Connecting Moline to Bloomington, this 132.4-mile journey takes you through the heart of the Illinois Midwest. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 7 minutes behind the wheel, making this a straightforward day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your route follows a combination of 19th Street, the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, and I-74 East. With a fuel budget of approximately $20, it is an affordable trek for a quick getaway or business travel. Since the entire trip stays within Illinois, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. It is a practical option if you need to move between these two hubs without the hassle of a complex multi-day itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
67 miles from Moline, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
115.9 mi
2h 5m
I 474
13.8 mi
14m
West Market Street
2 mi
5m
5th Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
19th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North East Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 115.9 mi, about 2h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Moline, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on 5th Avenue
0.2 mi·41 sec·5th Avenue
2
Turn right onto 19th Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·19th Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
4
Merge onto I 74; US 6
3.2 mi·3 min·I 74; US 6
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
9.2 mi·10 min·I 74
Toward I 74 East, I 280 East: Peoria, Chicago
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
73 mi·1 hr 17 min·I 74
Toward I 74 East: Peoria
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 2-hour and 7-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. Because there are no designated stops programmed into this route, you should map out your own breaks along the way to stay refreshed. Keep your $20 fuel budget in mind when planning your refueling stops, as local roads may offer different gas station accessibility compared to the interstate. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay alert for navigation cues when transitioning between local streets and the highway, as the turn-heavy nature of the drive demands your full attention. Since the trip is short, you can easily manage the entire distance in one go without needing to split your travel time.
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 67 miles from Moline, IL, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.9 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 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67 miles or 1h 13m 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 59m
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 Moline, 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 Moline, IL
This is one driving day of about 134 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Moline, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 74 for about 115.9 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 0.2 and 131.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|19th Street
Turn right onto 19th Street
Navigation decision point
6
4 mi into trip|~5m in|I 74
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74 toward I 74 East, I 280 East: Peoria, Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 East, I 280 East: Peoria, Chicago
5
13.2 mi into trip|~16m in|I 74
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74 toward I 74 East: Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 74 East: Peoria
6
127.6 mi into trip|~2h 18m 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
131.4 mi into trip|~2h 22m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.95 one way
$41.90 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.00
$46.00
premium
$4.89
$25.79
$51.57
diesel
$5.61
$29.59
$59.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.2
0
$14.07
$6.43
Efficient EV
33.5
0
$11.73
$5.36
EV Truck/SUV
53.6
0
$18.76
$8.58
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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 15, 2026
Origin
Moline, IL
Late night
in Moline on Sunday
Local time
2:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IL
Late night
in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
2:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Bellevue, IL
67 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
20 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 28m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While you will utilize I-74 East, the route incorporates local roads like 19th Street and the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, resulting in a highway share of 0%. This configuration keeps you engaged behind the wheel as you transition between different road types. Because the drive is relatively short at 132.4 miles, you won't face the fatigue of long, uninterrupted highway stretches. You should be prepared for frequent directional changes as you navigate off the main interstate lanes and onto local thoroughfares.
97% 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: 115.9 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and I 474. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near 19th Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 134 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 0.2 miles (19th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.2 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Moline is one of the Quad Cities in Western Illinois. Moline's downtown serves as one of the civic and recreational hubs of the Quad Cities; many events take place at the 12,000-seat TaxSlayer Center (formerly known as The MARK of the Quad Cities and iWireless Center) and at John Deere Commons.
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 28m. Total distance: 134 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 115.9 miles on I 74. 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 0.2 miles (19th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.2 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bloomington, IL before heading back.
