How far is Elgin, IL from Bloomington, IL?

The driving distance from Elgin, IL to Bloomington, IL is about 154.3 miles (248.3 km), with a travel time of about 02h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 113.5 miles (182.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 55m 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
154.27 mi
02h 27m
Flight
113.51 mi
182.67 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elgin.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
113.51 mi
Kilometers
182.67 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
154.27 mi
Kilometers
248.27 km
Drive Time
02h 27m

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 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bloomington
Wed, Apr 22, 10:39 PM CDT
Return by in Elgin
Thu, Apr 23, 1:06 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elgin
2026-04-22T20:11
Arrive Bloomington
Wed, Apr 22, 10:39 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:28 AM to 12:28 PM CDT

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

Leave by
1:34 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elgin
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
Godley
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Elgin
70.6 mi
01h 13m
To Bloomington
83.7 mi
01h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Wednesday

Sunny

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

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Chicago Street

    10 m · 5 sec · East Chicago Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Villa Street

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Villa Street

  3. 3

    Merge slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

    1583 ft · 29 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

  4. 4

    Continue on West Lake Street

    5.2 mi · 7 min · West Lake Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Lake Street

    6.5 mi · 10 min · Lake Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp right toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet

    1589 ft · 39 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    18.2 mi · 23 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis

    1453 ft · 36 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Joliet Road South

    1965 ft · 48 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    706 ft · 17 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

    100.9 mi · 1 hr 51 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55 Business South: Veterans Parkway, Central Illinois Regional Airport

    3.1 mi · 5 min

  13. 13

    Continue on North Veterans Parkway

    1.4 km · 2 min · North Veterans Parkway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 9 West: Pekin

    731 ft · 22 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto East Empire Street

    1.6 mi · 4 min · East Empire Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto North Clinton Street

    1625 ft · 50 sec · North Clinton Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto East Mulberry Street

    1757 ft · 59 sec · East Mulberry Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto North Prairie Street

    84 m · 14 sec · North Prairie Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto East Douglas Street

    154 m · 24 sec · East Douglas Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto North East Street

    552 ft · 16 sec · North East Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North East Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Elgin 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
21 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
101 mi · 65%
I 355 Toll South
18.5 mi · 12%
Lake Street
6.49 mi · 4%
West Lake Street
5.18 mi · 3%
I 55 Business South
3.14 mi · 2%
Villa Street
2.43 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

101 mi · 01h 51m

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 27m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.8 mi
113.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Godley
01h 13m from Elgin
Leave By
1:34 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 154.3 miles (248.3 km) and usually takes 02h 27m 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?

Godley is a useful midpoint, sitting about 70.6 miles from Elgin and 83.7 miles from Bloomington.

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

The direct path is about 113.5 miles (182.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.8 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:34 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.51 one way or $41.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Godley

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

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

RAIL

Dwight station

22 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Kankakee

34 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

35 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street
RAIL

Pontiac station

52 mi away
721 West Washington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elgin and Bloomington. Straight-line distance: 113.51 mi (182.67 km).

Elgin

#1 Elgin

The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.

Population110,196
Coordinates42.0372500, -88.2811900
Altitude227
CountryUnited States
Bloomington

#2 Bloomington

The second most populous city in McLean County, Illinois.

Population77,132
Coordinates40.4842000, -88.9936900
Altitude243
CountryUnited States
Start: East Chicago Street (-88.281194, 42.037244)
End: North East Street (-88.993738, 40.484193)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 248 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 08m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 55m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.44 gal
20.61 L · about $20.51
Round trip
$41.03
10.88 gal · 41.22 L
Estimated CO2
48.3 kg one way
Round trip: 96.7 kg / 213 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $20.51 $41.03
Mid-grade $4.25 $23.14 $46.27
Premium $4.65 $25.32 $50.64
Diesel $5.30 $28.85 $57.71

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 Elgin and Bloomington. The current time is 20:11:36.

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.