This 124.7-mile drive from Burbank, IL to Bloomington, IL is a straightforward Midwest excursion, easily manageable as a single-day trip with a projected duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes. You'll primarily be on highways, with a 91% highway share, making it a quick and efficient journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $20, so budget accordingly. This route is a good option if you're looking for a direct connection between two points in Illinois, with no significant regional shifts to consider. It's a practical choice for a day trip, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
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
62.4 miles from Burbank, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Burbank, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on West 87th Street
59 ft·3 sec·West 87th Street
2
Turn left onto South Ridgeland Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·South Ridgeland Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto US 12; US 20
1.3 mi·2 min·West 95th Street
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: WisconsinUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 294
5.2 mi·6 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
449 ft·11 sec
Exit 23BToward I 55 South: Wolf Road, Saint LouisUse the right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the straight / right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 55
110 mi·2 hr 3 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 55 Business
3.1 mi·5 min·I 55 Business
Exit 167Toward I 55 Business South: Veterans Parkway, Central Illinois Regional AirportUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 55 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·North Veterans Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·22 sec
Toward IL 9 West: PekinUse the right lane.
12
Turn straight onto IL 9
1.6 mi·3 min·East Empire Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto US 150
0.3 mi·50 sec·North Clinton Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto East Mulberry Street
0.3 mi·59 sec·East Mulberry Street
15
Turn left onto North Prairie Street
275 ft·14 sec·North Prairie Street
16
Turn right onto East Douglas Street
504 ft·23 sec·East Douglas Street
17
Turn right onto US 51 Business
0.1 mi·15 sec·North East Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 2.5-hour drive, flexibility is key. Leaving Burbank, IL in the morning, perhaps before peak traffic, will set you up for a smooth arrival in Bloomington, IL. With only one recommended stop and a 109.6-mile stretch on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, you can easily complete most of the journey in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $20. A good tip for this specific route is to ensure you have your preferred method of toll payment ready, as much of the initial part of this drive utilizes tollways.
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 62.4 miles from Burbank, IL, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.6 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 27 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.4 miles or 1h 14m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bloomington, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burbank, 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 Burbank, IL
This is one driving day of about 124.7 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Burbank, 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 Adlai Stevenson Expressway for about 109.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 123.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
8 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Wolf Road, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 23B
Toward I 55 South: Wolf Road, Saint Louis
7
8.1 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
8
118.1 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|I 55 Business
Take the exit onto I 55 Business toward I 55 Business South: Veterans Parkway, Central Illinois Regional Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 167
Toward I 55 Business South: Veterans Parkway, C...
6
122.1 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Take the exit toward IL 9 West: Pekin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward IL 9 West: Pekin
6
123.8 mi into trip|~2h 27m in|US 150 / North Clinton Street
Turn left onto US 150 / North Clinton Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.50 one way
$38.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.41
$42.81
premium
$4.89
$24.00
$47.99
diesel
$5.61
$27.53
$55.06
Estimated Tolls: $0.31
Tri-state Tollway
(5.2 mi)$0.31
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.4
0
$13.09
$5.99
Efficient EV
31.2
0
$10.91
$4.99
EV Truck/SUV
49.9
0
$17.46
$7.98
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Burbank, IL
Late night
in Burbank on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IL
Late night
in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
S 3 to 7 mph0% chanceLive 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 30m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip. You'll spend most of your time on major expressways like the Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Tri-State Tollway before transitioning to I-55 Business. With 91% of the route on highways, this is not a scenic byway but rather an efficient corridor. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 109.6 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, meaning you can settle in for a solid block of driving without frequent exits. The road maintains a consistent character for most of the journey, prioritizing speed and directness.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.6 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 124.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.1 miles (I 55 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Burbank, IL and Bloomington, IL, road signs point toward Saint Louis and Illinois Regional Airport.
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 30m. Total distance: 124.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109.6 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.31 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Bloomington, 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. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.1 miles (I 55 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Bloomington, IL before heading back.
