Stretching 98.3 miles across the Illinois landscape, this trip between Mattoon and Bloomington is a straightforward journey typically taking 1 hour and 53 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to complete the drive. The route stays entirely within the Midwest, moving across the heart of Illinois. Since there are no required stops, you have the flexibility to power through the drive or take your time depending on your personal schedule. It’s a practical, no-nonsense path that connects two Midwestern hubs efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.1 miles from Mattoon, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
47.7 mi
51m
I 74
43.3 mi
46m
Charleston Avenue
2.8 mi
5m
South Main Street
2.8 mi
5m
South East Street
0.5 mi
1m
North 15th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
North East Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 47.7 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mattoon, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on this road
115 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto North 15th Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·North 15th Street
3
Turn left onto IL 16
2.8 mi·5 min·Charleston Avenue
4
Turn right
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
5
Merge onto I 57
48 mi·51 min·I 57
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 237BToward I 74 West: Peoria
7
Merge onto I 74
43 mi·46 min·I 74
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 135Toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Bloomington
9
Turn right onto US 51 Business
2.8 mi·5 min·South Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on US 51 Business
0.5 mi·1 min·South East Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Trip Plan
Given the sub-two-hour duration, you have the advantage of being able to depart at your convenience without worrying about a strict itinerary. Since the entire trip is less than 100 miles, you won't need to plan for major mid-route refueling, but keeping your tank topped off before leaving Mattoon is a smart habit. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between I-57 and I-74, as these highway interchanges are the focal points of your journey. Because this is a relatively short stretch, use your flexibility to choose a departure time that avoids peak local traffic in Bloomington. Staying alert during the 47.7-mile stint on I-57 is your best strategy for a smooth arrival.
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 49.1 miles from Mattoon, IL, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.7 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.1 miles or 56m 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 30m
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 Mattoon, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mattoon, IL
This is one driving day of about 98.3 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Mattoon, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 47.7 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 95 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North 15th Street
Turn right onto North 15th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|IL 16 / Charleston Avenue
Turn left onto IL 16 / Charleston Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
50.8 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the exit toward I 74 West: Peoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 237B
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
6
94.7 mi into trip|~1h 45m in
Take the exit toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 135
Toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Bloom...
4
95 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|US 51 Business / South Main Street
Turn right onto US 51 Business / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.37 one way
$30.74 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.87
$33.75
premium
$4.89
$18.92
$37.83
diesel
$5.61
$21.70
$43.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.5
0
$10.32
$4.72
Efficient EV
24.6
0
$8.60
$3.93
EV Truck/SUV
39.3
0
$13.76
$6.29
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (65% 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
Mattoon, IL
Late night
in Mattoon on Tuesday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IL
Late night
in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Lake of the Woods, IL
49 mi 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 53m 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?
Expect a classic highway-focused experience, as 93% of your time will be spent cruising on major roads. Your route relies heavily on a combination of I-57, I-74, and local connector roads like Charleston Avenue. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 47.7 miles on I-57. While the drive is efficient, the character is defined by the steady, consistent pace of interstate travel. Transitioning between these major arteries keeps the drive moving forward without the technical challenges of winding local backroads.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.7 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 74. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 15th Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 53m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North 15th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IL 16 / Charleston Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 50.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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
The longest stretch is about 47.7 miles on I 57. 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: near the start (North 15th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IL 16 / Charleston Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 50.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bloomington, IL before heading back.
