Saline, IL to Bloomington, IL is 233.5 miles and takes about 4h 52m via Ken Gray Expressway and US 51, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Illinois for its entirety. Expect a mix of travel speeds, with a significant portion on highways before transitioning to surface roads as you approach Bloomington. It's a straightforward drive, suitable for a single day of travel if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
116.8 miles from Saline, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ken Gray Expressway
61.7 mi
1h 6m
US 51
28.7 mi
33m
North Water Street
27.4 mi
36m
IL 13
18 mi
22m
North 1450 East Road
17.6 mi
23m
South Superior Street
15.1 mi
17m
300E
13.5 mi
15m
County Road 875 East
11.1 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
Ken Gray Expressway
— 61.7 mi, about 1h 6m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,380 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,728
Quietest
2 AM
~240 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 47 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saline, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on Peabody Road
1.1 mi·4 min·Peabody Road
2
Turn left onto US 45
3.7 mi·5 min·US 45
3
Turn left onto Mill Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Mill Street
4
Continue on Carrier Mills Road
2.4 mi·5 min·Carrier Mills Road
5
Turn left onto IL 13
18 mi·22 min·IL 13
6
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
7
Merge onto I 57
41 mi·44 min·Ken Gray Expressway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
20 mi·22 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
10
Merge onto US 50
2.4 mi·2 min·West Main Street
11
Continue on US 50
2.7 mi·3 min·East Poplar Street
12
Continue on US 50
2.7 mi·3 min·Poplar
13
Turn right onto US 51
10 mi·11 min·150E
14
Continue on US 51
13 mi·15 min·300E
15
Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
0.5 mi·35 sec·US 40; US 51; IL 185
16
Turn right onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
1.6 mi·1 min·North Kennedy Boulevard
17
Continue on US 51
11 mi·12 min·County Road 875 East
18
Continue on US 51
15 mi·17 min·South Superior Street
19
Continue on US 51
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 2400 East
20
Continue on US 51
0.6 mi·2 min·Fair Avenue
21
Continue on US 51
0.4 mi·31 sec·South Poplar Street
22
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16
0.4 mi·1 min·East 1st Street
23
Turn left onto US 51; IL 16
382 ft·5 sec·Cedar Street
24
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16
0.5 mi·1 min·Jackson Street
25
Continue on US 51; IL 16
1.0 mi·1 min·North 2600 East Road
26
Turn left onto US 51
29 mi·33 min·US 51
27
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Decatur
28
Keep slight right at fork
144 ft·3 sec
Toward Decatur
29
Turn straight onto US 51 Business
2.6 mi·3 min·South Business Route 51
30
Continue on US 51 Business
0.1 mi·19 sec·South Main Street
31
Continue on US 51 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·South Franklin Street
32
Continue on US 51 Business
27 mi·36 min·North Water Street
33
Continue on US 51
18 mi·23 min·North 1450 East Road
Use the straight lane.
34
Continue on US 51 Business
0.5 mi·1 min·South East Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
35
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 52m estimated drive time, leaving Saline in the morning should allow you to reach Bloomington with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to make it a brief fuel and stretch break or a more substantial meal stop. The $36 fuel cost is a good estimate, but keep an eye on your gauge, especially after the 61.7-mile stretch on Ken Gray Expressway. Since this is a single-day drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time slightly based on your morning's activities.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 116.8 miles from Saline, IL, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.7 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 51 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.8 miles or 2h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 55m
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 Saline, 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 Saline, IL
This is one driving day of about 233.5 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Saline, 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 Ken Gray Expressway for about 61.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 183.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.1 mi into trip|~4m in|US 45
Turn left onto US 45
Navigation decision point
5
68.7 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
5
89.1 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
4
121.7 mi into trip|~2h 27m in|US 40; US 51; IL 185 / North Kennedy Boulevard
Turn right onto US 40; US 51; IL 185 / North Kennedy Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
183.6 mi into trip|~3h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Decatur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Decatur
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.48 one way
$68.97 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$38.07
$76.14
premium
$4.72
$43.35
$86.71
diesel
$4.80
$44.09
$88.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.1
0
$24.52
$11.21
Efficient EV
58.4
0
$20.43
$9.34
EV Truck/SUV
93.4
1
$32.69
$14.94
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Saline, IL
Late night
in Saline on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 7 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Bloomington, IL
Late night
in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 14 mph47% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
64°F
Brownstown, IL
117 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 52m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 a blend, with 49% of it on highways. You'll experience a stretch of 61.7 miles on the Ken Gray Expressway, which will likely feel like more open cruising. The transition to surface roads, like North Water Street, will occur as you get closer to Bloomington. Expect a change in pace and potentially more local traffic as you move away from the highway sections.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.7 mi on Ken Gray Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near US 45.
Driving Effort6/10
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 233.5 miles you will encounter 15 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 1.1 miles (US 45): Navigation decision point; at 68.7 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 89.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
796 ft411 ft
Total Climb
584 ft
Total Descent
200 ft
Highest Point
796 ft
~233.5 mi in
Elevation Range
385 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saline, IL and Bloomington, IL, road signs point toward Sandoval and Decatur.
Sandoval
89.1 mi in|~1h 49m
Decatur
183.1 mi in|~3h 42m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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 4h 52m. Total distance: 233.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.7 miles on Ken Gray Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (US 45): Navigation decision point; at 68.7 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 89.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Bloomington, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
