This 122.9-mile drive from Bloomington, IL to Lombard, IL is designed for a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 28 minutes to complete. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with an 84% highway share, making it a straightforward trip through the Midwest. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $19, which is quite economical for the distance covered. Given its manageable length and primarily highway focus, this route is perfectly suited for a day trip without the need for an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.4 miles from Bloomington, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
103.2 mi
1h 53m
Veterans Memorial Tollway
9 mi
11m
North Main Street
3.6 mi
8m
Finley Road
1.8 mi
3m
South Main Street
1 mi
1m
East Madison Street
0.5 mi
1m
West Roosevelt Road
0.5 mi
1m
South Grace Street
0.3 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 Lombard, 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
9.0 mi·11 min·Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 22Toward IL 56: Butterfield RoadUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 22Toward IL 56: Butterfield RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
220 ft·7 sec
Toward Oak BrookUse the right lane.
11
Turn straight onto IL 56
464 ft·10 sec·Butterfield Road
12
Turn left onto Finley Road
1.8 mi·3 min·Finley Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto IL 38
0.5 mi·1 min·West Roosevelt Road
14
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.0 mi·1 min·South Main Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto East Madison Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Madison Street
16
Turn left onto South Grace Street
0.3 mi·1 min·South Grace Street
17
Arrive at destination
South Grace Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under 2.5 hours, this is a flexible drive, and you can depart at your convenience. There are no mandatory stops suggested, but with a fuel cost of only $19, you can easily budget for a quick gas or restroom break if needed. Pay attention to traffic, especially as you get closer to the Chicago metropolitan area. Since the longest stretch is over 100 miles on I 55, plan for any potential traffic slowdowns on that segment before transitioning to the tollway.
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 61.4 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 1h 12m 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 27 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.4 miles or 1h 12m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lombard, 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 122.9 miles and 2h 28m.
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 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 107.3 and 121 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
118 mi into trip|~2h 17m in
Take the exit toward IL 56: Butterfield Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22
Toward IL 56: Butterfield Road
8
118.3 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 56: Butterfield Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 22
Toward IL 56: Butterfield Road
8
118.6 mi into trip|~2h 19m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Oak Brook
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Oak Brook
6
121 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|South Main Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.21 one way
$38.43 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.10
$42.19
premium
$4.89
$23.65
$47.30
diesel
$5.61
$27.13
$54.27
Estimated Tolls: $0.63
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(9 mi)$0.63
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
$19
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43 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
36.9
0
$12.90
$5.90
Efficient EV
30.7
0
$10.75
$4.92
EV Truck/SUV
49.2
0
$17.21
$7.87
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 16, 2026
Origin
Bloomington, IL
Morning
in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
W 13 to 16 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 7:58AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 7:30AM CDT until April 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Lombard, IL
Morning
in Lombard on Tuesday
Local time
7:10 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
13 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 28m 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 110.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 122.9-mile journey. The route primarily utilizes I 55 and the Veterans Memorial Tollway, contributing to its 84% highway share. You'll experience a substantial longest stretch of 103.2 miles on I 55, meaning extended periods of consistent driving. While largely interstate, the final approach into Lombard will involve transitions onto local roads like North Main Street, offering a slight change in pace as you reach your destination.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 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?
9/10
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 107.3 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 122.9 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 107.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Lombard, 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
Lombard is a suburb of Chicago in Illinois and is considered part of Chicagoland. Lombard is a small town with a tight-knit community built around its high schools and the downtown Lombard culture. Residents of Lombard are very friendly and familial and willing to guide tourists to various locations in Chicago and Chicagoland.
Top landmarks
•First Church of Lombard — historic building in Lombard, IL, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 28m. Total distance: 122.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). 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 $0.63 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.
Yes — we found about 14 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Lombard, 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. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 107.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Lombard, IL before heading back.
