Traveling from Riverdale to Bloomington covers 127.3 miles through the heart of the Midwest, typically taking about 2 hours and 6 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate sprint, you should plan for a full day of travel if you intend to explore your destination. Budget approximately $19 for fuel to complete the journey. Since the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. Expect a steady pace as you navigate away from the suburban landscape toward the central Illinois plains.
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
61.7 miles from Riverdale, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
82.3 mi
1h 28m
I 80
25.3 mi
30m
I 57
3.7 mi
5m
I 55 Business
3.1 mi
5m
East 147th Street
2.1 mi
4m
East Empire Street
1.6 mi
3m
North Veterans Parkway
0.9 mi
1m
Halsted Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 82.3 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverdale, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on West 144th Street
37 ft·6 sec·West 144th Street
2
Continue on West 144th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·West 144th Street
Use the left lane.
3
At end of road, turn left onto IL 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Halsted Street
4
Turn right onto IL 83
2.1 mi·4 min·East 147th Street
5
Turn left
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 57 South
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 294 Toll South, I 57 South: Indiana, MemphisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
8
Merge onto I 57
3.7 mi·5 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·45 sec
Exit 345BToward I 80 West: IowaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 80
25 mi·30 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 126AToward I 55 South: Saint Louis
12
Merge onto I 55
82 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 55
Use the right lane.
13
Take the exit onto I 55 Business
3.1 mi·5 min·I 55 Business
Exit 167Toward I 55 Business South: Veterans Parkway, Central Illinois Regional AirportUse the slight right lane.
14
Continue on I 55 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·North Veterans Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·22 sec
Toward IL 9 West: PekinUse the right lane.
16
Turn straight onto IL 9
1.6 mi·3 min·East Empire Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto US 150
0.3 mi·50 sec·North Clinton Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto East Mulberry Street
0.3 mi·59 sec·East Mulberry Street
19
Turn left onto North Prairie Street
275 ft·14 sec·North Prairie Street
20
Turn right onto East Douglas Street
504 ft·23 sec·East Douglas Street
21
Turn right onto US 51 Business
0.1 mi·15 sec·North East Street
22
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Trip Plan
Since this 127.3-mile trip is entirely local, your departure time is flexible, though leaving during off-peak hours will help you manage the frequent turns more comfortably. You do not need to worry about long, grueling stretches, as there are no extended highway segments to navigate. Ensure your tank is ready for the $19 fuel expense before you head out, as local roads may not offer the same quick-access service stations found on major interstates. Use the lack of scheduled stops to your advantage by planning your own breaks whenever you need to stretch your legs. Keep a close eye on your navigation app, as the turn-heavy nature of the route requires constant attention to your upcoming maneuvers.
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 61.7 miles from Riverdale, IL, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.3 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 27 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.7 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
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 Riverdale, 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 Riverdale, IL
This is one driving day of about 123.4 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Riverdale, 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 55 for about 82.3 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 122.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.7 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 294 Toll South, I 57 South: Indiana, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 294 Toll South, I 57 South: Indiana, M...
7
8.3 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Iowa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 345B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
8
116.7 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|I 55 Business
Take the exit onto I 55 Business toward I 55 Business South: Veterans Parkway, Central Illinois Regional Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 167
Toward I 55 Business South: Veterans Parkway, C...
6
120.8 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Take the exit toward IL 9 West: Pekin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward IL 9 West: Pekin
6
122.5 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|US 150 / North Clinton Street
Turn left onto US 150 / North Clinton Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.29 one way
$38.58 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.18
$42.36
premium
$4.89
$23.75
$47.49
diesel
$5.61
$27.25
$54.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37
0
$12.96
$5.92
Efficient EV
30.9
0
$10.80
$4.94
EV Truck/SUV
49.4
0
$17.28
$7.90
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Riverdale, IL
Morning
in Riverdale on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IL
Morning
in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21 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 30m 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?
Prepare for a hands-on driving experience, as this route consists entirely of local roads without any highway stretches. You will navigate using West 144th Street, Halsted Street, and East 147th Street to transition between points. Because the profile is defined as a turn-heavy local drive, you will spend more time adjusting to intersection changes than you would on a standard interstate. Stay focused behind the wheel, as the lack of highway miles means you will be consistently managing speed through varying local zones. This path offers a grounded, back-roads perspective of the region that feels distinct from the monotony of major expressways.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.3 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 80. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 123.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.7 miles (I 55 Business): 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.
On the drive from Riverdale, IL to Bloomington, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Illinois Regional Airport along the way.
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 30m. Total distance: 123.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.3 miles on I 55. 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.
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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.7 miles (I 55 Business): 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.
