Origin
Bloomington, IL
Morning in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
7:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bloomington, IL to West Garfield Park, 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
2h 37m
Distance
130.8 mi
210 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 27m
★
6 AM
2h 38m
8 AM
2h 59m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 43m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Garfield Park, IL
Willian Justen de Vasconcellos
Trip Overview
Bloomington, IL to West Garfield Park, IL is 130.8 miles and takes about 2h 37m via I 55, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive within the Midwest, entirely within Illinois. Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. With a recommended single day for travel, this route is ideal for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. The estimated fuel cost is quite manageable, adding to its practicality for a day trip.
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
65.4 miles from Bloomington, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 121.1 mi | 2h 17m |
| South Cicero Avenue | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| North Main Street | 3.6 mi | 8m |
| West Madison Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North East Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 121.1 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IL and West Garfield Park, 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: Chicago
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 55
121 mi
·
2 hr 17 min
·
I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 286
Toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left onto IL 50
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
South Cicero Avenue
7
Turn right onto West Madison Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Madison Street
8
Arrive at destination
West Madison Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of about 2.5 hours, this trip is easily achievable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. You'll want to keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 121.1-mile stretch on I 55, as services might be spaced out. The recommended single stop is a good opportunity to stretch your legs. Since this is a highway-heavy route, plan to leave when you feel most alert. A practical tip for this route is to be aware of potential traffic on I 55 as you approach the Chicago metropolitan area, especially during peak commuting hours.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.4 miles from Bloomington, IL, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.1 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 29 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.4 miles or 1h 19m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Garfield Park, 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 130.8 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 121.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.4 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 121.1 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
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 129.9 — 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
5
4.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
125.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 286
Toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue
4
129.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 35m in
|
West Madison Street
Turn right onto West Madison Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.45 one way
$40.90 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.45 | $44.90 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.17 | $50.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.88 | $57.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.73 | $6.28 |
| Efficient EV | 32.7 | 0 | $11.45 | $5.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.3 | 0 | $18.31 | $8.37 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
West Garfield Park, IL
Morning in West Garfield Park on Tuesday
Local time
7:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
8 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 37m 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?
This drive is heavily focused on highway travel, with 93% of the route utilizing major highways like I 55. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 121.1 miles on I 55, which forms the backbone of this journey. The profile suggests a consistent pace, characteristic of interstate driving, rather than winding scenic byways. While the majority is highway, there are brief transitions onto local roads like South Cicero Avenue and North Main Street near your destination. This means the latter part of your drive will involve navigating more urban environments.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 121.1 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and South Cicero Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bloomington, IL to West Garfield Park, IL is easy. At 2h 37m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 2h 37m. Total distance: 130.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 121.1 miles on I 55. 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 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at West Garfield Park, IL before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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