Origin
Upper Alton, IL
Afternoon in Upper Alton on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Upper Alton, IL to Bloomington, IL
Drive Time
2h 27m
Distance
149 mi
240 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 17m
★
6 AM
2h 27m
8 AM
2h 47m
10 AM
2h 34m
12 PM
2h 32m
3 PM
2h 35m
5 PM
2h 46m
8 PM
2h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Upper Alton to Bloomington, prepare for a 149-mile journey through the heart of the Illinois Midwest. This trip typically takes about 2 hours and 27 minutes to complete, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You should budget approximately $22 for fuel to cover the distance. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it offers a distinct change of pace from standard highway travel. Whether you are heading north for business or a visit, the lack of mandatory stops allows you to complete the trip efficiently in one go.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.5 miles from Upper Alton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate primarily via College Avenue and West MacArthur Drive, keeping your focus sharp as you transition through various local intersections. With no single long, uninterrupted stretch on College Avenue, the drive demands your full attention behind the wheel. The experience is best characterized by its technical, local nature, requiring you to navigate turns frequently throughout the entire 149-mile duration. It is a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local landscape from start to finish.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
College Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Upper Alton, IL to Bloomington, IL is easy. At 2h 27m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Upper Alton, IL to Bloomington, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| College Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Macarthur Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West MacArthur Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Bethalto Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Route 140 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West State Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 55 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Veterans Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
College Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Upper Alton, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on Washington Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Avenue
2
Turn left onto College Avenue
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
College Avenue
3
Continue on West Macarthur Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Macarthur Drive
4
Continue on West MacArthur Drive
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West MacArthur Drive
5
Continue on West Bethalto Drive
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
West Bethalto Drive
6
Continue on State Route 140
9.6 mi
·
13 min
·
State Route 140
7
Continue on West State Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West State Street
8
Continue on State Route 140
443 ft
·
14 sec
·
State Route 140
9
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
10
Merge slight left
97 mi
·
1 hr 44 min
11
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 55 North: Chicago
12
Keep slight right to continue on South Veterans Parkway
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
South Veterans Parkway
13
Continue on South Veterans Parkway
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South Veterans Parkway
14
Take the exit slight right toward US 51 Business
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 51 Business
15
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
16
Continue on South East Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South East Street
17
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 2-hour and 27-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever it best suits your schedule. Keep in mind that because the entire route is comprised of local roads, travel times can be sensitive to local traffic patterns, so plan accordingly if you are on a tight timeline. You won't need to worry about complex refueling strategies with a $22 estimated fuel cost, though checking your levels before leaving Upper Alton is always a smart move. Given the turn-heavy nature of the roads, ensure your GPS is updated and ready to handle frequent directional changes. Embracing the lack of required stops gives you the freedom to set your own pace for the entire 149-mile trip.
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 74.5 miles from Upper Alton, IL, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.5 miles or 1h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h
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 Upper Alton, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Upper Alton, IL
This is one driving day of about 149 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Upper Alton, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74.5 mi from Upper Alton, IL · 1h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.5 miles from Upper Alton, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Bloomington, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.63 one way
$45.26 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $24.95 | $49.90 |
| premium | $4.80 | $28.13 | $56.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $33.10 | $66.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.7 | 0 | $15.64 | $7.15 |
| Efficient EV | 37.3 | 0 | $13.04 | $5.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.6 | 0 | $20.86 | $9.54 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Afternoon in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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 27m 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 Upper Alton, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 149 miles and takes about 2h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are College Avenue, West Macarthur Drive, West MacArthur Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.5 miles from Upper Alton, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.63 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 Upper Alton, IL to Bloomington, IL is easy. At 2h 27m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Upper Alton, IL to Bloomington, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Upper Alton, IL to Bloomington, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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