Pittsfield, IL to Bloomington, IL is 136.1 miles and takes about 2h 34m via I 72 and I 55, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward trip primarily on major interstates, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. You can expect a smooth and efficient transit with minimal complications.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
68 miles from Pittsfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 72
76.2 mi
1h 22m
I 55
49.9 mi
53m
North Jackson Street
5 mi
7m
South Veterans Parkway
2.5 mi
3m
South Main Street
1.3 mi
3m
South East Street
0.5 mi
1m
East Adams Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
North Madison Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 72
— 76.2 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pittsfield, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on East Adams Street
267 ft·13 sec·East Adams Street
2
Turn right onto North Madison Street
213 ft·11 sec·North Madison Street
3
Turn right
0.2 mi·42 sec
4
Turn left onto US 54
5.0 mi·7 min·North Jackson Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 72 East, US 36 East: Springfield
6
Merge onto I 72; US 36
76 mi·1 hr 22 min·I 72; US 36
7
Continue on I 55
20 mi·21 min·I 55
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi·31 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 Business
0.3 mi·20 sec·South Veterans Parkway
Exit 157A; 157BToward I 55 Business North, I 74 East: Indianapolis
10
Continue on I 55 Business
2.1 mi·3 min·South Veterans Parkway
Exit 157BToward I 55 Business NorthUse the left / straight lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 51 Business
12
Turn left onto US 51 Business
1.3 mi·3 min·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 51 Business
0.5 mi·1 min·South East Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 34m duration, leaving Pittsfield in the morning allows ample time to reach Bloomington without feeling rushed. With only one stop recommended, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $21, and it's always wise to top off before embarking on longer highway stretches. The efficiency of this route means you can easily adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68 miles from Pittsfield, IL, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.2 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 30 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 3m
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 Pittsfield, 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 Pittsfield, IL
This is one driving day of about 136.1 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Pittsfield, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 72 for about 76.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 131.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Madison Street
Turn right onto North Madison Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
6
5.2 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 72 East, US 36 East: Springfield
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 72 East, US 36 East: Springfield
7
102.2 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
7
131.5 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|I 55 Business / South Veterans Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 Business / South Veterans Parkway toward I 55 Business North, I 74 East: Indianapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 157A; 157B
Toward I 55 Business North, I 74 East: Indianap...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.28 one way
$42.56 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.36
$46.72
premium
$4.89
$26.19
$52.38
diesel
$5.61
$30.05
$60.10
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: 47.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.8
0
$14.29
$6.53
Efficient EV
34
0
$11.91
$5.44
EV Truck/SUV
54.4
0
$19.05
$8.71
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Pittsfield, IL
Late night
in Pittsfield on Tuesday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IL
Late night
in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Grandview, IL
68 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
2 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
2h 34m 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 route is 94% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch on I 72 is 76.2 miles, offering extended periods of cruising. You'll transition to surface roads like North Jackson Street closer to Bloomington, where you'll likely notice more frequent exits and a slight decrease in speed as you approach the city.
94% 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: 76.2 mi on I 72.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 72 and I 55. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Madison Street.
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 136.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (North Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 34m. Total distance: 136.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.2 miles on I 72. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles: 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.
