Origin
Peoria Heights, IL
Night in Peoria Heights on Wednesday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Peoria Heights, IL to Bloomington, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
55m
Distance
43.7 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Peoria Heights, IL
Choco Kitty
Trip Overview
This 43.7-mile drive from Peoria Heights, IL to Bloomington, IL is a straightforward journey perfect for a single day trip. Expect to spend about 55 minutes on the road, with a modest fuel cost of around $7. The route primarily utilizes I-74, with portions on Murray Baker Bridge and North Prospect Road, making it mostly highway driving at 9% highway share. This route is firmly within the Midwest region, offering a typical Illinois landscape. Given its short distance and duration, no overnight stay is necessary, allowing for a flexible schedule. You'll experience a turn-heavy local drive feel for a good portion of this trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
21.8 miles from Peoria Heights, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive presents itself as a turn-heavy local experience, despite a 9% highway share. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 33 miles on the Murray Baker Bridge, offering a more continuous travel segment. However, the overall character is defined by navigating through local roads, including segments of North Prospect Road, before merging onto I-74. This means you should anticipate a mix of quicker highway travel and more deliberate turns and traffic lights as you approach your destination. The road's personality shifts between these environments, requiring your attention to changing speed limits and road conditions.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Murray Baker Bridge is the longest continuous segment at about 33 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.2 miles in near IL 29.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 55m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.2 miles (IL 29): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.3 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
4.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
IL 29
Take the ramp onto IL 29 toward I 74 East, IL 29 South: Bloomington, Pekin
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 East, IL 29 South: Bloomington, Pek...
6
37.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
I 74
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74 toward I 55 South, I 74 East, US 51 South: Saint Louis, Indianapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 South, I 74 East, US 51 South: Sain...
8
41.1 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward US 150, IL 9: Pekin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 160
Toward US 150, IL 9: Pekin
5
41.5 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
US 150; IL 9 / West Market Street
Turn left onto US 150; IL 9 / West Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
43.5 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
US 51 Business / North East Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 51 Business / North East Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Peoria Heights, IL and Bloomington, IL, road signs point toward Pekin and Indianapolis.
Pekin
4.2 mi in
|
~8m
|
via IL 29
Indianapolis
37.3 mi in
|
~44m
|
via I 74
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Murray Baker Bridge | 33 mi | 36m |
| I 74 | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| North Prospect Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| West Market Street | 2 mi | 5m |
| Northeast Jefferson Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Spring Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Northeast Glen Oak Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| IL 29 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Murray Baker Bridge
— 33 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Peoria Heights, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on North Prospect Road
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Prospect Road
2
Continue on Northeast Glen Oak Avenue
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Northeast Glen Oak Avenue
3
Turn left onto Spring Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Spring Street
4
Turn right onto IL 29
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Jefferson Avenue
5
Take the ramp onto IL 29
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
IL 29
Toward I 74 East, IL 29 South: Bloomington, Pekin
6
Merge onto I 74; IL 29
33 mi
·
36 min
·
Murray Baker Bridge
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
I 74
Toward I 55 South, I 74 East, US 51 South: Saint Louis, Indianapolis
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 160
Toward US 150, IL 9: Pekin
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto US 150; IL 9
2.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West Market Street
Use the left lane.
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 51 Business
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
North East Street
11
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Trip Plan
For this 55-minute trip covering 43.7 miles, flexibility is key. There are no designated stops, so you can depart whenever it suits you, though avoiding peak rush hour on I-74 is always a good idea. The estimated fuel cost is low at $7, so you likely won't need to worry about finding gas stations along the way. Pay close attention when transitioning between Murray Baker Bridge, North Prospect Road, and I-74, as these are the points where the road character changes most. Since this is a short drive, consider leaving mid-morning to enjoy a leisurely arrival in Bloomington.
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 21.8 miles from Peoria Heights, IL, or about 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33 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 10 miles or 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 21.8 miles or 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bloomington, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Peoria Heights, IL.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Peoria Heights, IL
This is one driving day of about 43.7 miles and 55m.
At 43.7 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Murray Baker Bridge for about 33 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.8 mi from Peoria Heights, IL · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 21.8 miles from Peoria Heights, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bloomington, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Bloomington, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.83 one way
$13.66 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.50 | $15.00 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.41 | $16.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.65 | $19.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.12 | $2.80 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Bloomington, IL
Night in Bloomington on Wednesday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
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
2 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
55m 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 Peoria Heights, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 43.7 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Murray Baker Bridge, I 74, North Prospect Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.8 miles from Peoria Heights, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.83 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 is a straightforward 55m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.2 miles (IL 29): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.3 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Peoria Heights, IL and Bloomington, IL, road signs point toward Pekin and Indianapolis.
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