If you are planning a trip from Bloomington to Hillcrest, you are looking at a straightforward 107.5-mile journey across the Illinois Midwest. With a drive time of approximately 2 hours and 3 minutes, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $16 on fuel for the trip, making it an affordable regional commute. The path utilizes a combination of North Main Street, I-55 South, and I-39 North to connect the two locations. Because the entire route remains within Illinois, the transition between these two Midwestern towns is seamless and consistent. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, this drive offers a reliable and efficient way to traverse the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.8 miles from Bloomington, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 39
98.7 mi
1h 45m
North Main Street
3.8 mi
9m
IL 38
2.4 mi
3m
North 7th Street
1.2 mi
1m
North East Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
IL 251
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 98.7 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IL and Hillcrest, IL.
1
Start on US 51 Business
136 ft·5 sec·North East Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on US 51 Business
3.8 mi·9 min·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the right lane.
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·40 sec
Exit 164Toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
5
Continue on I 39; US 51
99 mi·1 hr 45 min·I 39; US 51
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 99Toward IL 38: DeKalb, Rochelle
7
Turn left onto IL 38
2.4 mi·3 min·IL 38
8
Turn right onto IL 251
1.2 mi·1 min·North 7th Street
9
Arrive at destination
IL 251
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive of just over two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the local roads that make up the bulk of your journey. Because there are zero scheduled stops in the data, you should plan your own breaks ahead of time to ensure you remain alert, especially given the turn-heavy profile of this route. Keep that $16 fuel estimate in mind as you budget for your travel expenses. Most importantly, since you are navigating local roads rather than high-speed highways, prioritize watching for changing speed limits and signage as you transition between North Main Street and your interstate connections.
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 53.8 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.7 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 24 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.8 miles or 1h 3m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hillcrest, 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 107.5 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Bloomington, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 39 for about 98.7 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
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 106.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.9 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
7
4.3 mi into trip|~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 164
Toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
6
103.5 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Take the exit toward IL 38: DeKalb, Rochelle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 99
Toward IL 38: DeKalb, Rochelle
4
106.3 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|IL 251 / North 7th Street
Turn right onto IL 251 / North 7th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.81 one way
$33.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.45
$36.91
premium
$4.89
$20.69
$41.37
diesel
$5.61
$23.73
$47.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.3
0
$11.29
$5.16
Efficient EV
26.9
0
$9.41
$4.30
EV Truck/SUV
43
0
$15.05
$6.88
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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 20, 2026
Origin
Bloomington, IL
Late night
in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hillcrest, IL
Late night
in Hillcrest on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Reading, IL
54 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
23 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 3m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While the route incorporates major arteries like I-55 and I-39, you will spend a significant portion of the time navigating local roads rather than cruising on a monotonous interstate. The highway share is noted as 0 percent, emphasizing the technical nature of the navigation required throughout the 107.5-mile trip. Because there are no designated long, uninterrupted stretches, you should prepare for frequent adjustments to your speed and direction. This isn't a mindless highway grind; it is an active driving experience that requires you to stay engaged with the local road network from start to finish.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.7 mi on I 39.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and North Main Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 3m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 103.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 98.7 miles on I 39. 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 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 103.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hillcrest, IL before heading back.
