Origin
Bloomington, IL
Morning in Bloomington on Friday
Local time
9:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bloomington, IL to Sesser, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 56m
Distance
190.3 mi
306 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 44m
★
6 AM
3h 57m
8 AM
4h 23m
10 AM
4h 6m
12 PM
4h 3m
3 PM
4h 7m
5 PM
4h 21m
8 PM
3h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bloomington, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Sesser, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bloomington, IL to Sesser, IL covers 190.3 miles and takes about 3h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, North Walnut Street, South Business Route 51 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.5 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.50 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
95.1 miles from Bloomington, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 24.5 mi | 26m |
| North Walnut Street | 23.2 mi | 29m |
| South Business Route 51 | 19.6 mi | 23m |
| South Main Street | 16.5 mi | 21m |
| 300 East Road | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| Ken Gray Expressway | 14.1 mi | 15m |
| United States Highway 51 | 13.4 mi | 15m |
| County Road 875 East | 11.1 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 24.5 mi, about 26m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,360 veh/hr typical · worst 1,825
Quietest
2 AM
~248 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 96 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 Sesser, 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
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Madison Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Continue on US 51 Business
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Center Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 51 Business
17 mi
·
21 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 51
23 mi
·
29 min
·
North Walnut Street
9
Turn straight onto US 51 Business
9.9 mi
·
15 min
·
US 51 Business
10
Take the ramp onto US 51 Business
20 mi
·
23 min
·
South Business Route 51
11
Continue on US 51
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
North 2600 East Rd
12
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North 2600 East Road
13
Continue on US 51; IL 16
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Jackson Street
14
Turn left onto US 51; IL 16
467 ft
·
8 sec
·
Cedar Street
15
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1st Street
16
Turn left onto US 51; IL 16
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
South Poplar Street
17
Turn straight onto US 51
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Fair Avenue
18
Continue on US 51
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 2400 E
19
Continue on US 51
15 mi
·
17 min
·
300 East Road
20
Continue on US 51
11 mi
·
12 min
·
County Road 875 East
21
Continue on US 51
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kennedy Boulevard
22
Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Gallatin Street
23
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
24
Continue on US 51
13 mi
·
15 min
·
United States Highway 51
25
Continue on US 51
10 mi
·
11 min
·
250E
26
Turn left onto US 50
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
US 50
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
28
Merge onto I 57
24 mi
·
26 min
·
I 57
29
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward IL 154: Sesser
31
Turn right onto IL 154
6.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Illinois Route 154
32
Continue on IL 154
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
East Franklin Street
33
Arrive at destination
IL 154
Trip Plan
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 95.1 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.5 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 42 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.1 miles or 2h 7m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sesser, 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 190.3 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 57 for about 24.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
95 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 95.1 miles from Bloomington, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 111.7 — 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
4
79 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
|
US 51; IL 16 / North 2600 East Road
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16 / North 2600 East Road
Navigation decision point
4
80.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
US 51; IL 16 / East 1st Street
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16 / East 1st Street
Navigation decision point
4
111.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m in
|
US 40; US 51; IL 185 / West Gallatin Street
Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185 / West Gallatin Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.50 one way
$59.01 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $32.35 | $64.70 |
| premium | $4.93 | $36.92 | $73.84 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $41.95 | $83.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.1 | 0 | $19.98 | $9.13 |
| Efficient EV | 47.6 | 0 | $16.65 | $7.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.1 | 0 | $26.64 | $12.18 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Sesser, IL
Morning in Sesser on Friday
Local time
9:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
95°F
Brownstown, IL
95 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
1 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
3h 56m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
190.3 mi in 3h 56m — 50% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: I 57.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.5 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 56m drive. You will face about 15 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 79 miles (US 51; IL 16 / North 2600 East Road): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
796 ft
419 ft
Total Climb
252 ft
Total Descent
567 ft
Highest Point
796 ft
Elevation Range
376 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
Arriving in Sesser, IL
Full guide →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 3h 56m. Total distance: 190.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.5 miles on I 57. 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.
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 79 miles (US 51; IL 16 / North 2600 East Road): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Sesser, 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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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