The Country Farmhouse
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Morris, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–3 pm
+18155133253
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 5m
Distance
136.8 mi
220 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Algonquin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
This 136.8-mile drive from Algonquin, IL to Bloomington, IL is an easy one-day trip, taking about 3 hours and 5 minutes to complete. The route primarily utilizes I-55, with segments on IL-47 and Randall Road, offering a balanced driving experience. With a fuel cost estimated at $21, this is an affordable excursion within the Midwest region. You'll find this drive to be a straightforward journey, perfect for a quick getaway or an efficient transit between these two Illinois locations. Given its manageable length, it's ideal for a single-day adventure without the need for an overnight stay, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
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
68.4 miles from Algonquin, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 51.7 mi | 55m |
| IL 47 | 22.1 mi | 25m |
| Randall Road | 19 mi | 31m |
| Orchard Road | 11.2 mi | 18m |
| North Randall Road | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| Minkler Road | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| Ashley Road | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| I 55 Business | 3.1 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Algonquin, IL and Bloomington, IL.
Start on Washington Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Turn left onto IL 31
Continue on IL 31
Turn right onto Edgewood Road
Turn left onto Hanson Road
Turn right onto North County Line Road
Turn left onto CR 34
Keep slight left at fork onto CR 34
Continue on CR 34
Continue on CR 34
Turn right onto CR 83
Continue on Minkler Road
Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road
Continue on Minkler Road
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126
Turn left onto Ashley Road
Turn right onto Caton Farm Road
Turn left
Continue on North Bridge Street
Continue on IL 47
Take the exit
Merge onto I 55
Take the exit onto I 55 Business
Continue on I 55 Business
Take the exit
Turn straight onto IL 9
Turn left onto US 150
Turn right onto East Mulberry Street
Turn left onto North Prairie Street
Turn right onto East Douglas Street
Turn right onto US 51 Business
Arrive at destination
For this approximately 3-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Algonquin to make the most of your day in Bloomington. Since it's a manageable 136.8 miles and only requires one planned stop, you have plenty of flexibility. The fuel cost is estimated at a low $21, so budget accordingly. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially as you transition from local roads like Randall Road onto I-55. The longest uninterrupted stretch is over 51 miles on I-55, so plan your breaks before or after this segment to stay comfortable.
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.
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 30 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.4 miles or 1h 44m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bloomington, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Algonquin, 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 Algonquin, IL
This is one driving day of about 136.8 miles and 3h 5m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
68 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.
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 68.4 miles from Algonquin, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Morris, Illinois
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Hours: 7 am–3 pm
+18155133253
Sherwood Oaks Waffle Cafe
Morris, Illinois
Coffeehouse in Uptown Normal
Normal, Illinois
Top Coffee Stop
Morris, Illinois
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hours: 5:30 am–3 pm
+18155135567
Morris Bakery
Morris, Illinois
AppleJax Creations Coffee & Cafe
Morris, Illinois
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Morris, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–3 pm
+18155133253
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Morris, Illinois
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18159410427
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Normal, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–6 pm
+13094526774
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Bloomington, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm
+13095852588
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Morris, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+18159423664
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
North Aurora, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–1 pm
+16303017202
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Morris, Illinois
Hours: 8 am–9 pm
+18152870521
Near the start, short detour
Geneva, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+16304925040
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Morris, Illinois
Hours: 5:30 am–3 pm
+18155135567
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Morris, Illinois
Hours: 5 am–5 pm
+18159421031
Around the midpoint, short detour
Morris, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
+18157050010
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Crystal Lake, Illinois
Hours: 6 am–7 pm
+18158934019
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Normal, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Normal, Illinois
+13094549590
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Bloomington, Illinois
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+13096641222
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Bloomington, Illinois
Hours: 9 am–12 pm
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Bloomington, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Normal, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Bloomington, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Bloomington, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 26.2 and 135.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto CR 83 / Orchard Road
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
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
Take the exit toward IL 9 West: Pekin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 150 / North Clinton Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$21.39 one way
$42.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $23.48 | $46.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $26.33 | $52.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.20 | $60.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.9 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 | 41 | 0 | $14.36 | $6.57 |
| Efficient EV | 34.2 | 0 | $11.97 | $5.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.7 | 0 | $19.15 | $8.76 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Algonquin on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Bloomington on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 17 at 6:23PM CDT until April 17 at 6:45PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued April 17 at 6:23PM CDT until April 17 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a mixed drive on this 136.8-mile route, with 57% of it being highway travel. The majority of your time will be spent on I-55, which accounts for the longest stretch of uninterrupted driving at 51.7 miles. While I-55 offers efficiency, you'll also encounter segments on IL-47 and Randall Road, introducing some local road character. This blend means you'll experience both the speed of interstate cruising and the more varied pace of county roads. The drive progresses from more suburban-influenced roads to the open stretches of central Illinois.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.2 miles in near CR 83 / Orchard Road.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 136.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 26.2 miles (CR 83 / Orchard Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 78.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 130.2 miles (I 55 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 136.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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