Origin
Pontiac, IL
Afternoon in Pontiac on Thursday
Local time
4:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pontiac, IL to Bloomington, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
50m
Distance
38.3 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pontiac, IL
Ernest Westphal
Trip Overview
The drive from Pontiac, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 38.3 miles and takes about 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, I 55 Business, West Reynolds Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.3 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.99 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 38.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 50m highway drive covering 38.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and I 55 Business. The longest continuous stretch is about 28.3 miles on I 55.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 28.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 55 Business. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near West Water Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 38.3 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 0.3 miles (West Water Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.7 miles (West Reynolds Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.7 miles (I 55 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Water Street
At end of road, turn right onto West Water Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West Reynolds Street
Turn right onto West Reynolds Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
31.7 mi into trip
|
~36m 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...
6
35.7 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward IL 9 West: Pekin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward IL 9 West: Pekin
6
37.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
US 150 / North Clinton Street
Turn left onto US 150 / North Clinton Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pontiac, IL to Bloomington, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Illinois Regional Airport along the way.
Illinois Regional Airport
31.7 mi in
|
~36m
|
via I 55 Business
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 28.3 mi | 30m |
| I 55 Business | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| West Reynolds Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| East Empire Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| North Veterans Parkway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Mill Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Mulberry Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Clinton Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 28.3 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pontiac, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on North Mill Street
108 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Mill Street
2
Turn right onto IL 116
307 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Howard Street
3
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Main Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto West Water Street
309 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Water Street
5
Turn left onto Mill Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Mill Street
6
Turn right onto West Reynolds Street
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West Reynolds Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 55
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 55
9
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.
10
Continue on I 55 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Veterans Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
Toward IL 9 West: Pekin
Use the right lane.
12
Turn straight onto IL 9
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
East Empire Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto US 150
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Clinton Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto East Mulberry Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
East Mulberry Street
15
Turn left onto North Prairie Street
275 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Prairie Street
16
Turn right onto East Douglas Street
504 ft
·
23 sec
·
East Douglas Street
17
Turn right onto US 51 Business
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
North East Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.2 mi from Pontiac, IL · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.2 miles from Pontiac, 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
$5.99 one way
$11.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.57 | $13.15 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.37 | $14.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.46 | $16.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.35 | $1.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.36 | $2.45 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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
4:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Lexington, IL
19 mi in
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
22 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
50m 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 Pontiac, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 38.3 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, I 55 Business, West Reynolds Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.2 miles from Pontiac, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.99 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 38.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (West Water Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.7 miles (West Reynolds Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.7 miles (I 55 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Pontiac, IL to Bloomington, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Illinois Regional Airport along the way.
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