How far is Brighton, IL from Bloomington, IL?

The driving distance from Brighton, IL to Bloomington, IL is about 141 miles (226.9 km), with a travel time of about 02h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 116.9 miles (188.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 42m 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
141 mi
02h 21m
Flight
116.92 mi
188.17 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Brighton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
116.92 mi
Kilometers
188.17 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
141 mi
Kilometers
226.91 km
Drive Time
02h 21m

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 02h 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bloomington
Thu, Apr 16, 9:09 AM CDT
Return by in Brighton
Thu, Apr 16, 11:30 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Brighton
2026-04-16T06:48
Arrive Bloomington
Thu, Apr 16, 9:09 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:21 AM to 12:21 PM CDT

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

Leave by
1:48 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Brighton
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
Cotton Hill
IL

Township in Sangamon County, Illinois

From Brighton
70.3 mi
01h 10m
To Bloomington
70.6 mi
01h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph SW
Destination
76°F
Thursday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 to 16 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Market Street

    104 m · 12 sec · North Market Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto South Main Street

    42 m · 6 sec · South Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on North Main Street

    5.3 mi · 8 min · North Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn right

    10.2 mi · 15 min

  5. 5

    Turn left

    16.8 mi · 25 min

  6. 6

    Continue on County Road 1200 N

    115 m · 24 sec · County Road 1200 N

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North: Springfield

    2042 ft · 50 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    73.9 mi · 1 hr 20 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

    29.4 mi · 31 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on South Veterans Parkway

    1680 ft · 21 sec · South Veterans Parkway

  11. 11

    Continue on South Veterans Parkway

    2.1 mi · 3 min · South Veterans Parkway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 51 Business

    1386 ft · 40 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    1.3 mi · 3 min · South Main Street

  14. 14

    Continue on South East Street

    2717 ft · 1 min · South East Street

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North East Street

Car Route Details

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

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
15 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
104 mi · 74%
North Main Street
5.3 mi · 4%
South Veterans Parkway
2.47 mi · 2%
South Main Street
1.32 mi · 1%
South East Street
0.51 mi
US 51 Business
0.26 mi
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Merge slight left

73.9 mi · 01h 20m

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
02h 21m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.1 mi
116.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cotton Hill
01h 10m from Brighton
Leave By
1:48 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Brighton and Chance Rain Showers near Bloomington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 141 miles (226.9 km) and usually takes 02h 21m 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?

Cotton Hill is a useful midpoint, sitting about 70.3 miles from Brighton and 70.6 miles from Bloomington.

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

The direct path is about 116.9 miles (188.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.1 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 1:48 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.74 one way or $37.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 44.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Brighton and Chance Rain Showers near Bloomington.

Stop Ideas Near Cotton Hill

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

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

RAIL

Springfield station

12 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.
RAIL

Carlinville

51 mi away
128 Alton Rd.
RAIL

Lincoln

55 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Alton

98 mi away
3400 College Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Brighton and Bloomington. Straight-line distance: 116.92 mi (188.17 km).

Brighton

#1 Brighton

Village in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States

Population1,967
Coordinates39.0397700, -90.1406600
Altitude202
CountryUnited States
Bloomington

#2 Bloomington

The second most populous city in McLean County, Illinois.

Population77,132
Coordinates40.4842000, -88.9936900
Altitude243
CountryUnited States
Start: North Market Street (-90.140449, 39.039642)
End: North East Street (-88.993738, 40.484193)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 227 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.97 gal
18.83 L · about $18.74
Round trip
$37.48
9.94 gal · 37.66 L
Estimated CO2
44.2 kg one way
Round trip: 88.3 kg / 195 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $18.74 $37.48
Mid-grade $4.25 $21.14 $42.27
Premium $4.65 $23.13 $46.26
Diesel $5.30 $26.36 $52.72

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Brighton and Bloomington. The current time is 06:48:23.

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.