Origin
Bloomington, IN
Late night in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bloomington, IN to Carmi, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 44m
Distance
144 mi
232 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 34m
★
6 AM
2h 45m
8 AM
3h 6m
10 AM
2h 52m
12 PM
2h 50m
3 PM
2h 53m
5 PM
3h 5m
8 PM
2h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bloomington, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Carmi, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
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
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 21B
Toward 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 130
Toward 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
72 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 72 miles from Bloomington, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 69 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 95.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 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
$22.51 one way
$45.03 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.72 | $49.44 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.71 | $55.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.79 | $63.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
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, 2026-04-13.
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.
Destination
Carmi, IL
Late night in Carmi on Sunday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
20 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
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.
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
View on nps.gov
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
National Memorial
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
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
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 Effort
4/10
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.
About the Cities
Starting in Bloomington, IN
Full guide →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.
Arriving in Carmi, IL
Full guide →Founded 1816
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 144 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 95.6 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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