How far is Bloomington, IL from Tower Lake, IL?

The driving distance from Bloomington, IL to Tower Lake, IL is about 152.9 miles (246.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 128.4 miles (206.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 10m 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
152.92 mi
03h 05m
Flight
128.41 mi
206.65 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
128.41 mi
Kilometers
206.65 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
152.92 mi
Kilometers
246.1 km
Drive Time
03h 05m

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 03h 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tower Lake
Sun, Apr 19, 8:10 PM CDT
Return by in Bloomington
Sun, Apr 19, 11:15 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bloomington
2026-04-19T17:05
Arrive Tower Lake
Sun, Apr 19, 8:10 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:05 AM to 11:05 AM CDT

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

Leave by
10:50 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
Diamond
IL

Village in Illinois, USA

From Bloomington
76.5 mi
01h 32m
To Tower Lake
76.4 mi
01h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
54°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 to 18 mph WNW
Destination
50°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington and Tower Lake.

  1. 1

    Start on North East Street

    42 m · 6 sec · North East Street

  2. 2

    Continue on North Main Street

    3.6 mi · 9 min · North Main Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North: Chicago

    2654 ft · 1 min

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    103.2 mi · 1 hr 53 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs

    2797 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 355 North: Northwest Suburbs

    1.2 mi · 3 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Tollway

    19.2 mi · 24 min · Veterans Memorial Tollway

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    5.6 mi · 7 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    8.9 mi · 12 min

  10. 10

    Continue on Lake Cook Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Lake Cook Road

  11. 11

    Continue on North Rand Road

    4.4 mi · 5 min · North Rand Road

  12. 12

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    2018 ft · 53 sec · West Main Street

  13. 13

    Continue on State Route 22

    1.1 mi · 2 min · State Route 22

  14. 14

    Turn right

    3.3 mi · 5 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Essex Drive

    23 m · 9 sec · Essex Drive

  16. 16

    Turn left onto North Gateway Drive

    93 m · 13 sec · North Gateway Drive

  17. 17

    Turn slight right onto East Tower Drive

    1308 ft · 58 sec · East Tower Drive

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Tower Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
104 mi · 68%
Veterans Memorial Tollway
33.7 mi · 22%
North Rand Road
4.42 mi · 3%
North Main Street
3.57 mi · 2%
I 355 North
1.17 mi · 1%
State Route 22
1.09 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Merge slight left

103 mi · 01h 53m

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
03h 05m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.5 mi
128.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Diamond
01h 32m from Bloomington
Leave By
10:50 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Bloomington and Mostly Sunny near Tower Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bloomington to Tower Lake?

The road trip is about 152.9 miles (246.1 km) and usually takes 03h 05m 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?

Diamond is a useful midpoint, sitting about 76.5 miles from Bloomington and 76.4 miles from Tower Lake.

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

The direct path is about 128.4 miles (206.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.5 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 10:50 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.36 one way or $40.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Bloomington and Mostly Sunny near Tower Lake.

Stop Ideas Near Diamond

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

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

RAIL

Dwight station

26 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

30 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street
RAIL

Kankakee

37 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Plano

48 mi away
101 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bloomington and Tower Lake. Straight-line distance: 128.41 mi (206.65 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 Tower Lake

Lake in Marquette County, Michigan, United States of America

Population1,283
Coordinates42.2319700, -88.1520200
Altitude238
CountryUnited States
Start: Bloomington (-88.99369, 40.4842)
End: Tower Lake (-88.15202, 42.23197)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 246 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 05m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.4 gal
20.43 L · about $20.36
Round trip
$40.73
10.8 gal · 40.86 L
Estimated CO2
48 kg one way
Round trip: 96 kg / 212 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $20.36 $40.73
Mid-grade $4.25 $22.97 $45.93
Premium $4.65 $25.13 $50.26
Diesel $5.30 $28.64 $57.28

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Bloomington and Tower Lake. The current time is 17:05:20.

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.