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 November
Estimated hotel price
$97
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bloomington in November
Estimated hotel price
$97
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 Allegiant Air, American Airlines and Qatar Airways. The shortest domestic flight to Bloomington departs from Tampa and takes around 5h 14m.

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 Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Turo, 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 Allegiant Air, American Airlines and Qatar Airways. The shortest domestic flight to Bloomington departs from Tampa and takes around 5h 14m.

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 Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Turo, 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

KLM
Good (1,406 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,535 reviews)
Delta
Good (7,994 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,483 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,001 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,482 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,394 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,659 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,595 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,155 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,678 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (1,562 reviews)
Qantas Airways
Good (924 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (670 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (519 reviews)
WestJet
Good (3,148 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (11,032 reviews)
Breeze Airways
Excellent (220 reviews)
Allegiant Air
Good (695 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Bloomington

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Comfort Suites Bloomington I-55 and I-74 and Hampton Inn Bloomington-West.

Where to stay in popular areas of Bloomington

Most booked hotels in Bloomington

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bloomington
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, 342 reviews)
$131+
Eastland Suites Hotel & Conference Ctr, Trademark by Wyndham
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 664 reviews)
$121+
Hyatt Place Bloomington / Normal
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 636 reviews)
$112+
Country Inn & Suites Bloomington-Normal Airport
2 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1381 reviews)
$83+
Hampton Inn & Suites Bloomington-Normal
3 stars
Excellent (8, 477 reviews)
$97+
Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
3 stars
Excellent (8, 279 reviews)
$130+

Renting a car in Bloomington

Renting a car in Bloomington costs $75 per day, on average, or $150 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 11% more expensive than at Bloomington-Normal.

Expect to pay $3.41 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 $40.88 and $54.51. The most frequently booked car type in Bloomington is Full-size (Ford Transit or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Toyota Corolla or similar) are, on average, 53% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Bloomington costs $75 per day, on average, or $150 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 11% more expensive than at Bloomington-Normal.

Expect to pay $3.41 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 $40.88 and $54.51. The most frequently booked car type in Bloomington is Full-size (Ford Transit or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Toyota Corolla or similar) are, on average, 53% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Bloomington Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Bloomington city guide for the best Bloomington travel tips. To help you organize your Bloomington trip ideas, this Bloomington visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.