If you are planning to travel from Upper Alton to Bloomington, prepare for a 149-mile journey through the heart of the Illinois Midwest. This trip typically takes about 2 hours and 27 minutes to complete, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You should budget approximately $22 for fuel to cover the distance. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it offers a distinct change of pace from standard highway travel. Whether you are heading north for business or a visit, the lack of mandatory stops allows you to complete the trip efficiently in one go.
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
74.3 miles from Upper Alton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
126 mi
2h 15m
State Route 140
9.7 mi
13m
South Veterans Parkway
2.5 mi
3m
College Avenue
2.4 mi
3m
West Bethalto Drive
1.8 mi
3m
West MacArthur Drive
1.4 mi
2m
South Main Street
1.3 mi
3m
West Macarthur Drive
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 126 mi, about 2h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Upper Alton, IL and Bloomington, IL.
1
Start on Washington Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Washington Avenue
2
Turn left onto IL 140
2.4 mi·3 min·College Avenue
3
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
1.3 mi·2 min·West Macarthur Drive
4
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
1.4 mi·2 min·West MacArthur Drive
5
Continue on IL 140
1.8 mi·3 min·West Bethalto Drive
6
Continue on IL 140
9.6 mi·13 min·State Route 140
7
Continue on IL 140
0.8 mi·1 min·West State Street
8
Continue on IL 140
443 ft·13 sec·State Route 140
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
10
Merge onto I 55
97 mi·1 hr 44 min·I 55
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi·31 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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
13
Continue on I 55 Business
2.1 mi·3 min·South Veterans Parkway
Exit 157BToward I 55 Business NorthUse the left / straight lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 51 Business
15
Turn left onto US 51 Business
1.3 mi·3 min·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 51 Business
0.5 mi·1 min·South East Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
US 51 Business
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 2-hour and 27-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever it best suits your schedule. Keep in mind that because the entire route is comprised of local roads, travel times can be sensitive to local traffic patterns, so plan accordingly if you are on a tight timeline. You won't need to worry about complex refueling strategies with a $22 estimated fuel cost, though checking your levels before leaving Upper Alton is always a smart move. Given the turn-heavy nature of the roads, ensure your GPS is updated and ready to handle frequent directional changes. Embracing the lack of required stops gives you the freedom to set your own pace for the entire 149-mile trip.
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 74.3 miles from Upper Alton, IL, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126 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 33 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.3 miles or 1h 29m 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 21m
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 Upper Alton, 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 Upper Alton, IL
This is one driving day of about 148.7 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Upper Alton, 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 126 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.8 and 146.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
17.8 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
7
114.8 mi into trip|~2h 13m 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
144.2 mi into trip|~2h 45m 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...
4
144.5 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|I 55 Business / South Veterans Parkway
Continue onto I 55 Business / South Veterans Parkway toward I 55 Business North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Exit 157B
Toward I 55 Business North
4
146.6 mi into trip|~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward US 51 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 51 Business
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.25 one way
$46.50 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.52
$51.05
premium
$4.89
$28.62
$57.23
diesel
$5.61
$32.83
$65.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.6
0
$15.61
$7.14
Efficient EV
37.2
0
$13.01
$5.95
EV Truck/SUV
59.5
0
$20.82
$9.52
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 18, 2026
Origin
Upper Alton, IL
Late night
in Upper Alton on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IL
Late night
in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 15 to 18 mph95% chanceLive forecast
71°F
Springfield, IL
74 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
26 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
2h 54m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate primarily via College Avenue and West MacArthur Drive, keeping your focus sharp as you transition through various local intersections. With no single long, uninterrupted stretch on College Avenue, the drive demands your full attention behind the wheel. The experience is best characterized by its technical, local nature, requiring you to navigate turns frequently throughout the entire 149-mile duration. It is a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local landscape from start to finish.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 126 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and State Route 140. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17.8 miles in.
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 148.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 17.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 114.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.2 miles (I 55 Business / South Veterans Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 54m. Total distance: 148.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m 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 126 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 17.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 114.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.2 miles (I 55 Business / South Veterans Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bloomington, IL before heading back.
