Bloomington, IL to Andalusia, IL is 144.4 miles and takes about 2h 42m via I 74, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest's familiar landscape. It's a straightforward trip primarily on interstates, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. With a high percentage of highway driving, you can expect a consistent pace for most of the journey. Plan for a single day, as the relatively short distance and duration make it easily manageable without an overnight stop.
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
72.2 miles from Bloomington, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
110.3 mi
1h 59m
I 474
14 mi
14m
I 280
7.1 mi
7m
78th Avenue West
4.5 mi
6m
I 55
2.7 mi
2m
West Market Street
1.5 mi
3m
Centennial Expressway
1.5 mi
1m
6th Avenue East
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 110.3 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IL and Andalusia, IL.
1
Start on US 51 Business
136 ft·5 sec·North East Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on US 51 Business
396 ft·16 sec·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto West Chestnut Street
273 ft·19 sec·West Chestnut Street
4
Turn left onto US 51 Business
393 ft·13 sec·North Center Street
5
Continue on US 51 Business
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Madison Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Turn right onto West Market Street
1.5 mi·3 min·West Market Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 North, US 51 North, I 74 West: Joliet, Rockford, Peoria
8
Merge onto I 55; I 74; US 51
2.7 mi·2 min·I 55; I 74; US 51
9
Take the exit onto I 74
28 mi·30 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 474
14 mi·14 min·I 474
Exit 99Toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
11
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
12
Merge onto I 74
72 mi·1 hr 17 min·I 74
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
9.5 mi·10 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West, I 280 West: Moline, Rock Island
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 280
7.1 mi·7 min·I 280
Toward I 280 West: Des Moines
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·55 sec
Exit 11AToward IL 92 West: Andalusia
16
Merge onto IL 92
1.5 mi·1 min·Centennial Expressway
17
Turn right onto IL 92
4.5 mi·6 min·78th Avenue West
18
Continue on IL 92
0.6 mi·54 sec·6th Avenue East
19
Turn left onto 2nd Street East
69 ft·3 sec·2nd Street East
20
Arrive at destination
2nd Street East
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 42m duration, leaving Bloomington in the morning allows ample time to reach Andalusia well before evening. With only one recommended stop and a short overall distance, you have flexibility in planning your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 110.3 miles on I 74, as services can be spaced out on interstates. The $23 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting, and it's wise to fill up before leaving Bloomington to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted journey.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.2 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.3 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 32 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.2 miles or 1h 21m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Andalusia, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bloomington, 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 Bloomington, IL
This is one driving day of about 144.4 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Bloomington, 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 74 for about 110.3 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 120.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West Chestnut Street
Turn left onto West Chestnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 51 Business / North Center Street
Turn left onto US 51 Business / North Center Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|West Market Street
Turn right onto West Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
33.5 mi into trip|~39m in|I 474
Keep slight left at fork onto I 474 toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 99
Toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
6
120.9 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|I 74
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74 toward I 74 West, I 280 West: Moline, Rock Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West, I 280 West: Moline, Rock Isla...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.58 one way
$45.15 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.79
$49.57
premium
$4.89
$27.79
$55.58
diesel
$5.61
$31.88
$63.76
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: 50.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.3
0
$15.16
$6.93
Efficient EV
36.1
0
$12.64
$5.78
EV Truck/SUV
57.8
0
$20.22
$9.24
Gas CO2
51 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Bloomington, IL
Morning
in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Andalusia, IL
Morning
in Andalusia on Tuesday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°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
5 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 42m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 94% of the drive utilizing major interstates like I 74, I 474, and I 280. You'll experience a consistent, high-speed environment for the majority of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 110.3 miles on I 74, meaning you can settle in for a substantial period without needing to navigate complex interchanges. Expect a predictable driving experience characterized by smooth pavement and clear signage, typical of long-distance interstate travel across the Midwest.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 110.3 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and I 474. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Chestnut Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 144.4 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 0.1 miles (West Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 51 Business / North Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (West Market Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Bloomington, IL to Andalusia, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rock Island along the way.
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 2h 42m. Total distance: 144.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 110.3 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Andalusia, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 51 Business / North Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (West Market Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Andalusia, IL before heading back.
