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, Air France and Aeromexico. The shortest domestic flight to Bloomington departs from Orlando and takes around 4h 26m.

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 Turo 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 Allegiant Air, Air France and Aeromexico. The shortest domestic flight to Bloomington departs from Orlando and takes around 4h 26m.

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 Turo 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 (7,208 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,372 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,135 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,956 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,862 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,466 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,285 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,603 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,109 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,513 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,717 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (1,482 reviews)
Qantas Airways
Good (877 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (655 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (11,091 reviews)
WestJet
Good (2,938 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (494 reviews)
Breeze Airways
Excellent (187 reviews)
Allegiant Air
Good (705 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Bloomington

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Ramada Limited Bloomington and Quality Inn and Suites Bloomington I-55 and I-74.

Where to stay in popular areas of Bloomington

Most booked hotels in Bloomington

Eastland Suites Hotel & Conference Ctr, Trademark by Wyndham
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, 644 reviews)
$139+
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bloomington
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, 331 reviews)
$151+
Hyatt Place Bloomington / Normal
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 614 reviews)
$140+
Country Inn & Suites Bloomington-Normal Airport
2 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1324 reviews)
$98+
Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
3 stars
Excellent (8, 268 reviews)
$150+
Comfort Suites Normal University area
2 stars
Good (7.9, 182 reviews)
$94+

Renting a car in Bloomington

Renting a car in Bloomington costs $77 per day, on average, or $153 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 12% cheaper than airport locations in Bloomington.

Expect to pay $3.48 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 $41.79 and $55.72. The most frequently booked car type in Bloomington is Intermediate (Mazda Mazda3 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Toyota Camry or similar) are, on average, 14% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Bloomington costs $77 per day, on average, or $153 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 12% cheaper than airport locations in Bloomington.

Expect to pay $3.48 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 $41.79 and $55.72. The most frequently booked car type in Bloomington is Intermediate (Mazda Mazda3 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Toyota Camry or similar) are, on average, 14% 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.