Origin
Bloomington, IN
Late night in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
5:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bloomington, IN to Columbus, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
36.9 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bloomington, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Columbus, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 36.9-mile drive from Bloomington, IN to Columbus, IN is easily manageable in about 50 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on SR 46 for most of the journey. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $6, this route offers a quick and efficient way to travel between these two Midwest towns. Given its short duration and lack of designated stops, you can depart and arrive on your own schedule. Consider this a simple, functional transit rather than a destination in itself.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| SR 46 | 33.1 mi | 44m |
| East 3rd Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| East Atwater Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Dunn Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Mitchell Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 4th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
SR 46
— 33.1 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IN and Columbus, IN.
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
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
South Dunn Street
4
Continue on East Atwater Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Atwater Avenue
5
Turn left onto South Mitchell Street
438 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Mitchell Street
6
Turn right onto East 3rd Street
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
East 3rd Street
7
Continue on SR 46
15 mi
·
16 min
·
SR 46
8
Continue on SR 46; SR 135
18 mi
·
27 min
·
SR 46; SR 135
9
Turn left onto Washington Street
391 ft
·
24 sec
·
Washington Street
10
Turn left onto SR 46
100 ft
·
1 sec
·
3rd Street
11
Arrive at destination
SR 46
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Bloomington, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 36.8 — 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
4
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
South Mitchell Street
Turn left onto South Mitchell Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
East 3rd Street
Turn right onto East 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
4
36.8 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
Washington Street
Turn left onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
36.8 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
SR 46 / 3rd Street
Turn left onto SR 46 / 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.77 one way
$11.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.33 | $12.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.10 | $14.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.15 | $16.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.87 | $1.77 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.23 | $1.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Columbus, IN
Late night in Columbus on Tuesday
Local time
5:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Nashville, IN
18 mi in
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
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
50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 90% of the route utilizing main roads like SR 46, East 3rd Street, and East Atwater Avenue. The bulk of your travel, a continuous 33.1 miles, will be on SR 46. This suggests a consistent pace and minimal interruptions for the majority of the drive. The road character is likely to remain similar throughout, offering a straightforward driving experience without significant shifts in terrain or road type.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.1 mi on SR 46.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on SR 46 and East 3rd Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Dunn Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bloomington, IN to Columbus, IN is easy. At 50m with 90% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Dunn Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (South Mitchell Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (East 3rd Street): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Bloomington, IN
Full guide →Founded 1818
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
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 50m. Total distance: 36.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.1 miles on SR 46. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Dunn Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (South Mitchell Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (East 3rd Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbus, IN 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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