Bloomington, IN to Carmi, IL is 144 miles and takes about 2h 44m via I 69 and I 64, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive connecting two Midwest locations, primarily on interstate highways. It's a short enough trip that you can easily complete it in a single day, leaving you with plenty of time for your destination. The route is largely focused on efficient travel, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without significant detours.
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 miles from Bloomington, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
95.6 mi
1h 42m
I 64
30.2 mi
32m
South Cross Street
8.6 mi
12m
East Main Street
4.5 mi
6m
Bloomfield Road
1.6 mi
2m
West 2nd Street
0.9 mi
1m
East 3rd Street
0.4 mi
<1m
South Court Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 95.6 mi, about 1h 42m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~759 veh/hr typical
· worst 974
Quietest
1 AM
~88 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 46 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 Carmi, IL.
1
Start on this road
99 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Continue on East 4th Street
379 ft·20 sec·East 4th Street
3
Turn left onto South Dunn Street
403 ft·17 sec·South Dunn Street
4
Turn right onto East 3rd Street
0.4 mi·45 sec·East 3rd Street
5
Turn left onto South College Avenue
0.2 mi·44 sec·South College Avenue
6
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
0.9 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
7
Continue on Bloomfield Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Bloomfield Road
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
9
Merge onto I 69
2.4 mi·2 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
93 mi·1 hr 40 min·I 69
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 21BToward I 64 West: Saint Louis
12
Merge onto I 64
30 mi·32 min·I 64
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 130Toward IL 1: Grayville, Carmi
14
Turn right onto IL 1
0.3 mi·23 sec·South Court Street
15
Continue on IL 1
8.6 mi·12 min·South Cross Street
16
Continue on IL 1; IL 14
4.5 mi·6 min·East Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
IL 1; IL 14
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 44m duration, this is an ideal one-day trip. You can depart anytime and still arrive with ample daylight. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short distance, you have the flexibility to take off when it's most convenient. Plan your fuel stops strategically, as the longest stretch on I 69 is nearly 100 miles; ensuring you have at least a half-tank before embarking on that segment is a good idea. The fuel cost is estimated at $23, so keep that in mind when budgeting for your journey.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 miles from Bloomington, IN, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.6 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 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72 miles or 1h 20m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carmi, IL 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 144 miles and 2h 44m.
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 95.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 130.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South Dunn Street
Turn left onto South Dunn Street
Navigation decision point
5
3.6 mi into trip|~6m in|I 69
Merge onto I 69
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
5.9 mi into trip|~9m in|I 69
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 South: Evansville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
5
99.2 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward I 64 West: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 21B
Toward I 64 West: Saint Louis
6
130.1 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Take the exit toward IL 1: Grayville, Carmi
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 130
Toward IL 1: Grayville, Carmi
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.94 one way
$47.88 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$26.08
$52.16
premium
$5.18
$29.38
$58.77
diesel
$5.35
$30.33
$60.66
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: 50.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.2
0
$15.12
$6.91
Efficient EV
36
0
$12.60
$5.76
EV Truck/SUV
57.6
0
$20.16
$9.22
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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 May 25, 2026
Origin
Bloomington, IN
Afternoon
in Bloomington on Wednesday
Local time
4:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny
ENE 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 25 at 1:16PM EDT until May 26 at 5:36AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 25 at 1:16PM EDT until May 26 at 2:51PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Carmi, IL
Afternoon
in Carmi on Wednesday
Local time
3:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
87°F
Maysville, IN
72 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
10 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
2h 44m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The British flag would not be raised above Fort Sackville Feb. 25, 1779. At 10 A.M., the garrison surrendered to American Colonel George Rogers Clark. His American army, aided by French residents of t...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 64.5
Abraham Lincoln grew from youth to manhood on this southern Indiana soil. Many character and moral traits of one of the world's most respected leaders was formed and nurtured here. Explore Lincoln's b...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 89.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 87% of the drive taking place on interstates. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 95.6 miles on I 69, offering a consistent driving pace. The majority of your journey will be on these high-speed roads, making it a predictable and efficient travel experience. While primarily interstate, the final leg may involve local roads like South Cross Street as you approach Carmi, IL.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.6 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and I 64. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Dunn Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 44m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Dunn Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (I 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 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
The longest stretch is about 95.6 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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.
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 0.1 miles (South Dunn Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (I 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — George Rogers Clark National Historical Park and Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Carmi, IL before heading back.
