Bloomington travel guide

Bloomington Tourism | Bloomington Guide

You're Going to Love Bloomington

With a population of 76,610, Bloomington is a must-see destination in Illinois, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Bloomington deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Where to Eat in Bloomington

If you’re looking for affordable options, Biaggi's - Bloomington (1501 North Veterans Parkway) and DESTIHL-Normal (318 Towanda Ave) are great picks.

When to visit Bloomington

Bloomington in March
Estimated hotel price
$95
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bloomington in March
Estimated hotel price
$95
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Bloomington in July, when the average temperature is 75.2 °F, and the highest can go up to 87.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 19.4 °F, with an average temperature of 26.6 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in May, when precipitation is around 3.9″. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Bloomington, with an average rainfall of 1.6″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Bloomington

Plane

When flying to Bloomington, you’ll arrive at Bloomington-Normal (BMI), which is located 4 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Bloomington include Korean Air, Frontier and American Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Bloomington departs from Portland and takes around 5h 31m.

Train

The train station in Bloomington is called Bloomington Normal, and is located 1.8 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Bloomington is to pick up a car rental from Chicago, which is about 119 miles from Bloomington. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Chicago.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Bloomington Normal - Greyhound Bus Station, located 0.4 miles from downtown Bloomington. Bloomington Pilot Travel Center is also a commonly used station, and is 1.3 miles from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Bloomington, you’ll arrive at Bloomington-Normal (BMI), which is located 4 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Bloomington include Korean Air, Frontier and American Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Bloomington departs from Portland and takes around 5h 31m.

Train

The train station in Bloomington is called Bloomington Normal, and is located 1.8 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Bloomington is to pick up a car rental from Chicago, which is about 119 miles from Bloomington. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Chicago.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Bloomington Normal - Greyhound Bus Station, located 0.4 miles from downtown Bloomington. Bloomington Pilot Travel Center is also a commonly used station, and is 1.3 miles from the city center.

Airports near Bloomington

Airlines serving Bloomington

Lufthansa
Good (4,691 reviews)
KLM
Good (848 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,554 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,617 reviews)
Air France
Good (981 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,963 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,122 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,454 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (1,358 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (774 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (969 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (811 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (775 reviews)
Qantas Airways
Good (549 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (5,790 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (497 reviews)
WestJet
Good (1,942 reviews)
Allegiant Air
Good (436 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in popular areas of Bloomington

Most booked hotels in Bloomington

Hampton Inn & Suites Bloomington-Normal
2 stars
Excellent (8.5, 572 reviews)
$125+
DoubleTree by Hilton Bloomington
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 205 reviews)
$162+
Hyatt Place Bloomington / Normal
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 439 reviews)
$130+
Eastland Suites Hotel & Conference Center
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 458 reviews)
$101+
Best Western Plus Bloomington East Hotel
2 stars
Excellent (8, 653 reviews)
$78+
Country Inn & Suites Bloomington-Normal Airport
2 stars
Good (7.9, 1118 reviews)
$100+

Renting a car in Bloomington

Renting a car in Bloomington costs $60 per day, on average, or $120 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 10% cheaper than airport locations in Bloomington.

Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Bloomington (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Bloomington is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Chevrolet Spark or similar) are, on average, 47% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Bloomington costs $60 per day, on average, or $120 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 10% cheaper than airport locations in Bloomington.

Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Bloomington (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Bloomington is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Chevrolet Spark or similar) are, on average, 47% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.