Origin
Monticello, IL
Afternoon in Monticello on Thursday
Local time
4:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monticello, IL to Bloomington, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
45.6 mi
73 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monticello, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Trip Overview
This straightforward 45.6-mile drive from Monticello, IL to Bloomington, IL is easily completed in about an hour, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily navigate via I-74, with some time on local roads like North 525 East Road and County Highway 5. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $7, reflecting its relatively short distance. Since it's a quick trip within the Midwest region, no overnight stays are necessary. This route offers a practical and efficient way to travel between these two Illinois communities.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 45.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience, with 61% of your journey on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 23 miles on I-74, offering a consistent pace for much of the drive. While much of this route utilizes the interstate, you'll also experience transitions onto local roads like County Highway 5 and North 525 East Road, providing a slight change of scenery. This blend means you'll get a feel for both efficient highway travel and more local road driving.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 74 is the longest continuous segment at about 23 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and North 525 East Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in near IL 10 / County Road 2300 North.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Monticello, IL to Bloomington, IL is easy. At 1h 1m with 61% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles (IL 10 / County Road 2300 North): Navigation decision point; at 9.3 miles (North 550 East Road): Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
9.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
IL 10 / County Road 2300 North
At end of road, turn right onto IL 10 / County Road 2300 North
Navigation decision point
3
9.3 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
North 550 East Road
Turn left onto North 550 East Road
Navigation decision point
5
18.8 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Turn left toward I 74 West: Bloomington
Navigation decision point
Toward I 74 West: Bloomington
6
42 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 135
Toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Bloom...
4
42.4 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
US 51 Business / South Main Street
Turn right onto US 51 Business / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 74 | 23 mi | 24m |
| North 525 East Road | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| County Highway 5 | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Royal Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| East Clinton Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| CR 5 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North 550 East Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 23 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monticello, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on West Center Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
West Center Street
2
Continue on West Bridge Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Bridge Street
3
Continue on West Center Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Center Street
4
Continue on West Brige Street
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
West Brige Street
5
Continue on West Bridge Street
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Bridge Street
6
Continue on East 1700 North Road
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
East 1700 North Road
7
Turn straight onto CR 5
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
CR 5
8
Continue on Deland Monticello Road
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
Deland Monticello Road
9
Continue on County Highway 5
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
County Highway 5
10
Turn straight onto North 525 East Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
North 525 East Road
11
Continue on South Highway Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Highway Avenue
12
At end of road, turn right onto IL 10
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
County Road 2300 North
13
Turn left onto North 550 East Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North 550 East Road
14
Continue on North 525 East Road
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North 525 East Road
15
Continue on County Highway 5
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway 5
16
Continue on CR 4
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Royal Road
17
Continue on CR 4
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Main Street
18
Turn right onto IL 54
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Clinton Avenue
19
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 74 West: Bloomington
20
Merge onto I 74
23 mi
·
24 min
·
I 74
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 135
Toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Bloomington
22
Turn right onto US 51 Business
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
South Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Continue on US 51 Business
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South East Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.8 mi from Monticello, IL · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.8 miles from Monticello, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.13 one way
$14.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.83 | $15.65 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.78 | $17.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.07 | $20.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.38 | $2.92 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Afternoon in Bloomington on Thursday
Local time
4:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 20 mph
34% chance
Live forecast
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
30 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
1h 1m 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 Monticello, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 45.6 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 74, North 525 East Road, County Highway 5. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.8 miles from Monticello, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.13 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.
The drive from Monticello, IL to Bloomington, IL is easy. At 1h 1m with 61% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles (IL 10 / County Road 2300 North): Navigation decision point; at 9.3 miles (North 550 East Road): Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Monticello, IL to Bloomington, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Bloomington, IL
More trips to Bloomington, IL
Explore more options from Monticello, IL or browse trips ending in Bloomington, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Monticello, IL or Bloomington, IL on MapSof.net.