How far is Bloomington, IL from Metropolis, IL?

The driving distance from Bloomington, IL to Metropolis, IL is about 256 miles (412 km), with a travel time of about 05h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 230.7 miles (371.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
255.99 mi
05h 07m
Flight
230.72 mi
371.31 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bloomington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
230.72 mi
Kilometers
371.31 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
255.99 mi
Kilometers
411.98 km
Drive Time
05h 07m

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 05h 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Metropolis
Thu, Apr 23, 2:01 AM CDT
Return by in Bloomington
Thu, Apr 23, 7:08 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bloomington
2026-04-22T20:53
Arrive Metropolis
Thu, Apr 23, 2:01 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:07 AM to 1:07 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:46 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bloomington
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Patoka
IL

Township in Marion County, Illinois

From Bloomington
128.1 mi
02h 33m
To Metropolis
127.9 mi
02h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 mph SW
Destination
78°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bloomington and Metropolis.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington and Metropolis.

  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

    16.5 mi · 21 min · South Main Street

  8. 8

    Continue on North Walnut Street

    23.2 mi · 30 min · North Walnut Street

  9. 9

    Turn straight

    9.9 mi · 15 min

  10. 10

    Take the ramp straight toward South Business Route 51

    19.6 mi · 24 min · South Business Route 51

  11. 11

    Continue on North 2600 East Rd

    7.9 mi · 9 min · North 2600 East Rd

  12. 12

    Turn right onto North 2600 East Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · North 2600 East Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Jackson Street

    2668 ft · 2 min · Jackson Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Cedar Street

    142 m · 8 sec · Cedar Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto East 1st Street

    2150 ft · 1 min · East 1st Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto South Poplar Street

    2138 ft · 30 sec · South Poplar Street

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Fair Avenue

    3070 ft · 2 min · Fair Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on County Road 2400 E

    2 mi · 3 min · County Road 2400 E

  19. 19

    Continue on 300 East Road

    15.1 mi · 17 min · 300 East Road

  20. 20

    Continue on County Road 875 East

    11.1 mi · 13 min · County Road 875 East

  21. 21

    Continue on North Kennedy Boulevard

    1.5 mi · 2 min · North Kennedy Boulevard

  22. 22

    Turn left onto West Gallatin Street

    2405 ft · 34 sec · West Gallatin Street

  23. 23

    Turn right

    554 ft · 7 sec

  24. 24

    Continue on United States Highway 51

    13.4 mi · 15 min · United States Highway 51

  25. 25

    Continue on 250E

    10.4 mi · 12 min · 250E

  26. 26

    Turn left

    7.6 mi · 9 min

  27. 27

    Take the exit left

    1847 ft · 45 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left

    24.5 mi · 27 min

  29. 29

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    47.2 mi · 51 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  30. 30

    Take the exit slight right toward I 24 East: Nashville

    1.4 mi · 1 min

  31. 31

    Continue straight

    35.6 mi · 38 min

  32. 32

    Take the exit slight right toward US 45: Metropolis, Brookport, Rest Area, Welcome Center

    1848 ft · 40 sec

  33. 33

    Turn right onto United States Route 45

    1.6 mi · 3 min · United States Route 45

  34. 34

    Turn right onto East 12th Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · East 12th Street

  35. 35

    Turn left onto Ferry Street

    2746 ft · 1 min · Ferry Street

  36. 36

    Turn right onto West 5th Street

    14 m · 1 sec · West 5th Street

  37. 37

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 5th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bloomington and Metropolis.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
37 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Ken Gray Expressway
47.2 mi · 18%
I 24 East
37 mi · 14%
250E
35.2 mi · 14%
North Walnut Street
23.2 mi · 9%
South Business Route 51
19.6 mi · 8%
South Main Street
16.5 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Ken Gray Expressway

Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

47.2 mi · 00h 51m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 07m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.3 mi
230.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Patoka
02h 33m from Bloomington
Leave By
6:46 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny leaving Bloomington and Sunny near Metropolis.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bloomington to Metropolis?

The road trip is about 256 miles (412 km) and usually takes 05h 07m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Patoka is a useful midpoint, sitting about 128.1 miles from Bloomington and 127.9 miles from Metropolis.

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

The direct path is about 230.7 miles (371.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.3 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:46 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.05 one way or $68.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny around Bloomington and Sunny near Metropolis.

Stop Ideas Near Patoka

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Patoka, 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 Patoka.

RAIL

Centralia station

26 mi away
108 East Broadway
BUS

Mt. Vernon, IL

51 mi away
102 Potomac Boulevard
RAIL

Effingham

62 mi away
401 West National Ave.
RAIL

Du Quoin

84 mi away
20 North Chestnut St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bloomington and Metropolis. Straight-line distance: 230.72 mi (371.31 km).

Bloomington

#1 Bloomington

The second most populous city in McLean County, Illinois.

Population77,132
Coordinates40.4842000, -88.9936900
Altitude243
CountryUnited States
Metropolis

#2 Metropolis

Very large and significant city or urban area usually with millions of inhabitants

Population5,885
Coordinates37.1511700, -88.7320000
Altitude110
CountryUnited States
Start: Bloomington (-88.99369, 40.4842)
End: Metropolis (-88.732, 37.15117)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 412 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.03 gal
34.19 L · about $34.05
Round trip
$68.10
18.06 gal · 68.38 L
Estimated CO2
80.2 kg one way
Round trip: 160.5 kg / 354 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $34.05 $68.10
Mid-grade $4.25 $38.40 $76.81
Premium $4.65 $42.03 $84.05
Diesel $5.30 $47.90 $95.79

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Bloomington and Metropolis. The current time is 20:53:48.

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.