown Decatur, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Decatur, IL

57 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

Normal, IL

Fuel and coffee

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

Decatur, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 56.5 miles from Markham, 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

$17.18 one way

$34.36 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $18.94 $37.88
premium $4.80 $21.35 $42.70
diesel $5.64 $25.13 $50.25

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 39.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 33.9 0 $11.88 $5.43
Efficient EV 28.3 0 $9.90 $4.52
EV Truck/SUV 45.2 0 $15.83 $7.24

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (68% 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

Markham, IL

Evening in Markham on Sunday

Local time

6:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bloomington, IL

Evening in Bloomington on Sunday

Local time

6:39 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

20 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 9m 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 Markham, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 113.1 miles and takes about 2h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 72, I 55, US Highway 67. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.5 miles from Markham, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.18 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 113.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 79.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.6 miles (I 55 Business / South Veterans Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Markham, IL to Bloomington, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Bloomington, IL to Markham, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

112.8 mi 2h 10m

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

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