Trip from West Frankfort, IL to Bloomington, IL

Drive Time

3h 24m

Distance

220.8 mi

355 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 13m ★
6 AM
3h 25m
8 AM
3h 49m
10 AM
3h 33m
12 PM
3h 31m
3 PM
3h 35m
5 PM
3h 48m
8 PM
3h 18m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Trip Overview

The drive from West Frankfort, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 220.8 miles and takes about 3h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on the route, Ken Gray Expressway, US 50 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.54 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

110.4 miles from West Frankfort, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 24m drive with frequent turns across 220.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
the route 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 24m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from West Frankfort, IL to Bloomington, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
the route Unavailable Refreshing
Ken Gray Expressway Unavailable Refreshing
US 50 Unavailable Refreshing
West Main Street Unavailable Refreshing
East Poplar Street Unavailable Refreshing
Poplar Unavailable Refreshing
150E Unavailable Refreshing
300E Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: the route — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Frankfort, IL and Bloomington, IL.

1

Start on West Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
2

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

20 ft · 1 sec · the route
3

Exit the roundabout

0.3 mi · 42 sec
4

Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

31 mi · 33 min · Ken Gray Expressway
5

Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

20 mi · 22 min · Ken Gray Expressway
6

Take the exit slight right toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval

0.4 mi · 54 sec · US 50: Salem, Sandoval
7

Merge slight left onto West Main Street

2.4 mi · 2 min · West Main Street
8

Continue on East Poplar Street

2.7 mi · 3 min · East Poplar Street
9

Continue on Poplar

2.7 mi · 3 min · Poplar
10

Turn right onto 150E

10 mi · 11 min · 150E
11

Continue on 300E

13 mi · 15 min · 300E
12

Turn left

0.5 mi · 35 sec
13

Turn right onto North Kennedy Boulevard

1.6 mi · 1 min · North Kennedy Boulevard
14

Continue on County Road 875 East

11 mi · 12 min · County Road 875 East
15

Continue on South Superior Street

15 mi · 17 min · South Superior Street
16

Continue on County Road 2400 East

2.0 mi · 2 min · County Road 2400 East
17

Continue on Fair Avenue

0.6 mi · 2 min · Fair Avenue
18

Continue on South Poplar Street

0.4 mi · 32 sec · South Poplar Street
19

Turn right onto East 1st Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · East 1st Street
20

Turn left onto Cedar Street

381 ft · 5 sec · Cedar Street
21

Turn right onto Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Jackson Street
22

Continue on North 2600 East Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · North 2600 East Road
23

Turn left

29 mi · 33 min
24

Take the exit slight right toward Decatur

0.5 mi · 1 min · Decatur
25

Keep slight right to continue on Decatur

144 ft · 4 sec · Decatur
26

Turn straight onto South Business Route 51

2.6 mi · 3 min · South Business Route 51
27

Continue on South Main Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · South Main Street
28

Continue on South Franklin Street

1.6 mi · 2 min · South Franklin Street
29

Continue on North Water Street

27 mi · 36 min · North Water Street
30

Continue on North 1450 East Road

18 mi · 23 min · North 1450 East Road
31

Continue on South East Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South East Street
32

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 110.4 miles from West Frankfort, IL, or about 1h 42m 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 14m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 110.4 miles or 1h 42m 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 47m

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 West Frankfort, 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 West Frankfort, IL

This is one driving day of about 220.8 miles and 3h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from West Frankfort, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 110.4 mi from West Frankfort, IL · 1h 42m into the drive

Downtown Decatur, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Decatur, IL

110 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.

Popular next leg

Decatur, IL to Bloomington, IL

46.1 mi · 54m

Pacing Suggestions

Plainfield, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Decatur, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 110.4 miles from West Frankfort, 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

$33.54 one way

$67.07 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 77 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $36.97 $73.94
premium $4.80 $41.68 $83.37
diesel $5.64 $49.05 $98.11

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 77.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 66.2 0 $23.18 $10.60
Efficient EV 55.2 0 $19.32 $8.83
EV Truck/SUV 88.3 1 $30.91 $14.13

Gas CO2

77 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 data refreshed 4 days ago

Origin

West Frankfort, IL

Morning in West Frankfort on Monday

Local time

10:55 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bloomington, IL

Morning in Bloomington on Monday

Local time

10:55 AM

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

26 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

3h 24m 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 West Frankfort, IL to Bloomington, IL covers 220.8 miles and takes about 3h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are the route, Ken Gray Expressway, US 50. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 110.4 miles from West Frankfort, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.54 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 3h 24m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from West Frankfort, IL to Bloomington, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from West Frankfort, IL to Bloomington, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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