How far is Bloomington, IL from Preston, IL?
The driving distance from Bloomington, IL to Preston, IL is about 196.5 miles (316.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 06m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 170.7 miles (274.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 04h 06m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Township in Montgomery County, Illinois
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Partly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Bloomington and Preston.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington and Preston.
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1
Start on North East Street
42 m · 6 sec · North East Street
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2
Continue on North Main Street
121 m · 17 sec · North Main Street
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3
Turn left onto West Chestnut Street
83 m · 19 sec · West Chestnut Street
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4
Turn left onto North Center Street
120 m · 13 sec · North Center Street
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5
Continue on North Madison Street
858 ft · 29 sec · North Madison Street
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6
Turn right onto West Market Street
2903 ft · 1 min · West Market Street
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7
Turn left onto North Morris Avenue
1.7 mi · 4 min · North Morris Avenue
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8
Turn right onto South Veterans Parkway
65.7 mi · 1 hr 12 min · South Veterans Parkway
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9
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
77.9 mi · 1 hr 24 min
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10
Take the exit slight right toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
1434 ft · 48 sec
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11
Continue on Vandalia Street
3 mi · 5 min · Vandalia Street
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12
Continue on South Morrison Avenue
1.3 mi · 2 min · South Morrison Avenue
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13
Continue on North Illinois Street
9.8 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street
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14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Illinois Street
55 m · 5 sec · South Illinois Street
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15
Exit the rotary onto South Illinois Street
8.3 mi · 13 min · South Illinois Street
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16
Continue on State Route 159
6.1 mi · 9 min · State Route 159
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17
Continue on North Main Street
1163 ft · 20 sec · North Main Street
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18
Continue on N Main St
810 ft · 14 sec · N Main St
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19
Continue on Main Street
6.4 mi · 10 min · Main Street
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20
Turn left onto East Market Street
8.7 mi · 13 min · East Market Street
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21
Turn right onto South 5th Street
2135 ft · 59 sec · South 5th Street
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22
Continue on Baldwin Road
5.2 mi · 12 min · Baldwin Road
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23
Turn right onto Preston Road
774 ft · 34 sec · Preston Road
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24
Keep slight right to continue on Preston Road
2070 ft · 2 min · Preston Road
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25
Turn left onto Pautler Road
47 m · 7 sec · Pautler Road
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Pautler Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Bloomington and Preston.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 55 South
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
77.9 mi · 01h 24m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Bloomington and Partly Cloudy near Preston.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Bloomington to Preston?
The road trip is about 196.5 miles (316.2 km) and usually takes 04h 06m 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?
Zanesville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 98.3 miles from Bloomington and 98.2 miles from Preston.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 170.7 miles (274.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.8 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 8:46 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.13 one way or $52.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Bloomington and Partly Cloudy near Preston.
Stop Ideas Near Zanesville
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Zanesville.
Carlinville
Springfield station
Alton
Gateway Transportation Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Bloomington and Preston. Straight-line distance: 170.71 mi (274.73 km).
#1 Bloomington
The second most populous city in McLean County, Illinois.
| Population | 77,132 |
| Coordinates | 40.4842000, -88.9936900 |
| Altitude | 243 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Preston
Unincorporated community in Illinois, United States
| Population | 1,203 |
| Coordinates | 38.1061600, -89.8601000 |
| Altitude | 143 |
| Country | United States |
End: Preston (-89.8601, 38.10616)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 316 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 32m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 55m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 16m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 48m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 27m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $26.13 | $52.27 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $29.47 | $58.95 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $32.25 | $64.50 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $36.76 | $73.51 |
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 · May 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.