Origin
Rantoul, IL
Morning in Rantoul on Tuesday
Local time
7:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rantoul, IL to Bloomington, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
50.1 mi
81 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rantoul, IL
Radoslaw Sikorski
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel between Rantoul and Bloomington, Illinois, you are in for a straightforward 50.1-mile journey. This drive typically takes about 55 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip rather than an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via local roads like East Champaign Avenue, County Road 3000 North, and East Division Street. With an estimated fuel cost of just $8, it is a budget-friendly way to cross through the heart of the Midwest. Because the entire route remains within the state of Illinois, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 74 | 16.1 mi | 17m |
| East 200 North Road | 13.9 mi | 19m |
| County Road 3000 North | 10.9 mi | 15m |
| East Champaign Avenue | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| South Main Street | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| East Division Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| South East Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Century Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 16.1 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rantoul, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on US 45
64 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Century Boulevard
2
Turn right onto US 136
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
East Champaign Avenue
3
Continue on US 136
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
County Road 3000 North
4
Continue on US 136
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Division Street
5
Continue on US 136
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
County Road 3000 North
6
Continue on US 136
14 mi
·
19 min
·
East 200 North Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 74 West: Bloomington
8
Merge onto I 74
16 mi
·
17 min
·
I 74
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 135
Toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Bloomington
10
Turn right onto US 51 Business
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
South Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on US 51 Business
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South East Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.1 miles from Rantoul, 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 55 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 46.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 136 / East Champaign Avenue
Turn right onto US 136 / East Champaign Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
30.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the ramp toward I 74 West: Bloomington
Navigation decision point
Toward I 74 West: Bloomington
3
30.5 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
I 74
Merge onto I 74
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
46.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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
46.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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
$7.83 one way
$15.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.60 | $17.20 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.64 | $19.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.06 | $22.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 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 | 15 | 0 | $5.26 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $7.01 | $3.21 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Morning in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
7:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Le Roy, IL
25 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
1 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
1h 9m 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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will spend your time navigating smaller roads that demand more active attention than a typical high-speed sprint. Since the path is entirely local, there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway to zone out on; instead, you will experience a series of transitions between county and town roads. This character makes for a more engaged driving experience where you can really see the rural landscape of the region up close. Prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace as you make your way across the 50.1-mile distance.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.1 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 136 / East Champaign Avenue.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Rantoul, IL to Bloomington, IL is easy. At 1h 9m with 32% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 136 / East Champaign Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 30.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 30.5 miles (I 74): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
830 ft
722 ft
Total Climb
143 ft
Total Descent
93 ft
Highest Point
830 ft
~46.5 mi in
Elevation Range
108 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Rantoul, IL
Full guide →Rantoul is a town in Central Illinois.
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 1h 9m. Total distance: 50.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.1 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: near the start (US 136 / East Champaign Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 30.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 30.5 miles (I 74): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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