Kewanee to Bloomington is 90.7 miles and takes about 1h 56m via I 74 and IL 78, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest's familiar flat terrain. It's a straightforward trip, primarily on interstates, making it a convenient option for a quick transit between these two points. Consider this a practical journey, best suited for getting from point A to point B efficiently without many detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.4 miles from Kewanee, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
45.5 mi
48m
IL 78
22.2 mi
35m
I 474
13.8 mi
14m
Tenney Street
4.5 mi
7m
West Market Street
2 mi
5m
North Main Street
0.8 mi
1m
North East Street
0.1 mi
<1m
East 3rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 45.5 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kewanee, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on East 3rd Street
15 ft·7 sec·East 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto IL 78
0.8 mi·1 min·North Main Street
3
Continue on US 34; IL 78
4.5 mi·7 min·Tenney Street
4
Turn left onto IL 78
22 mi·35 min·IL 78
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 74 East
6
Merge onto I 74
15 mi·15 min·I 74
7
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 474 East: Indianapolis
8
Merge onto I 474
14 mi·14 min·I 474
9
Merge onto I 74
27 mi·28 min·I 74
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
3.8 mi·4 min·I 74
Toward I 55 South, I 74 East, US 51 South: Saint Louis, Indianapolis
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Exit 160Toward US 150, IL 9: PekinUse the left lane.
12
Turn left onto US 150; IL 9
2.0 mi·5 min·West Market Street
Use the left lane.
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 51 Business
0.1 mi·20 sec·North East Street
14
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of this 1h 56m trip, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon should allow ample time to reach Bloomington before evening. With a fuel cost estimated around $14, keeping your tank topped up is easy; you won't need to stress about finding gas. Your longest stretch without a major road change is 45.5 miles on I 74, so plan for a single, brief stop if needed for a stretch or snack along that section.
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 45.4 miles from Kewanee, IL, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.5 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 20 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.4 miles or 1h 4m 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 35m
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 Kewanee, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kewanee, IL
This is one driving day of about 90.7 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Kewanee, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 74 for about 45.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.5 and 90.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
27.5 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the ramp toward I 74 East
Navigation decision point
Toward I 74 East
6
84.4 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|I 74
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74 toward I 55 South, I 74 East, US 51 South: Saint Louis, Indianapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 South, I 74 East, US 51 South: Sain...
8
88.2 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward US 150, IL 9: Pekin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 160
Toward US 150, IL 9: Pekin
5
88.5 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|US 150; IL 9 / West Market Street
Turn left onto US 150; IL 9 / West Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
90.6 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|US 51 Business / North East Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 51 Business / North East Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.18 one way
$28.36 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.57
$31.14
premium
$4.89
$17.45
$34.91
diesel
$5.61
$20.03
$40.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.2
0
$9.52
$4.35
Efficient EV
22.7
0
$7.94
$3.63
EV Truck/SUV
36.3
0
$12.70
$5.80
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Kewanee, IL
Late night
in Kewanee on Tuesday
Local time
5:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IL
Late night
in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
5:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
20 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
1h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 90% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch at 45.5 miles on I 74, offering a consistent pace. The profile is largely interstate driving, meaning you can expect relatively smooth sailing and predictable travel times. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of IL 78 provides a brief change of scenery before you rejoin the interstate network.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.5 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and IL 78. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 27.5 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 90.7 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 27.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 84.4 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88.2 miles: 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.
On the drive from Kewanee, IL to Bloomington, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Indianapolis along the way.
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 1h 56m. Total distance: 90.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.5 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 84.4 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bloomington, IL before heading back.
