This 122.2-mile drive from Bloomington, IL to Brookfield, IL is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 29 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of $19. The route primarily utilizes I 55, making it efficient for reaching your destination without needing an overnight stop. Given that both locations are within the Midwest region, you'll experience a consistent Midwestern landscape throughout your travels. This trip offers a practical and predictable way to get from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.1 miles from Bloomington, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
111.4 mi
2h 4m
North Main Street
3.6 mi
8m
Joliet Road
2 mi
3m
Maple Avenue
1.3 mi
3m
East 47th Street
1 mi
2m
South Brainard Avenue
1 mi
2m
South La Grange Road
0.8 mi
1m
West Plainfield Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 111.4 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IL and Brookfield, IL.
1
Start on US 51 Business
136 ft·5 sec·North East Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on US 51 Business
3.6 mi·8 min·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 55
111 mi·2 hr 4 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto Joliet Road
2.0 mi·3 min·Joliet Road
Exit 276CToward Joliet RoadUse the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Turn left onto South Brainard Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·South Brainard Avenue
7
Turn right onto West Plainfield Road
0.6 mi·1 min·West Plainfield Road
8
Turn left onto US 12; US 20; US 45
0.8 mi·1 min·South La Grange Road
9
Turn right onto East 47th Street
1.0 mi·2 min·East 47th Street
10
Turn left onto Maple Avenue
1.3 mi·3 min·Maple Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto Grant Avenue
101 ft·4 sec·Grant Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Grant Avenue
Trip Plan
For this relatively short, 2.5-hour drive, starting your trip in the morning will allow for maximum flexibility upon arrival. With no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, especially during the 111.4-mile stretch on I 55. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $19, and it's always wise to be prepared. Since this is a single-day, highway-centric route, you can decide to depart on a whim or schedule it precisely. A good tip is to check traffic conditions on I 55 before you leave Bloomington, as this is your primary artery for most of the trip.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 61.1 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.4 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 27 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.1 miles or 1h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brookfield, 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 122.2 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Bloomington, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 111.4 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 120.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.6 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 North: Chicago
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
5
4.1 mi into trip|~9m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
115.5 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|Joliet Road
Take the exit onto Joliet Road toward Joliet Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 276C
Toward Joliet Road
4
119.9 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|East 47th Street
Turn right onto East 47th Street
Navigation decision point
6
120.9 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|Maple Avenue
Turn left onto Maple Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.10 one way
$38.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.98
$41.95
premium
$4.89
$23.52
$47.03
diesel
$5.61
$26.98
$53.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.7
0
$12.83
$5.87
Efficient EV
30.6
0
$10.69
$4.89
EV Truck/SUV
48.9
0
$17.11
$7.82
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Late night
in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brookfield, IL
Late night
in Brookfield on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
4 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 29m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 118
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly highway-focused experience, with 91% of the drive taking place on interstates and major roads like I 55. You'll encounter one long stretch of uninterrupted driving for 111.4 miles on I 55. This means the majority of your journey will be at higher speeds, with limited opportunities for spontaneous stops or scenic detours. The transition from North Main Street to Joliet Road will mark a shift from local access to the primary interstate. The drive's personality is one of efficiency and directness, minimizing complexity.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.4 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and North Main Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 29m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.5 miles (Joliet Road): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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
The longest stretch is about 111.4 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.5 miles (Joliet Road): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brookfield, IL before heading back.
