Road Trip Cost: Bloomington, Illinois to Lexington, Kentucky

Are you considering taking a road trip from Bloomington, Illinois to Lexington, Kentucky? You may be wondering about the cost of the trip, including the price of gas, the distance, and the route. In this article, we'll break down the different routes available, highlight the cost and distance of each one, and recommend the best route for your trip.

Route Options

The most direct route from Bloomington to Lexington is via I-74 West and I-64 East. This route covers a total distance of around 250 miles. However, there are several alternative routes that you may consider, including:

Route 1: I-55 South

The first alternate route takes you south on I-55 and then east on I-64. This route covers around 280 miles from Bloomington to Lexington. This route takes you through Decatur, Springfield, St. Louis, and Cape Girardeau before crossing over into Kentucky.

Route 2: US-51 South

The second alternative route takes you south on US-51 and east on I-64. This route covers around 300 miles from Bloomington to Lexington. This route takes you through Normal, Lincoln, Springfield, Vandalia, Metropolis, and Paducah before entering into Kentucky.

Route 3: I-65 South

The third alternate route takes you south on I-65 and then east on the Bluegrass Parkway. This route covers around 350 miles from Bloomington to Lexington. This route takes you through Lafayette, Indianapolis, Louisville, Bardstown, and Frankfort before arriving in Lexington.

Gas Prices

Gas prices can vary and can have a significant impact on the cost of your road trip. As of July 2021, the average gas price in Illinois is around $3.25 per gallon, while the average gas price in Kentucky is around $3.07 per gallon. Based on these prices, we can estimate how much you may end up spending on gas for each route.

For the most direct route via I-74 and I-64, assuming your vehicle gets an average of 25 miles per gallon, you would need around 10 gallons of gas to make the trip. This would cost you around $32.50 in Illinois and $30.70 in Kentucky, for a total cost of around $63.

For Route 1 via I-55 and I-64, you would cover around 280 miles. Assuming you get an average of 25 miles per gallon, you would need around 11.2 gallons of gas. This would cost you around $36.40 in Illinois and $34.38 in Kentucky, for a total cost of around $70.

For Route 2 via US-51 and I-64, you would cover around 300 miles. Assuming you get an average of 25 miles per gallon, you would need around 12 gallons of gas. This would cost you around $39 in Illinois and $36.84 in Kentucky, for a total cost of around $76.84.

For Route 3 via I-65 and the Bluegrass Parkway, you would cover around 350 miles. Assuming you get an average of 25 miles per gallon, you would need around 14 gallons of gas. This would cost you around $45.50 in Illinois and $42.98 in Kentucky, for a total cost of around $88.

Conclusion

Based on the above estimates, the most cost-effective route would be the direct route via I-74 and I-64. Although it's a shorter distance, it still takes around 4-5 hours to cover the 250 miles between Bloomington and Lexington, depending on traffic and speed limits. Regardless of which route you choose, be sure to factor in potential costs for food, lodging, and activities during your trip. Safe travels!