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Trip from Bluffton, IN to Bloomington, IN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 13m

Distance

164.4 mi

265 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 1m ★
6 AM
3h 13m
8 AM
3h 37m
10 AM
3h 21m
12 PM
3h 19m
3 PM
3h 23m
5 PM
3h 36m
8 PM
3h 6m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Harrison and Lancaster townships, Wells County, Indiana, United States

Bluffton, IN

Wikimedia Commons

county seat of Monroe County, Indiana, United States

Bloomington, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 164.4-mile drive from Bluffton, Indiana, to Bloomington, Indiana, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day. With an estimated duration of 3 hours and 13 minutes, it's well-suited for a day trip, allowing you to focus on your destination. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 89% of it on major roadways, making for efficient travel. Expect a fuel cost of around $26 for this journey. Both your origin and destination are within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout your travels.

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

82.2 miles from Bluffton, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 69 124.3 mi 2h 18m
SR 18 21.3 mi 24m
South Main Street 13 mi 19m
North Walnut Street 3.2 mi 4m
North College Avenue 1 mi 2m
North Dunn Street 0.4 mi 1m
West 10th Street 0.4 mi <1m
East 4th Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 69 — 124.3 mi, about 2h 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bluffton, IN and Bloomington, IN.

1

Start on West Washington Street

46 ft · 4 sec · West Washington Street
2

Turn right onto SR 1; SR 116

13 mi · 19 min · South Main Street
3

Turn right onto SR 18

21 mi · 24 min · SR 18
4

Turn left

0.3 mi · 36 sec
5

Merge onto I 69

62 mi · 1 hr 7 min · I 69
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 69
Use the slight right lane.
7

Continue on I 69

22 mi · 25 min · I 69
Exit 200 Toward I 465 South, I 69 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69

39 mi · 44 min · I 69
Exit 5 Toward I 69 South: Evansville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Toward College Avenue, Walnut Street
10

Turn straight onto North Walnut Street

3.2 mi · 4 min · North Walnut Street
11

Continue on North College Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · North College Avenue
12

Turn left onto West 10th Street

0.4 mi · 54 sec · West 10th Street
13

Turn right onto North Dunn Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Dunn Street
14

Turn left onto East 4th Street

379 ft · 15 sec · East 4th Street
15

Turn straight

99 ft · 7 sec
16

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 3-hour and 13-minute duration, this route is perfect for a single-day adventure, so you can leave Bluffton anytime that suits your schedule. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to decide when and where to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $26, and plan your fill-up accordingly. A practical tip for this drive: since the longest stretch is over 124 miles on I-69, consider having entertainment or snacks ready for that segment to ensure a comfortable journey.

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 82.2 miles from Bluffton, IN, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124.3 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 36 miles or 45m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 82.2 miles or 1h 35m 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 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bloomington, IN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Bluffton, 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 Bluffton, IN

This is one driving day of about 164.4 miles and 3h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Bluffton, 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 124.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Marion County, Indiana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lawrence, IN

82 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.

Popular next leg

Lawrence, IN to Bloomington, IN

62 mi · 1h 15m

Pacing Suggestions

Gas City, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

McCordsville, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 82.2 miles from Bluffton, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 69 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 124.3 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · final third

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Indianapolis, Indiana

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third · 1h 9m to go 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+13178971042

Visit website

Sahm's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fishers, Indiana

1.5 mi

King Gyros Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Bloomington, Indiana

1.6 mi

McDonald's

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Fishers, Indiana

Hours: 5 am–1 pm

+13178420013

Visit website

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Indianapolis, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+13178971042

Visit website

Sahm's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30

Fishers, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13178421577

Visit website

King Gyros Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Bloomington, Indiana

Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm

+18123344144

Visit website

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Anderson, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+17656426424

Visit website

Cloverleaf South Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Bloomington, Indiana

Hours: 5 am–3 pm

+18126501017

Visit website

Cul De Sac Kitchen

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Indianapolis, Indiana

+13177449622

Visit website

Cloverleaf Family Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Bloomington, Indiana

Hours: 5 am–3 pm

+18123341077

Visit website

Falls Perk Coffee House

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Halfway reset 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10

Pendleton, Indiana

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+17657783423

Visit website

Capstone Cafe & Bookstore

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Halfway reset 3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10

Carmel, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+13175669132

Visit website

Georgia Street Grind

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

Final third 4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10

Indianapolis, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+13173719949

Visit website

Good Vibes Cafe Indy

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

Final third 4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20

Indianapolis, Indiana

Hours: 8:30 am–7 pm

+14632022117

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Bloomington, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Bloomington, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EVBOLT Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Bloomington, Indiana

+18665212658

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Bloomington, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Mississinewa 1812

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

Early stretch 4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour

Marion, Indiana

+17656139248

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 158.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | SR 1; SR 116 / South Main Street

Turn right onto SR 1; SR 116 / South Main Street

Navigation decision point

6
96.8 mi into trip | ~1h 51m in | I 69

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
5
97.8 mi into trip | ~1h 52m in | I 69

Continue onto I 69 toward I 465 South, I 69 South

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 200 Toward I 465 South, I 69 South
8
119.6 mi into trip | ~2h 18m in | I 69

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 South: Evansville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 5 Toward I 69 South: Evansville
5
158.9 mi into trip | ~3h 2m in

Take the exit toward College Avenue, Walnut Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward College Avenue, Walnut Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.70 one way

$51.40 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $28.22 $56.44
premium $4.89 $31.64 $63.27
diesel $5.61 $36.30 $72.59

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 57.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 49.3 0 $17.26 $7.89
Efficient EV 41.1 0 $14.39 $6.58
EV Truck/SUV 65.8 0 $23.02 $10.52

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

19 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 Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Bluffton, IN

Late night in Bluffton on Tuesday

Local time

4:48 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bloomington, IN

Late night in Bloomington on Tuesday

Local time

4:48 AM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

69°F

Lawrence, IN

82 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

3 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 13m 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?

You'll find this drive to be predominantly highway-focused, with an 89% share on major roads. The majority of your time will be spent on I-69, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 124.3 miles. This section offers a consistent pace, allowing for steady progress. While the route is largely built for speed, you will encounter segments on local roads like South Main Street and SR 18, offering brief changes in scenery and pace before returning to the efficiency of the interstate.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 124.3 mi on I 69.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and SR 18. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 1; SR 116 / South Main Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 164.4 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 1; SR 116 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 96.8 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.8 miles (I 69): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Arriving 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.

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 3h 13m. Total distance: 164.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 124.3 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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: near the start (SR 1; SR 116 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 96.8 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.8 miles (I 69): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Bloomington, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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