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Trip from Bloomington, IL to Warren, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 45m

Distance

184.7 mi

297 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 33m ★
6 AM
3h 46m
8 AM
4h 11m
10 AM
3h 55m
12 PM
3h 52m
3 PM
3h 56m
5 PM
4h 10m
8 PM
3h 38m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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Downtown Bloomington, IL, IL

Bloomington, IL

Wikimedia Commons

village in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, United States

Warren, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Bloomington, IL to Warren, IL covers 184.7 miles and takes about 3h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 39, U.S. Grant Memorial Highway, South Galena Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 118.5 miles on I 39. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.64 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

92.3 miles from Bloomington, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 39 118.5 mi 2h 6m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway 35.5 mi 42m
South Galena Avenue 7.3 mi 13m
West Galena Road 6.1 mi 10m
North Stagecoach Trail 4.7 mi 8m
North Main Street 3.8 mi 9m
US 20 Business 3.6 mi 5m
IL 73 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 39 — 118.5 mi, about 2h 6m

Traffic on I-39

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~1,003 veh/hr typical · worst 1,333

Quietest

1 AM

~102 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

9.8×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 100 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 Warren, IL.

1

Start on US 51 Business

136 ft · 5 sec · North East Street
Use the straight lane.
2

Continue on US 51 Business

3.8 mi · 9 min · North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
3

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 58 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis Use the right lane.
4

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 40 sec
Exit 164 Toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
5

Continue on I 39; US 51

118 mi · 2 hr 6 min · I 39; US 51
6

Take the exit

1.1 mi · 2 min
Toward US 20 West: Freeport, Rockford
7

Merge onto US 20

29 mi · 33 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
8

Take the exit onto US 20 Business

3.6 mi · 5 min · US 20 Business
Toward US 20 BUS: Freeport
9

Turn slight right onto US 20 Business

7.3 mi · 13 min · South Galena Avenue
10

Turn left onto US 20

6.6 mi · 9 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
11

Turn right onto IL 73

1.0 mi · 1 min · IL 73
12

Continue on IL 73

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Schuyler Street
13

Turn left onto West Lena Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Lena Street
14

Continue on West Galena Road

6.1 mi · 10 min · West Galena Road
15

Continue on County Road 13

4.7 mi · 8 min · North Stagecoach Trail
16

Continue on South Railroad Street

0.6 mi · 59 sec · South Railroad Street
17

Turn left onto Burnett Avenue

298 ft · 6 sec · Burnett Avenue
18

Turn right onto IL 78

430 ft · 14 sec · West Main Street
19

Turn left onto South Water Street

37 ft · 0 sec · South Water Street
20

Arrive at destination

South Water Street

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 92.3 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.5 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 41 miles or 49m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 92.3 miles or 1h 44m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 51m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Warren, 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 184.7 miles and 3h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 39 for about 118.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Rockford, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

92 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

Oglesby, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 92.3 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 39 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 118.5 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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 184.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
3.9 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the ramp toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
7
4.3 mi into trip | ~10m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 164 Toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
5
123.2 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in

Take the exit toward US 20 West: Freeport, Rockford

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 20 West: Freeport, Rockford
4
153.2 mi into trip | ~2h 53m in | US 20 Business

Take the exit onto US 20 Business toward US 20 BUS: Freeport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward US 20 BUS: Freeport
5
184.7 mi into trip | ~3h 45m in | South Water Street

Turn left onto South Water Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.64 one way

$57.27 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 65 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.32 $31.40 $62.80
premium $4.93 $35.83 $71.67
diesel $5.60 $40.71 $81.43

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 64.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 55.4 0 $19.39 $8.87
Efficient EV 46.2 0 $16.16 $7.39
EV Truck/SUV 73.9 0 $25.86 $11.82

Gas CO2

65 kg

EV CO2

22 kg (66% 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 29, 2026

Origin

Bloomington, IL

Late night in Bloomington on Friday

Local time

3:30 AM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 10 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 29 at 10:41AM CDT until August 29 at 4:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 29 at 10:11AM CDT until August 30 at 9:10AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN

Destination

Warren, IL

Late night in Warren on Friday

Local time

3:30 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Chance Rain Showers

S 15 mph 48% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 29 at 10:41AM CDT until August 29 at 4:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 29 at 10:11AM CDT until August 30 at 9:10AM 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

6 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 45m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

184.7 mi in 3h 45m, mostly highway — 118.5 mi of that is on I 39.

67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.5 mi on I 39.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and U.S. Grant Memorial Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in.

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 45m 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 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 123.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

982 ft 646 ft

Total Climb

538 ft

Total Descent

353 ft

Highest Point

982 ft

~184.7 mi in

Elevation Range

336 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 Warren, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rockford along the way.

Rockford

123.2 mi in | ~2h 17m

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 Warren, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1853

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 45m. Total distance: 184.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (67%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 118.5 miles on I 39. 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 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 123.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Warren, 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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