Bloomington, IL to Palos Hills, IL is 120.2 miles and takes about 2h 27m via I 55, I 80, and South La Grange Road, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive entirely within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest region. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it an efficient way to travel between these two locations. Given its relatively short distance and highway focus, it's a perfect option for a same-day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.1 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
84.6 mi
1h 31m
I 80
18.5 mi
22m
South La Grange Road
5.5 mi
10m
Southwest Highway
5 mi
7m
North Main Street
3.6 mi
8m
South Roberts Road
0.5 mi
1m
West 111th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
West 143rd Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 84.6 mi, about 1h 31m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,073 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,464
Quietest
2 AM
~148 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 73 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IL and Palos Hills, 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
85 mi·1 hr 31 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 250AToward I 80 East: IndianaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 80
19 mi·22 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 145Toward US 45: La Grange RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
129 ft·5 sec
Toward US 45 North: La Grange Road, Orland ParkUse the left lane.
9
Turn left onto US 45
5.5 mi·10 min·South La Grange Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto West 143rd Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·West 143rd Street
11
Turn slight right
131 ft·5 sec
Use the right lane.
12
Turn straight onto IL 7
5.0 mi·7 min·Southwest Highway
13
Turn left onto West 111th Street
0.3 mi·36 sec·West 111th Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto South Roberts Road
0.5 mi·1 min·South Roberts Road
15
Turn right onto 107th Street
16 ft·0 sec·107th Street
16
Arrive at destination
107th Street
Trip Plan
For this 2h 27m drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you get closer to Palos Hills. With only 120.2 miles, you won't need to stop for rest breaks, but gas up before you leave Bloomington, as the $19 fuel cost estimate suggests a full tank will likely suffice. The longest stretch without a major road change is 84.6 miles on I 55, so be prepared for that continuous interstate cruising. Since this is a short, same-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits you best.
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 60.1 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.6 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 60.1 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palos Hills, 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 120.2 miles and 2h 27m.
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 84.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 60.1 miles from Bloomington, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 119.3 — 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
7
88.7 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Indiana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 250A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
7
108 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 45: La Grange Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 145
Toward US 45: La Grange Road
8
108.4 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 45 North: La Grange Road, Orland Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 45 North: La Grange Road, Orland Park
6
119.3 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|West 111th Street
Turn left onto West 111th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.64 one way
$37.27 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$20.43
$40.87
premium
$4.93
$23.32
$46.64
diesel
$5.60
$26.50
$52.99
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: 42.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.1
0
$12.62
$5.77
Efficient EV
30.1
0
$10.52
$4.81
EV Truck/SUV
48.1
0
$16.83
$7.69
Gas CO2
42 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 Aug 30, 2026
Origin
Bloomington, IL
Late night
in Bloomington on Friday
Local time
5:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 12 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 9:10AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Palos Hills, IL
Late night
in Palos Hills on Friday
Local time
5:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
S 10 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 9:10AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis 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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 27m 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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 120.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly highway driving, with 86% of the route on interstates. You'll experience an 84.6-mile stretch on I 55, offering a consistent cruising experience. The transition to surface roads begins after this long highway segment, with South La Grange Road marking the final leg. Expect a high volume of exits and merging traffic as you approach your destination.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.6 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 80. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 120.2 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 88.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 108 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
796 ft554 ft
Total Climb
173 ft
Total Descent
373 ft
Highest Point
796 ft
Elevation Range
242 ft
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 Palos Hills, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Orland Park 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 120.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84.6 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Palos Hills, 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 88.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 108 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 Palos Hills, IL before heading back.
