Bloomington, IL to Downers Grove, IL is 117.9 miles and takes about 2h 20m via I 55 and Veterans Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive within Illinois, staying entirely within the Midwest region. Expect a highway-focused journey that makes for a quick and efficient trip, perfect for a single-day excursion. You'll be on major roads for the vast majority of the drive, so plan for consistent travel speeds and minimal delays.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.9 miles from Bloomington, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
103.2 mi
1h 53m
Veterans Memorial Tollway
6.2 mi
7m
North Main Street
3.6 mi
8m
East Ogden Avenue
2.2 mi
4m
Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
North East Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 103.2 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IL and Downers Grove, 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
103 mi·1 hr 53 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 269Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest SuburbsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 355 North: Northwest Suburbs
7
Merge onto I 355
6.2 mi·7 min·Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 20BToward US 34: Ogden AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34
2.2 mi·4 min·East Ogden Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left
87 ft·8 sec
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right
330 ft·26 sec
12
Turn uturn onto Main Street
195 ft·13 sec·Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 20 minutes, this trip is easily achievable in a single day. Consider departing Bloomington in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and arrive in Downers Grove with plenty of time. Since the drive is not overly long, you have the flexibility to stop if needed, though the longest stretch on I 55 means you can cover significant ground without needing to pull over. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the 103.2-mile segment on I 55, to ensure you don't need to search for a station during that extended highway portion.
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 58.9 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.2 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.9 miles or 1h 10m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Downers Grove, 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 117.9 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 103.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 117.8 — 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
8
107.3 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 269
Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest...
7
115.2 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Take the exit toward US 34: Ogden Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 20B
Toward US 34: Ogden Avenue
6
115.5 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|US 34 / East Ogden Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34 / East Ogden Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
117.8 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|Main Street
Turn uturn onto Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.43 one way
$36.86 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.24
$40.48
premium
$4.89
$22.69
$45.38
diesel
$5.61
$26.03
$52.06
Estimated Tolls: $0.43
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(6.2 mi)$0.43
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.4
0
$12.38
$5.66
Efficient EV
29.5
0
$10.32
$4.72
EV Truck/SUV
47.2
0
$16.51
$7.55
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Bloomington, IL
Late night
in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
2:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Sunny
WNW 18 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Downers Grove, IL
Late night
in Downers Grove on Sunday
Local time
2:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Fairbury, IL
59 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 20m 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.
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 109.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-oriented, with an 88% highway share. You'll spend most of your time on I 55, which provides a long, uninterrupted stretch of 103.2 miles. This means you can expect a consistent driving experience with high speeds for the bulk of the trip. The transition to Veterans Memorial Tollway and then North Main Street near Downers Grove will mark the final approach, offering a slightly different feel as you enter a more suburban environment.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.2 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Veterans Memorial Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 117.9 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 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 107.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Downers Grove, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Southwest Suburbs 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
Downers Grove is a village in Chicagoland. With a 2005 population of 49,000, Downers Grove has developed into a major Chicago suburb. It contains the headquarters of many major companies, including Sara Lee and Butterball, and has a bustling, trendy downtown.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 117.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.2 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.43 in tolls one way, starting with Veterans Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Downers Grove, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 107.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.2 miles: 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 Downers Grove, IL before heading back.
