Origin
North Pekin, IL
Afternoon in North Pekin on Sunday
Local time
3:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Pekin, IL to Bloomington, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
39.8 mi
64 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Pekin, IL
Cheng Shi Song
Trip Overview
North Pekin to Bloomington is 39.8 miles and takes about 47 minutes via I-74, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day drive primarily focused on interstate travel within Illinois. You'll be moving swiftly between two points in the Midwest region. Given its short distance and efficient highway routing, this trip is ideal for a quick transit or a brief excursion. Plan for minimal travel time and a simple journey between these two Illinois communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 74 | 30.8 mi | 32m |
| I 474 | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| West Market Street | 2 mi | 5m |
| South Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Radio City Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North East Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 30.8 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Pekin, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto IL 29
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Radio City Drive
3
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
4
Merge onto I 474
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
I 474
5
Merge onto I 74
27 mi
·
28 min
·
I 74
6
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
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 160
Toward US 150, IL 9: Pekin
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto US 150; IL 9
2.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West Market Street
Use the left lane.
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 51 Business
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
North East Street
10
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 39.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.9 miles from North Pekin, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 39.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
IL 29 / Radio City Drive
Turn right onto IL 29 / Radio City Drive
Navigation decision point
6
33.4 mi into trip
|
~37m 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
37.2 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
37.6 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
39.6 mi into trip
|
~46m 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
$6.22 one way
$12.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.83 | $13.66 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.66 | $15.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.79 | $17.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.18 | $1.91 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.48 | $1.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.57 | $2.55 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Bloomington, IL
Afternoon in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
3:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
S 7 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
44°F
Eureka, IL
20 mi in
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
9 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
47m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 90% of your journey taking place on major interstates. You'll spend a significant portion of the 47-minute trip on I-74, including one stretch of 30.8 miles without needing to exit. The primary roads guiding you are I-74, I-474, and West Market Street, indicating a fast-paced and direct path. Expect a consistent driving experience, largely characterized by smooth interstate conditions and efficient travel.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.8 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and I 474. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near IL 29 / Radio City Drive.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 47m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (IL 29 / Radio City Drive): Navigation decision point; at 33.4 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.2 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.
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 North Pekin, IL to Bloomington, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Indianapolis along the way.
Indianapolis
33.4 mi in
|
~37m
|
via I 74
About the Cities
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 47m. Total distance: 39.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.8 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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.
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 0.7 miles (IL 29 / Radio City Drive): Navigation decision point; at 33.4 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.2 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.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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