Albion, IN to Bloomington, IN is 183.1 miles and takes about 3h 53m via I 69 and SR 9, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mixed drive with a significant portion on the interstate, offering a straightforward journey. Given its manageable length and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
91.6 miles from Albion, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
65.1 mi
1h 14m
South Strawtown Pike
32.9 mi
38m
SR 9
30.9 mi
38m
South State Road 9
17.2 mi
25m
North Baseline Road
16.3 mi
24m
SR 37
12.9 mi
17m
North Walnut Street
3.2 mi
4m
North Main Street
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 65.1 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albion, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on West 300 North
115 ft·7 sec·West 300 North
2
Turn right onto SR 9
0.5 mi·1 min·South Orange Street
3
Continue on SR 9
16 mi·24 min·North Baseline Road
4
Continue on SR 9
1.5 mi·2 min·North Main Street
5
Turn slight right onto SR 9; SR 205
0.2 mi·20 sec·River Street
6
Continue on SR 9
17 mi·25 min·South State Road 9
7
Take the ramp onto SR 9
31 mi·38 min·SR 9
8
Turn slight right onto SR 37
33 mi·38 min·South Strawtown Pike
9
Enter roundabout onto SR 37
105 ft·1 sec·SR 37
10
Continue on SR 37
13 mi·17 min·SR 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 69
3.1 mi·3 min·I 69
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
1.0 mi·1 min·I 69
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on I 69
22 mi·25 min·I 69
Exit 200Toward I 465 South, I 69 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
39 mi·44 min·I 69
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward College Avenue, Walnut Street
16
Turn straight onto North Walnut Street
3.2 mi·4 min·North Walnut Street
17
Continue on North College Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·North College Avenue
18
Turn left onto West 10th Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·West 10th Street
19
Turn right onto North Dunn Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Dunn Street
20
Turn left onto East 4th Street
379 ft·15 sec·East 4th Street
21
Turn straight
99 ft·7 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day trip of under four hours, you have the flexibility to leave whenever is most convenient, though an early start can help you avoid potential traffic. With only one recommended stop, you can make it a quick break or stretch your legs for longer. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially when transitioning from I 69 to the state roads; the longest stretch on the interstate is over 65 miles, so ensure you're fueled up before leaving the main highway. The approximate fuel cost is $29, so budget accordingly.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 91.6 miles from Albion, IN, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 40 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.6 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bloomington, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Albion, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albion, IN
This is one driving day of about 183.1 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Albion, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 69 for about 65.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 99.5 and 177.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
99.5 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|SR 37
Enter roundabout onto SR 37
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
115.5 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|I 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
116.5 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|I 69
Continue onto I 69 toward I 465 South, I 69 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 200
Toward I 465 South, I 69 South
8
138.3 mi into trip|~2h 58m in|I 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 South: Evansville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
5
177.5 mi into trip|~3h 42m in
Take the exit toward College Avenue, Walnut Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward College Avenue, Walnut Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.63 one way
$57.25 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.43
$62.86
premium
$4.89
$35.24
$70.47
diesel
$5.61
$40.43
$80.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.9
0
$19.23
$8.79
Efficient EV
45.8
0
$16.02
$7.32
EV Truck/SUV
73.2
0
$25.63
$11.72
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Albion, IN
Night
in Albion on Saturday
Local time
10:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IN
Night
in Bloomington on Saturday
Local time
10:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
23 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 53m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a mixed drive profile, with 59% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on I 69, including a continuous stretch of 65.1 miles. As you progress, the drive transitions, incorporating local roads like South Strawtown Pike and SR 9. This means you'll experience both faster interstate travel and more winding, potentially slower-paced sections as you approach your destination.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.1 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 99.5 miles in near SR 37.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 183.1 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 99.5 miles (SR 37): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 115.5 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.5 miles (I 69): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Bloomington is a city of 86,000 people (2019) in Southern Indiana. Bloomington is home to the flagship campus of Indiana University (IU) and therefore also the IU Hoosiers sports teams. As it is the largest city in the region, it serves as the de facto employment, service, and shopping center for several adjacent counties.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 53m. Total distance: 183.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.1 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 99.5 miles (SR 37): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 115.5 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.5 miles (I 69): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Bloomington, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
