Origin
Bloomington, IL
Late night in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
2:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bloomington, IL to Athens, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
60.6 mi
98 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Athens, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Bloomington, IL to Athens, IL is 60.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 15 minutes via South Veterans Parkway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, offering a straightforward journey. Given its short duration and focus on main roads, it's an ideal option for a quick trip or a segment of a larger Midwest adventure. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making it a practical choice for those prioritizing efficient travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Veterans Parkway | 48.7 mi | 53m |
| County Road 11 North | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Dinius Road | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| North Morris Avenue | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| IL 29 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| West Market Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Hargrave Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Springfield Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
South Veterans Parkway
— 48.7 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IL and Athens, 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
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Market Street
7
Turn left onto North Morris Avenue
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
North Morris Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto I 55 Business
49 mi
·
53 min
·
South Veterans Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward IL 123: Williamsville
10
Keep slight right at fork
367 ft
·
10 sec
11
Turn straight onto IL 123
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
County Highway 2
12
Continue on IL 123
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Dinius Road
13
Continue on IL 123
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road 11 North
14
Turn right onto IL 29; IL 123
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 29; IL 123
15
Turn left onto Springfield Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Springfield Road
16
Continue on East Hargrave Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Hargrave Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto North Main Street
107 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.3 miles from Bloomington, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 2.6 — 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
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West Market Street
Turn right onto West Market Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
North Morris Avenue
Turn left onto North Morris Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 55 Business / South Veterans Parkway
Turn right onto I 55 Business / South Veterans Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.47 one way
$18.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.40 | $20.80 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.66 | $23.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.38 | $26.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.36 | $2.91 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.30 | $2.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.48 | $3.88 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Athens, IL
Late night in Athens on Sunday
Local time
2:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Atlanta, IL
30 mi in
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
1h 15m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 83% of the drive taking place on faster roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 48.7 miles on South Veterans Parkway, providing a consistent pace for a good portion of the trip. While the primary roads involve county routes and Dinius Road, the overall character leans towards efficient travel rather than winding backroads. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes getting you to your destination smoothly and without many detours.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.7 mi on South Veterans Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Veterans Parkway and County Road 11 North. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Chestnut Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 60.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 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): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Bloomington, IL
Full guide →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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 60.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.7 miles on South Veterans Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Athens, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
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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