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Trip from Bloomington, IN to Delaware, IN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 4m

Distance

82.8 mi

133 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 55m ★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 22m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 21m
8 PM
1h 59m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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county seat of Monroe County, Indiana, United States

Bloomington, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Delaware, IN, IN

Delaware, IN

Christopher Santiago

Trip Overview

Bloomington, IN to Delaware, IN is 82.8 miles and takes about 2h 4m via SR 46, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Indiana, offering a straightforward drive. The route is primarily surface roads with a significant portion on SR 46, making it a practical choice for a short, uncomplicated excursion. You'll spend most of your time on local roads, so expect a slower pace than a pure interstate trip. It's a good option if you're looking for a quick drive without extensive planning.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

41.4 miles from Bloomington, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
SR 46 35.7 mi 48m
County Road 700 South 8.9 mi 13m
Madison Street 5.5 mi 8m
Beech Street 5.1 mi 8m
County Road 50 North 4.4 mi 7m
West Millhousen Road 3.6 mi 5m
East County Road 820 South 2.9 mi 5m
West County Road 800 South 2.8 mi 3m
Longest stretch: SR 46 — 35.7 mi, about 48m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IN and Delaware, 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

19 mi · 29 min · SR 46; SR 135
9

Turn slight left onto Central Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Central Avenue
10

Turn right onto 8th Street

0.5 mi · 56 sec · 8th Street
11

Turn straight onto 10th Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · 10th Street
12

Turn right onto US 31

0.4 mi · 37 sec · North National Road
13

Turn left onto County Road 50 North

4.4 mi · 7 min · County Road 50 North
14

At end of road, turn left onto County Road 650 East

1.0 mi · 1 min · County Road 650 East
15

Turn right onto 25th Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · 25th Street
16

Continue on SR 46

2.0 mi · 2 min · SR 46
17

Turn right onto County Road 925 East

0.2 mi · 31 sec · County Road 925 East
18

Continue on County Road 200 North

2.8 mi · 4 min · County Road 200 North
19

At end of road, turn left onto County Road 1100 West

261 ft · 9 sec · County Road 1100 West
20

Turn right onto County Road 700 South

8.9 mi · 13 min · County Road 700 South
21

At end of road, turn right onto South County Road 60 Southwest

0.4 mi · 35 sec · South County Road 60 Southwest
22

Turn right onto South County Road 200 West

0.8 mi · 1 min · South County Road 200 West
23

Turn left onto West County Road 800 South

2.8 mi · 3 min · West County Road 800 South
24

Turn right onto South County Road 60 East

0.1 mi · 14 sec · South County Road 60 East
25

Turn left onto East County Road 820 South

1.8 mi · 3 min · East County Road 820 South
26

Turn left onto South County Road 210 Southeast

323 ft · 10 sec · South County Road 210 Southeast
27

Turn right onto East County Road 820 South

1.1 mi · 1 min · East County Road 820 South
28

Continue on West County Line Road

1.1 mi · 1 min · West County Line Road
29

Turn right onto West Millhousen Road

3.6 mi · 5 min · West Millhousen Road
30

Continue on Wilson Street

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Wilson Street
31

Turn right onto US 421

5.5 mi · 8 min · Madison Street
32

Turn left onto SR 350

5.1 mi · 8 min · Beech Street
33

Turn left onto North Delaware College Street

275 ft · 17 sec · North Delaware College Street
34

Turn left onto East Delaware 2nd Street

44 ft · 2 sec · East Delaware 2nd Street
35

Arrive at destination

East Delaware 2nd Street

Trip Plan

Given its short duration of just over two hours, this trip is easily completed in a single day, so you can leave whenever is most convenient. There are no designated stops included, so you can choose to make spontaneous breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before heading out, as the estimated cost is $13 and service areas might be less frequent on the surface road sections. The longest stretch on SR 46 is about 35.7 miles, so plan for that continuous driving period. Since it's a quick drive, you have the flexibility to depart later in the morning or early afternoon.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.4 miles from Bloomington, IN, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.7 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 18 miles or 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 41.4 miles or 59m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Delaware, 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 82.8 miles and 2h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Bloomington, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on SR 46 for about 35.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Bethany, IN, IN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bethany, IN

41 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

Nashville, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Columbus, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41.4 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 23

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 82.8 — 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

5
60.2 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in | South County Road 60 Southwest

At end of road, turn right onto South County Road 60 Southwest

Navigation decision point

5
82.8 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in | East Delaware 2nd Street

Turn left onto East Delaware 2nd Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.84 one way

$25.67 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.32 $14.08 $28.15
premium $4.93 $16.06 $32.13
diesel $5.60 $18.25 $36.50

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.8 0 $8.69 $3.97
Efficient EV 20.7 0 $7.25 $3.31
EV Truck/SUV 33.1 0 $11.59 $5.30

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 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 Aug 26, 2026

Origin

Bloomington, IN

Evening in Bloomington on Friday

Local time

8:30 PM

EDT

Current temp

86°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 6 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 26 at 10:55AM CDT until August 30 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 26 at 9:14AM CDT until August 27 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN

Destination

Delaware, IN

Evening in Delaware on Friday

Local time

8:30 PM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 26 at 10:55AM CDT until August 30 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 26 at 9:14AM CDT until August 27 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis 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

2h 4m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is a mixed highway and surface road experience, with 43% of it on highways. You'll encounter a 35.7-mile stretch on SR 46, which is the longest continuous section. After that, you'll transition to surface roads, including County Road 700 South and Madison Street. Drivers will notice the shift from more open highway driving to navigating through smaller communities and rural areas as the highway portion concludes.

43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.7 mi on SR 46.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 4m drive. You will face about 23 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 1 miles (South Mitchell Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (East 3rd Street): Navigation decision point.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

998 ft 571 ft

Total Climb

514 ft

Total Descent

356 ft

Highest Point

998 ft

~71 mi in

Elevation Range

427 ft

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

Arriving in Delaware, IN

Full guide →

Delaware has beautiful beaches and parks. The more popular beaches are in: Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach. Most parks in Delaware's very extensive and well maintained park system are free or low-cost. The First State National Historical Park a group of historical sites that cover the early colonial history of Delaware and the role Delaware played in the establishment of the United States, leading up to it being the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. It is one of the smallest states in the United States. It has beautiful beaches, and activities vary from business-friendly Wilmington to the rural southern parts of the state.

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 4m. Total distance: 82.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (43%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 35.7 miles on SR 46. 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 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 Delaware, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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