Bloomington, IN to Bolivar, IN is 145.6 miles and takes about 3h 11m via I 69 and SR 13, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a relatively short trip entirely within Indiana, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, so expect a straightforward drive. The route is best suited for those who prefer efficient travel over extensive sightseeing along the way. It's a practical choice for getting from point A to point B within the Midwest.
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
72.8 miles from Bloomington, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
63.8 mi
1h 13m
SR 13
37.1 mi
54m
IN-37
13.7 mi
18m
SR 37
11.7 mi
13m
Manchester Avenue
11.5 mi
17m
North Walnut Street
4.4 mi
6m
South Wabash Street
1.7 mi
2m
East Marion Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 63.8 mi, about 1h 13m
Traffic on I-465
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 80 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,714 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~472 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 48 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IN and Bolivar, IN.
1
Start on this road
99 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto South Indiana Avenue
0.2 mi·39 sec·South Indiana Avenue
3
Turn left onto East 7th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East 7th Street
4
Turn right onto North Walnut Street
4.4 mi·6 min·North Walnut Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
6
Merge onto I 69
48 mi·53 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on I 69; I 465
12 mi·13 min·I 69; I 465
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
4.2 mi·5 min·I 69
Exit 37Toward I 69 North: Fort Wayne
9
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 37
3.4 mi·4 min·IN-37
Exit 205Toward SR 37 North: 116th StreetUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto SR 37
0.6 mi·56 sec·IN-37
11
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 37
9.7 mi·13 min·IN-37
12
Enter roundabout onto SR 37
93 ft·1 sec·SR 37
13
Continue on SR 37
12 mi·13 min·SR 37
14
Turn left onto SR 13
23 mi·34 min·SR 13
15
Turn right onto SR 13; SR 18
0.4 mi·44 sec·East Marion Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto SR 13
14 mi·20 min·SR 13
17
At end of road, turn left onto SR 13; SR 15
1.7 mi·2 min·South Wabash Street
18
Turn right onto BUS US 24; SR 13
12 mi·17 min·Manchester Avenue
19
Turn right onto East 950 North
0.3 mi·1 min·East 950 North
20
Arrive at destination
East 950 North
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 11m estimated drive time, leaving Bloomington in the morning is ideal for arriving in Bolivar with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to make it a quick break or a more leisurely pause. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $23, and plan your fill-up accordingly, especially before embarking on the longest stretch on I 69. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider an early afternoon departure and a brief stop for a snack or to stretch your legs.
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 72.8 miles from Bloomington, IN, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.8 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 32 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.8 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bolivar, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bloomington, 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 Bloomington, IN
This is one driving day of about 145.6 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Bloomington, 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 63.8 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 117.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Indiana Avenue
Turn right onto South Indiana Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
5.4 mi into trip|~9m in|I 69
Merge onto I 69
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
65 mi into trip|~1h 16m in|I 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 North: Fort Wayne
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 37
Toward I 69 North: Fort Wayne
8
69.2 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|SR 37 / IN-37
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 37 / IN-37 toward SR 37 North: 116th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 205
Toward SR 37 North: 116th Street
5
117.3 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|SR 13; SR 18 / East Marion Street
Turn right onto SR 13; SR 18 / East Marion Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.29 one way
$48.58 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$26.40
$52.79
premium
$5.26
$30.15
$60.29
diesel
$6.18
$35.42
$70.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.7
0
$15.29
$6.99
Efficient EV
36.4
0
$12.74
$5.82
EV Truck/SUV
58.2
0
$20.38
$9.32
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Bloomington, IN
Morning
in Bloomington on Monday
Local time
10:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Clear
SE 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bolivar, IN
Morning
in Bolivar on Monday
Local time
10:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Clear
S 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
73°F
Lawrence, IN
73 mi in
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 11m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 drive is predominantly highway, with 87% of the 145.6 miles on faster roads like I 69. You'll experience a longest stretch of 63.8 miles on I 69, offering a good opportunity for consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will likely occur around mile 126, so be prepared for a change in pace as you approach your destination. Expect a more suburban feel with frequent exits on the highway portions.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.8 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and SR 13. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Indiana Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 145.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Indiana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (I 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 65 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Top landmarks
•John L. Nichols House — house in Bloomington, Indiana
•Blair-Dunning House — Historic house in Indiana
•Vinegar Hill Historic District — Indiana historic district
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 145.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63.8 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bolivar, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Indiana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (I 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 65 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Bolivar, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
