If you are planning to travel from Bloomington to Markham, you are looking at a straightforward, 112.8-mile journey through the Illinois Midwest. With a driving time of approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes, this trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stay. You should budget roughly $17 for fuel to complete the trek. Since the entire route stays within Illinois, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. It is a practical, highway-focused drive that prioritizes efficiency over sightseeing, making it an ideal choice for those who need to get from point A to point B without unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.4 miles from Bloomington, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Veterans Parkway
65.7 mi
1h 11m
I 72
36.8 mi
39m
I 72 Bus
6 mi
6m
North Morris Avenue
1.7 mi
4m
Markham Road
1.1 mi
4m
West Market Street
0.5 mi
1m
North Madison Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
South Veterans Parkway
— 65.7 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IL and Markham, 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
66 mi·1 hr 11 min·South Veterans Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 72; US 36
37 mi·39 min·I 72; US 36
Toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 72 Business East, US 67 North: Jacksonville
11
Merge onto I 72 Bus; US 67
6.0 mi·6 min·I 72 Bus; US 67
12
Turn left onto Markham Road
1.1 mi·4 min·Markham Road
13
Arrive at destination
Markham Road
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it best suits your schedule. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled into the 2-hour and 10-minute duration, you can easily complete the trip in one go without the need for extensive planning. Keep in mind that the heavy reliance on highway infrastructure means traffic patterns can fluctuate, so checking for congestion on I-72 before you leave is a smart move. Prior to hitting the road, ensure your tank is ready for the $17 fuel expense to avoid unnecessary stops. Use your time on South Veterans Parkway to get settled, as that will be your longest period of continuous driving.
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 56.4 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.7 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 25 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.4 miles or 1h 5m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Markham, 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 112.8 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Bloomington, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Veterans Parkway for about 65.7 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
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 68.3 — 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
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.
6
68.3 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|I 72; US 36
Keep slight right at fork onto I 72; US 36 toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.63 one way
$35.27 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.36
$38.73
premium
$4.89
$21.71
$43.41
diesel
$5.61
$24.90
$49.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.8
0
$11.84
$5.41
Efficient EV
28.2
0
$9.87
$4.51
EV Truck/SUV
45.1
0
$15.79
$7.22
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 15, 2026
Origin
Bloomington, IL
Morning
in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
9:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Markham, IL
Morning
in Markham on Sunday
Local time
9:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Riverton, IL
56 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
8 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 10m 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 highly efficient experience, as 96% of this trip consists of highway travel. You will navigate using a combination of South Veterans Parkway, I-72, and I-72 Bus, which keeps the pace consistent and predictable. The longest uninterrupted segment you will encounter is a 65.7-mile stretch along South Veterans Parkway. Because the route is dominated by interstate driving, the character of the road is functional and straightforward rather than winding or technical. You can anticipate a steady, highway-focused flow that allows you to maintain a reliable speed for the majority of your time behind the wheel.
96% 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: 65.7 mi on South Veterans Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Veterans Parkway and I 72. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Chestnut Street.
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 10m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 0.9 miles (North Morris Avenue): 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 65.7 miles on South Veterans Parkway. 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 0.1 miles (West Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 51 Business / North Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (North Morris Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Markham, IL before heading back.
