This 161.6-mile drive from Aviston, IL to Bloomington, IL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 84% of it on major roads, making for a straightforward journey through the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $25, it's an economical option for a quick getaway or a transition between these two Illinois locations. You'll find this drive offers a practical way to cover the distance with minimal fuss.
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
80.8 miles from Aviston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
122.6 mi
2h 12m
North Madison Street
22.6 mi
33m
US 50
10.7 mi
12m
South Veterans Parkway
2.5 mi
3m
South Main Street
1.3 mi
3m
South East Street
0.5 mi
1m
Clinton Street
0.4 mi
1m
Russland Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 122.6 mi, about 2h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aviston, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on 2nd Street
106 ft·6 sec·2nd Street
2
Turn right onto Clinton Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Clinton Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto Harrison Street
0.1 mi·14 sec·Harrison Street
4
Continue on Old US Hwy 50
0.1 mi·16 sec·Old US Hwy 50
5
Turn right onto Russland Road
0.2 mi·40 sec·Russland Road
6
Turn left onto US 50
11 mi·12 min·US 50
7
Turn right onto IL 4
23 mi·33 min·North Madison Street
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
9
Merge onto I 55
93 mi·1 hr 40 min·I 55
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi·31 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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
12
Continue on I 55 Business
2.1 mi·3 min·South Veterans Parkway
Exit 157BToward I 55 Business NorthUse the left / straight lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 51 Business
14
Turn left onto US 51 Business
1.3 mi·3 min·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 51 Business
0.5 mi·1 min·South East Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Trip Plan
For this 1-day, 161.6-mile drive, leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach Bloomington by midday. With a duration of just over 3 hours, you likely won't need more than one brief stop. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 122.6-mile stretch on I 55, as services can be spaced out. The estimated $25 fuel cost suggests a single fill-up should be sufficient if you start with a full tank. This route is flexible, so you can depart whenever suits your schedule best.
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 80.8 miles from Aviston, IL, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.6 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 36 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.8 miles or 1h 38m 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 34m
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 Aviston, 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 Aviston, IL
This is one driving day of about 161.6 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Aviston, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 122.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 157.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Harrison Street
At end of road, turn left onto Harrison Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|Russland Road
Turn right onto Russland Road
Navigation decision point
7
127.7 mi into trip|~2h 29m 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
157.1 mi into trip|~3h 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
157.4 mi into trip|~3h 1m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.26 one way
$50.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.74
$55.48
premium
$4.89
$31.10
$62.20
diesel
$5.61
$35.68
$71.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.5
0
$16.97
$7.76
Efficient EV
40.4
0
$14.14
$6.46
EV Truck/SUV
64.6
0
$22.62
$10.34
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 16, 2026
Origin
Aviston, IL
Late night
in Aviston on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IL
Late night
in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
W 13 to 16 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 7:58AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 7:30AM CDT until April 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
75°F
Grandview, IL
81 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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 10m 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.
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 100.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this trip, with 84% of the 161.6 miles on major roads like I 55. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 122.6 miles, allowing for a consistent pace. While the majority of the drive utilizes high-speed interstates, you'll also navigate sections on North Madison Street and US 50. This mix means you'll experience the efficiency of the interstate for much of the journey.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.6 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and North Madison Street. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Harrison 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 161.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.4 miles (Harrison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (Russland Road): Navigation decision point; at 127.7 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
St. Louis Metro East is a region of southwestern Illinois that includes the Illinois part of the St. Louis metropolitan area, plus surrounding counties. It consists of the counties of Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Fayette, Jersey, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair, and Washington. The most populous city is Belleville, which borders East St. Louis, once the most populous.
Top landmarks
•James C. Twiss House — historic house in Illinois, United States
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
•David Davis Mansion — house museum in Bloomington, Illinois
•Bloomington Central Business District — historic and central business district in Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois,...
•George H. Miller House — Bloomington, Illinois, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 161.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 122.6 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (Harrison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (Russland Road): Navigation decision point; at 127.7 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Bloomington, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
