Origin
Bloomington, IL
Late night in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bloomington, IL to Preston, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 6m
Distance
196.5 mi
316 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 53m
★
6 AM
4h 7m
8 AM
4h 33m
10 AM
4h 16m
12 PM
4h 13m
3 PM
4h 17m
5 PM
4h 31m
8 PM
3h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Preston, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Trip Overview
Bloomington, IL to Preston, IL is 196.5 miles and takes about 4h 6m via I 55, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This all-Illinois trip stays within the Midwest, offering a straightforward drive. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it a practical choice for a quick relocation or a visit. Plan for a single day of travel; it's a manageable distance that won't require an overnight stay. Given the relatively short duration, it's easy to fit into a weekend.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
98.3 miles from Bloomington, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 77.9 mi | 1h 23m |
| South Veterans Parkway | 65.7 mi | 1h 11m |
| North Illinois Street | 9.8 mi | 15m |
| East Market Street | 8.7 mi | 12m |
| South Illinois Street | 8.3 mi | 12m |
| Main Street | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| State Route 159 | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| Baldwin Road | 5.2 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 77.9 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IL and Preston, 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 left at fork onto I 55
78 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 15A
Toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
11
Continue on IL 159
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Vandalia Street
12
Continue on IL 159
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Morrison Avenue
13
Continue on IL 159
9.8 mi
·
15 min
·
North Illinois Street
14
Enter roundabout onto IL 159
181 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Illinois Street
15
Continue on IL 159
8.3 mi
·
12 min
·
South Illinois Street
16
Continue on IL 159
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
State Route 159
17
Continue on IL 156; IL 159
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
North Main Street
18
Continue on IL 159
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
N Main St
19
Continue on IL 159
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Main Street
20
Turn left onto IL 154
8.7 mi
·
12 min
·
East Market Street
21
Turn right onto South 5th Street
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
South 5th Street
22
Continue on Baldwin Road
5.2 mi
·
12 min
·
Baldwin Road
23
Turn right onto Preston Road
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Preston Road
24
Keep slight right at fork onto Preston Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Preston Road
25
Turn left onto Pautler Road
155 ft
·
6 sec
·
Pautler Road
26
Arrive at destination
Pautler Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour drive, consider departing in the morning to allow for flexibility with your arrival time. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $31, planning is straightforward. The longest stretch without an exit is nearly 78 miles on I 55, so ensure you have ample fuel before embarking on that segment. This is a manageable drive that doesn't require splitting into multiple days, so you can depart at your leisure. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 55 to South Veterans Parkway and then North Illinois Street as you approach your destination.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 98.3 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.9 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 43 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.3 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Preston, 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 196.5 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Bloomington, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 77.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
98 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 98.3 miles from Bloomington, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.9 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 155 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.
7
68.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.72 one way
$61.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
69 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $33.73 | $67.46 |
| premium | $4.89 | $37.81 | $75.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.38 | $86.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.9 | 0 | $20.63 | $9.43 |
| Efficient EV | 49.1 | 0 | $17.19 | $7.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 78.6 | 0 | $27.51 | $12.58 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Destination
Preston, IL
Late night in Preston on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°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
4 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
4h 6m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
3 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 61
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 76% of the 196.5 miles on interstates. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 77.9 miles on I 55 before needing to exit. This means you'll experience extended periods of cruising before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a high volume of exits and potential traffic merging as you navigate the interstate segments.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.9 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and South Veterans Parkway. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Chestnut Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 196.5 miles you will encounter 15 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
796 ft
425 ft
Total Climb
180 ft
Total Descent
508 ft
Highest Point
796 ft
Elevation Range
370 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Bloomington, IL
Full guide →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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 6m. Total distance: 196.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.9 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Preston, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Preston, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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