How far is Bloomington, IL from Lake of the Woods, IL?

The driving distance from Bloomington, IL to Lake of the Woods, IL is about 43 miles (69.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 38.1 miles (61.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
43.03 mi
00h 55m
Flight
38.1 mi
61.32 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bloomington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
38.1 mi
Kilometers
61.32 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
43.03 mi
Kilometers
69.25 km
Drive Time
00h 55m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lake of the Woods
Sat, Apr 18, 12:27 AM CDT
Return by in Bloomington
Sat, Apr 18, 1:22 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bloomington
2026-04-17T23:31
Arrive Lake of the Woods
Sat, Apr 18, 12:27 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:56 AM to 10:56 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:38 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bloomington
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Empire
IL

Township in McLean County, Illinois

From Bloomington
21.5 mi
00h 27m
To Lake of the Woods
21.6 mi
00h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 18 mph S
Destination
83°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 18 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bloomington and Lake of the Woods.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington and Lake of the Woods.

  1. 1

    Start on North East Street

    42 m · 6 sec · North East Street

  2. 2

    Continue on North Main Street

    121 m · 17 sec · North Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Chestnut Street

    83 m · 19 sec · West Chestnut Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto North Center Street

    120 m · 13 sec · North Center Street

  5. 5

    Continue on North Madison Street

    2444 ft · 1 min · North Madison Street

  6. 6

    Continue on South Center Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · South Center Street

  7. 7

    Continue on South Main Street

    1.8 mi · 4 min · South Main Street

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 74 East: Champaign

    2075 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    35.9 mi · 39 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 47: Mahomet

    1750 ft · 38 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right onto North Lombard Street

    2121 ft · 1 min · North Lombard Street

  12. 12

    At the end of the road, turn left onto East Oak Street

    2380 ft · 56 sec · East Oak Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto South Lake of the Woods Road

    1.8 mi · 4 min · South Lake of the Woods Road

  14. 14

    Turn right

    92 m · 24 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left

    42 m · 10 sec

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bloomington and Lake of the Woods.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
16 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
37.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 74 East
36.3 mi · 84%
South Main Street
1.81 mi · 4%
South Lake of the Woods Road
1.8 mi · 4%
South Center Street
1.13 mi · 3%
North Madison Street
0.46 mi · 1%
East Oak Street
0.45 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 74 East

Merge slight left

35.9 mi · 00h 39m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 55m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.9 mi
38.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Empire
00h 27m from Bloomington
Leave By
4:38 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Bloomington and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lake of the Woods.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bloomington to Lake of the Woods?

The road trip is about 43 miles (69.2 km) and usually takes 00h 55m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Empire is a useful midpoint, sitting about 21.5 miles from Bloomington and 21.6 miles from Lake of the Woods.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 38.1 miles (61.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:38 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.73 one way or $11.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 13.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Bloomington and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lake of the Woods.

Stop Ideas Near Empire

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Empire, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Empire.

RAIL

Uptown Station

33 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

45 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

46 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Lincoln

58 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bloomington and Lake of the Woods. Straight-line distance: 38.1 mi (61.32 km).

Bloomington

#1 Bloomington

The second most populous city in McLean County, Illinois.

Population77,132
Coordinates40.4842000, -88.9936900
Altitude243
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Lake of the Woods

Census designated place in Illinois, United States

Population2,912
Coordinates40.2064200, -88.3686700
Altitude228
CountryUnited States
Start: Bloomington (-88.99369, 40.4842)
End: Lake of the Woods (-88.36867, 40.20642)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 69 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.52 gal
5.75 L · about $5.73
Round trip
$11.46
3.04 gal · 11.5 L
Estimated CO2
13.5 kg one way
Round trip: 27 kg / 60 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $5.73 $11.46
Mid-grade $4.25 $6.46 $12.93
Premium $4.65 $7.07 $14.15
Diesel $5.30 $8.06 $16.12

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Bloomington and Lake of the Woods. The current time is 23:31:28.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.