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Trip from Crete, IL to Bloomington, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 27m

Distance

117.5 mi

189 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 17m ★
6 AM
2h 27m
8 AM
2h 47m
10 AM
2h 34m
12 PM
2h 32m
3 PM
2h 35m
5 PM
2h 46m
8 PM
2h 21m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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island of Greece

Crete, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 117.5-mile drive from Crete, Illinois, to Bloomington, Illinois, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 27 minutes. Primarily utilizing major highways like I-55 and I-57, this route offers a focused highway experience, making it an efficient option for getting between these two Midwest locations. With an estimated fuel cost of around $18, it's an economical choice for a quick trip. Since there are no designated stops in the data, you'll have the flexibility to plan your own breaks along the way. This drive is well-suited for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

58.8 miles from Crete, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 73.1 mi 1h 18m
West Wilmington Road 12.1 mi 16m
I 57 7.5 mi 8m
West Peotone Road 4 mi 5m
I 55 Business 3.1 mi 5m
University Parkway 2.6 mi 5m
New River Road 2.3 mi 3m
South Governors Highway 2.2 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 73.1 mi, about 1h 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Crete, IL and Bloomington, IL.

1

Start on IL 1

48 ft · 8 sec · Main Street
2

Turn left onto CH 49

2.1 mi · 4 min · West Exchange Street
3

Continue on CH 49

2.6 mi · 5 min · University Parkway
4

Turn left onto Stuenkel Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Stuenkel Road
5

Turn left onto South Governors Highway

2.2 mi · 3 min · South Governors Highway
6

Turn right onto CH 21

1.1 mi · 2 min · West Monee Manhattan Road
7

Turn left

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward I-57 South: Kankakee
8

Merge onto I 57

7.5 mi · 8 min · I 57
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Exit 327 Toward Peotone, Wilmington
10

Turn right onto CH 25

12 mi · 16 min · West Wilmington Road
11

Continue on CH 25

4.0 mi · 5 min · West Peotone Road
12

Turn right onto IL 53

0.5 mi · 48 sec · South Chicago Road
13

Turn left onto CH 44

2.3 mi · 3 min · New River Road
14

Continue on CH 44

1.4 mi · 1 min · North River Road
15

Continue on CH 44

0.3 mi · 25 sec · County Highway 44
16

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
17

Merge onto I 55

73 mi · 1 hr 18 min · I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit onto I 55 Business

3.1 mi · 5 min · I 55 Business
Exit 167 Toward I 55 Business South: Veterans Parkway, Central Illinois Regional Airport Use the slight right lane.
19

Continue on I 55 Business

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Veterans Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 22 sec
Toward IL 9 West: Pekin Use the right lane.
21

Turn straight onto IL 9

1.6 mi · 3 min · East Empire Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
22

Turn left onto US 150

0.3 mi · 50 sec · North Clinton Street
Use the left lane.
23

Turn right onto East Mulberry Street

0.3 mi · 59 sec · East Mulberry Street
24

Turn left onto North Prairie Street

275 ft · 14 sec · North Prairie Street
25

Turn right onto East Douglas Street

504 ft · 23 sec · East Douglas Street
26

Turn right onto US 51 Business

0.1 mi · 15 sec · North East Street
27

Arrive at destination

US 51 Business

Trip Plan

Given the manageable 2-hour and 27-minute duration for this 117.5-mile trip, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits your schedule. Consider an early morning departure to take advantage of lighter traffic, especially on I-55. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is still a good idea, though you won't need to worry about frequent, costly fill-ups. Since the longest stretch is over 73 miles, plan for a brief rest stop before you hit that point to stay alert. The primary roads are major highways, so be mindful of standard interstate driving conditions and potential construction zones.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58.8 miles from Crete, IL, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.1 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 26 miles or 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 58.8 miles or 1h 17m 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 57m

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 Crete, 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 Crete, IL

This is one driving day of about 117.5 miles and 2h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Crete, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 73.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Morris, IL

59 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.

Popular next leg

Morris, IL to Bloomington, IL

75.1 mi · 1h 29m

Pacing Suggestions

New Lenox, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Morris, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 58.8 miles from Crete, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.1 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · first break window

Nad Tatrami Polish Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Monee, Illinois

Near the start, right off the route

First break · 11min in 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+17088855092

Visit website

Subway

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Wilmington, Illinois

1.4 mi

Nad Tatrami Polish Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30

Monee, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+17088855092

Visit website

Subway

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour Inexpensiv

Wilmington, Illinois

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+18159262726

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Normal, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Normal, Illinois

+13094549590

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Bloomington, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+13096641222

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Bloomington, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–12 pm

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Bloomington, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Normal, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.4 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Bloomington, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

Bloomington, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 8.7 and 116.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
8.7 mi into trip | ~16m in

Turn left toward I-57 South: Kankakee

Navigation decision point

Toward I-57 South: Kankakee
6
16.5 mi into trip | ~25m in

Take the exit toward Peotone, Wilmington

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

Exit 327 Toward Peotone, Wilmington
8
110.8 mi into trip | ~2h 13m 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
114.9 mi into trip | ~2h 20m 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
116.6 mi into trip | ~2h 24m 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

$18.37 one way

$36.74 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $20.17 $40.34
premium $4.89 $22.61 $45.22
diesel $5.61 $25.94 $51.89

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 35.3 0 $12.34 $5.64
Efficient EV 29.4 0 $10.28 $4.70
EV Truck/SUV 47 0 $16.45 $7.52

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 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 16, 2026

Origin

Crete, IL

Late night in Crete on Tuesday

Local time

3:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bloomington, IL

Late night in Bloomington on Tuesday

Local time

3:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Mostly Sunny

W 13 to 16 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 7:58AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 7:30AM CDT until April 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

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

14 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 27m 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

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...

17 mi from route ~43 min detour Free
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 117.5-mile trip, with 74% of the route being on interstates like I-55 and I-57. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 73.1 miles on I-55, meaning you can settle in for a significant period of consistent driving. While the data doesn't detail specific scenic changes, the profile suggests a practical, efficient journey rather than a winding, picturesque route. You'll likely experience smooth, consistent travel speeds for much of the drive, making it a predictable and manageable experience behind the wheel.

74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.1 mi on I 55.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and West Wilmington Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 117.5 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 8.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.8 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 Crete, IL and Bloomington, IL, road signs point toward Peotone, Wilmington and Illinois Regional Airport.

Peotone

16.5 mi in | ~25m

Wilmington

16.5 mi in | ~25m

Illinois Regional Airport

110.8 mi in | ~2h 13m | via I 55 Business

About the Cities

Starting in Crete, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1836

Arriving 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 27m. Total distance: 117.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 73.1 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 8.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.8 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.

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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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