The Cost of Driving from Champaign, IL to Bloomington, IL

Driving from Champaign to Bloomington can be a fun experience. It's a great opportunity to catch up with friends, explore new places, and enjoy the great scenery Illinois has to offer. But, before hitting the road, it's important to know the cost of the trip. In this post, we'll break things down so you can get a rough idea of how much it costs to make the journey based on current gas prices.

Route through US 51

The distance between Champaign and Bloomington is approximately 47 miles (~76 km) and can take about an hour to drive. If you take this route, expect to spend approximately $8.23 on gas based on an average gas price of $2.26 per gallon. The route doesn't require any tolls, so that is one less expense to worry about.

Route through I-74 W

Another route to consider from Champaign to Bloomington is via I-74 W. Although this route is about 52 miles (~84 km) and takes slightly longer than the previous route at around 1 hour and 10 minutes, it can offer an easier drive. As you join the interstate at Urbana, you can choose to take either I-74 W directly to Bloomington, or to take I-55 N and merge onto Veterans Parkway. This will make your journey slightly longer and costlier at around $9.67 based on an average gas price of $2.26 per gallon. This route doesn't require any tolls either.

Route through I-55 N

The third option is to travel via I-55 N and merge onto Veterans Parkway. This would add a few more miles to your journey but could save time due to increased speeds along the interstate. The distance is about 61 miles (~98km) and will take about an hour and a half to drive. As you will be using the interstate for a majority of this route, it could cost slightly more to fill up your tank at approximately $12.82 based on an average gas price of $2.26 per gallon. However, this route will require you to pay a toll of $2.90 at the I-55 N exit.

Conclusion

From the above routes considered, driving from Champaign, IL to Bloomington, IL is not particularly expensive with the cost of gas and toll being reasonable. It's important to consider your preferred travel time, convenience, and distance while making your decision. Safe travels!