This straightforward 101.6-mile drive from South Jacksonville, IL to Bloomington, IL takes about 1 hour and 56 minutes. With 94% of the route on highways, it's a quick trip, making it ideal for a single day. You can expect to spend around $16 on fuel for this journey. The drive stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout. Given its manageable length and highway focus, this route is perfect for a day trip without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.8 miles from South Jacksonville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Bloomington, pop. 77,000 (2010 census), is a city in the Midwestern state of Illinois in the United States of America, on the classic Route 66 highway across the country. With neighboring Normal, pop. 52,000 (2010 census), it forms a combined community of about 130,000 known locally as the Twin Cities. Illinois Wesleyan University is in Bloomington, and is not to be confused with Illinois State University in Normal.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 101.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 101.6-mile trip, with 94% of it utilizing major interstates. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 49.9 miles on I 55, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. The route primarily follows I 55 and I 72, with a short section on East Morton Avenue. This drive is characterized by its efficiency and speed, minimizing time spent on slower local roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 49.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 72. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IL 267 / South Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 101.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.1 miles (IL 267 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 67.7 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.1 miles (I 55 Business / South Veterans Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|IL 267 / South Main Street
Turn right onto IL 267 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
7
67.7 mi into trip|~1h 16m 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 straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
7
97.1 mi into trip|~1h 47m 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
97.4 mi into trip|~1h 47m 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
99.6 mi into trip|~1h 51m 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 55
49.9 mi
53m
I 72
42.5 mi
46m
East Morton Avenue
2.5 mi
3m
South Veterans Parkway
2.5 mi
3m
South Main Street
2.3 mi
4m
Old Route 36
0.9 mi
1m
South East Street
0.5 mi
1m
I 72 Business
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 49.9 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Jacksonville, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on East Vandalia Road
298 ft·17 sec·East Vandalia Road
2
Turn right onto IL 267
1.0 mi·1 min·South Main Street
3
Turn right onto I 72 Bus; IL 104
2.5 mi·3 min·East Morton Avenue
4
Continue on I 72 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·Old Route 36
5
Turn left onto I 72 Business
0.3 mi·39 sec·I 72 Business
6
Merge onto I 72; US 36
42 mi·46 min·I 72; US 36
7
Continue on I 55
20 mi·21 min·I 55
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi·31 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 Business
0.3 mi·20 sec·South Veterans Parkway
Exit 157A; 157BToward I 55 Business North, I 74 East: Indianapolis
10
Continue on I 55 Business
2.1 mi·3 min·South Veterans Parkway
Exit 157BToward I 55 Business NorthUse the left / straight lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 51 Business
12
Turn left onto US 51 Business
1.3 mi·3 min·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 51 Business
0.5 mi·1 min·South East Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Trip Plan
Given the short 1-hour and 56-minute duration, this trip offers great flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive in Bloomington with plenty of daylight remaining. Since there are no planned stops in the data, consider fueling up before you leave South Jacksonville to ensure you have enough for the entire 101.6 miles, especially with an estimated fuel cost of $16. The longest uninterrupted stretch is nearly 50 miles on I 55, so plan for a brief stop around that mark if needed for comfort.
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 50.8 miles from South Jacksonville, IL, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.9 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.8 miles or 57m 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 32m
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 South Jacksonville, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from South Jacksonville, IL
This is one driving day of about 101.6 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from South Jacksonville, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 49.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.8 mi from South Jacksonville, IL
· 57m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.88 one way
$31.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.44
$34.88
premium
$4.89
$19.55
$39.10
diesel
$5.61
$22.43
$44.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.5
0
$10.67
$4.88
Efficient EV
25.4
0
$8.89
$4.06
EV Truck/SUV
40.6
0
$14.22
$6.50
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
South Jacksonville, IL
Late night
in South Jacksonville on Saturday
Local time
1:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
S 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 1:55AM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 1:55AM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Bloomington, IL
Late night
in Bloomington on Saturday
Local time
1:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
S 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 1:55AM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 1:55AM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
54°F
Riverton, IL
51 mi in
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
1 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
1h 56m 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 South Jacksonville, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 101.6 miles and takes about 1h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, I 72, East Morton Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.8 miles from South Jacksonville, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.88 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 101.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.1 miles (IL 267 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 67.7 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.1 miles (I 55 Business / South Veterans Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from South Jacksonville, IL to Bloomington, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
