Origin
Pekin, IL
Late night in Pekin on Sunday
Local time
2:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from 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
52m
Distance
43.5 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pekin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 41.7-mile drive from Pekin to Bloomington, Illinois, will take you approximately 45 minutes to complete. As a quick hop within the Midwest, this route is perfect for a single day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You'll navigate primarily local roads, with a zero percent highway share, so expect a more turn-heavy experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $6, making it an economical option. This drive offers a straightforward way to connect two Illinois communities without the commitment of a longer road trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 74 | 30.8 mi | 32m |
| I 474 | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Radio City Drive | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| West Market Street | 2 mi | 5m |
| North 8th Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| North 5th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Ann Eliza Street | 0.2 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 Pekin, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on South 8th Street
174 ft
·
3 sec
·
South 8th Street
2
Turn straight onto Ann Eliza Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Ann Eliza Street
3
Turn straight
182 ft
·
3 sec
4
Turn straight onto IL 29
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
North 5th Street
5
Continue on IL 29
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
North 8th Street
6
Continue on IL 29
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Radio City Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
8
Merge onto I 474
4.8 mi
·
5 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 160
Toward US 150, IL 9: Pekin
Use 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.7 miles from 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 5.3 and 43.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
5.3 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 474
Merge onto I 474
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
37.1 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
40.9 mi into trip
|
~46m 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
41.3 mi into trip
|
~47m 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
43.3 mi into trip
|
~52m 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
$6.80 one way
$13.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.47 | $14.93 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.37 | $16.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.60 | $19.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.57 | $2.09 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.81 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.09 | $2.78 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Late night in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
2:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
52m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 41.7-mile journey. With no highway time, you'll be navigating through local streets like Ann Eliza Street, North 5th Street, and North 8th Street for the full 45 minutes. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't a factor here, as the route is designed for frequent turns and adjustments rather than sustained speed. This road's personality is that of a typical transition through populated areas, offering a grounded, in-town driving experience rather than an open highway feel.
82% 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: 30.8 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and I 474. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in near I 474.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 43.5 miles you will encounter 6 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 5.3 miles (I 474): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 37.1 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.9 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 Pekin, IL to Bloomington, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Indianapolis along the way.
Indianapolis
37.1 mi in
|
~42m
|
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 52m. Total distance: 43.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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. 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 5.3 miles (I 474): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 37.1 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.9 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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