The drive from South Lawndale, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 128.6 miles and takes about 2h 37m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Adlai Stevenson Expressway, I 55 Business, East Empire Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 118 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.11 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.3 miles from South Lawndale, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 37m. Total distance: 128.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 2h 37m highway drive covering 128.6 miles, with most of the trip on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 55 Business. The longest continuous stretch is about 118 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 118 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 55 Business. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near South Pulaski Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 37m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (South Pulaski Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (I 55 / Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.9 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 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.7 mi into trip|~3m in|South Pulaski Road
Turn left onto South Pulaski Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.4 mi into trip|~7m in|I 55 / Stevenson Expressway
Merge onto I 55 / Stevenson Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
121.9 mi into trip|~2h 23m 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
126 mi into trip|~2h 30m 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
127.7 mi into trip|~2h 35m 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 South Lawndale, IL to Bloomington, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Illinois Regional Airport along the way.
The midpoint is around 64.3 miles from South Lawndale, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Adlai Stevenson Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 118 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 4.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.11 one way
$40.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.07
$44.15
premium
$4.89
$24.75
$49.50
diesel
$5.61
$28.39
$56.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.6
0
$13.50
$6.17
Efficient EV
32.2
0
$11.25
$5.14
EV Truck/SUV
51.4
0
$18.00
$8.23
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 Lawndale, IL
Afternoon
in South Lawndale on Friday
Local time
2:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IL
Afternoon
in Bloomington on Friday
Local time
2:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Gardner, IL
64 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
16 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 37m 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 South Lawndale, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 128.6 miles and takes about 2h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, I 55 Business, East Empire 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 64.3 miles from South Lawndale, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.11 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 37m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (South Pulaski Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (I 55 / Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.9 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 South Lawndale, IL to Bloomington, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Illinois Regional Airport along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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.
