Origin
Rome, IL
Late night in Rome on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rome, 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
1h 11m
Distance
56.3 mi
91 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rome, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 56.3-mile drive from Rome, IL to Bloomington, IL takes about 1 hour and 11 minutes and is a perfect day trip. You'll primarily travel on Murray Baker Bridge and North State Route 29, with about 18% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost is around $9, making this an economical option for exploring the Midwest. Given its short duration and straightforward nature, this route is best enjoyed in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. You won't need to worry about overnight stays, and the drive offers a practical way to connect these two Illinois locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Murray Baker Bridge | 33 mi | 36m |
| North Galena Road | 7.8 mi | 11m |
| North State Route 29 | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| I 74 | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| West Market Street | 2 mi | 5m |
| Northeast Jefferson Avenue | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Northeast Adams Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| IL 29 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Murray Baker Bridge
— 33 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rome, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on IL 29
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
North State Route 29
2
Continue on IL 29
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
North State Route 29
3
Continue on IL 29
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
North Galena Road
4
Continue on IL 29
7.3 mi
·
10 min
·
North Galena Road
5
Continue on IL 29
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Adams Street
6
Continue on IL 29
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Northeast Jefferson Avenue
7
Take the ramp onto IL 29
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
IL 29
Toward I 74 East, IL 29 South: Bloomington, Pekin
8
Merge onto I 74; IL 29
33 mi
·
36 min
·
Murray Baker Bridge
9
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
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 160
Toward US 150, IL 9: Pekin
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto US 150; IL 9
2.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West Market Street
Use the left lane.
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 51 Business
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
North East Street
13
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.1 miles from Rome, 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 16.8 and 56.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
16.8 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
IL 29
Take the ramp onto IL 29 toward I 74 East, IL 29 South: Bloomington, Pekin
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 East, IL 29 South: Bloomington, Pek...
6
49.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 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
53.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m 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
54.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m 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
56.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
$8.80 one way
$17.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.66 | $19.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.83 | $21.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.43 | $24.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.93 | $2.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.88 | $3.60 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
2:48 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
1 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
1h 11m 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 on this 56.3-mile route. While 18% of the journey is on highways, much of your time will be spent navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 33 miles on the Murray Baker Bridge, offering a brief period of more consistent travel. As you progress, the road will transition between these highway segments and more intricate local routes, requiring your attention. This dynamic profile means you'll experience a varied driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33 mi on Murray Baker Bridge.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 16.8 miles in near IL 29.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Rome, IL to Bloomington, IL is easy. At 1h 11m with 18% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16.8 miles (IL 29): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.9 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.7 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.
Between Rome, IL and Bloomington, IL, road signs point toward Pekin and Indianapolis.
Pekin
16.8 mi in
|
~24m
|
via IL 29
Indianapolis
49.9 mi in
|
~1h
|
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 1h 11m. Total distance: 56.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (18%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33 miles on Murray Baker Bridge. 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 16.8 miles (IL 29): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.9 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.7 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Bloomington, IL
More from Rome, IL
More trips to Bloomington, IL
Explore more options from Rome, IL or browse trips ending in Bloomington, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.