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
$98
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bloomington in March
Estimated hotel price
$98
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 Air France, Aeromexico and Delta. The shortest domestic flight to Bloomington departs from Tampa and takes around 5h 49m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Bloomington. 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 Air France, Aeromexico and Delta. The shortest domestic flight to Bloomington departs from Tampa and takes around 5h 49m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Bloomington. 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.

Airlines serving Bloomington

Lufthansa
Good (7,205 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,354 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,844 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (8,888 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,548 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,287 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,547 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,919 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,044 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,450 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (2,042 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (1,919 reviews)
Qantas Airways
Good (836 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (667 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (12,420 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (541 reviews)
WestJet
Good (2,807 reviews)
Allegiant Air
Good (871 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in popular areas of Bloomington

Most booked hotels in Bloomington

Hyatt Place Bloomington / Normal
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 538 reviews)
$115+
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bloomington
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 297 reviews)
$126+
Hampton Inn & Suites Bloomington-Normal
2 stars
Excellent (8.4, 560 reviews)
$109+
Eastland Suites Hotel & Conference Center
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 554 reviews)
$101+
Comfort Suites Normal
2 stars
Excellent (8.1, 120 reviews)
$80+
Country Inn & Suites Bloomington-Normal Airport
2 stars
Excellent (8, 1338 reviews)
$87+

Renting a car in Bloomington

Renting a car in Bloomington costs $65 per day, on average, or $130 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 3% cheaper than airport locations in Bloomington.

Expect to pay $3.52 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 $42.25 and $56.33. The most frequently booked car type in Bloomington is Mini (Dodge Grand Caravan or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Jeep Compass or similar) are, on average, 47% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Bloomington costs $65 per day, on average, or $130 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 3% cheaper than airport locations in Bloomington.

Expect to pay $3.52 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 $42.25 and $56.33. The most frequently booked car type in Bloomington is Mini (Dodge Grand Caravan or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Jeep Compass or similar) are, on average, 47% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.