Trip from Bourbon, IN to Bloomington, IN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 42m

Distance

171.8 mi

276 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

3h 30m ★

6 AM

3h 42m

8 AM

4h 8m

10 AM

3h 51m

12 PM

3h 49m

3 PM

3h 52m

5 PM

4h 6m

8 PM

3h 35m

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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human settlement in Marshall County, Indiana, United States of America

Bourbon, IN

Wikimedia Commons

county seat of Monroe County, Indiana, United States

Bloomington, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 171.8-mile drive from Bourbon, Indiana, to Bloomington, Indiana, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 42 minutes. With 84% highway driving, it offers a straightforward journey through the Midwest. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $27. You'll primarily navigate on US 31 and I-69, with a brief stint on I-465. Given its manageable length and highway focus, this drive is well-suited for a day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace without the need for an overnight stay.

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

85.9 miles from Bourbon, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 31	80.6 mi	1h 41m
I 69	38.3 mi	42m
I 465	24.4 mi	28m
State Road 25	9.6 mi	14m
South Main Street	8.5 mi	14m
North Walnut Street	3.2 mi	4m
South Old US Highway 31	1.3 mi	2m
602 East 9th Street	1 mi	1m

Longest stretch: US 31 — 80.6 mi, about 1h 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on West Center Street

34 ft · 3 sec · West Center Street

Turn right onto SR 331

8.5 mi · 14 min · South Main Street

Turn right onto SR 25

9.6 mi · 14 min · State Road 25

Turn right onto SR 14; SR 25

0.3 mi · 22 sec · East 9th Street

Continue on SR 14; SR 25

1.0 mi · 1 min · 602 East 9th Street

Turn left onto SR 14; SR 25

0.6 mi · 53 sec · Main Street

Turn slight left onto South Old US Highway 31

1.3 mi · 2 min · South Old US Highway 31

Turn left onto US 31

67 mi · 1 hr 22 min · US 31

Turn right onto East 226th Street

270 ft · 10 sec · East 226th Street

Turn left

320 ft · 50 sec

Continue on this road

320 ft · 25 sec · this road

Turn right onto East 226th Street

270 ft · 9 sec · East 226th Street

Turn right onto US 31

13 mi · 17 min · US 31

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 31

0.6 mi · 55 sec · US 31

Exit 123 Toward I 465, US 31 South Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 465 West Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 465

4.8 mi · 5 min · I 465

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 465

20 mi · 23 min · I 465

Toward I 465 South

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 5 Toward I 69 South: Evansville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 69

38 mi · 42 min · I 69

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 59 sec

Toward College Avenue, Walnut Street

Turn straight onto North Walnut Street

3.2 mi · 4 min · North Walnut Street

Continue on North College Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · North College Avenue

Turn left onto West 10th Street

0.4 mi · 54 sec · West 10th Street

Turn right onto North Dunn Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Dunn Street

Turn left onto East 4th Street

379 ft · 15 sec · East 4th Street

Turn straight

99 ft · 7 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

With a total duration of just under 4 hours, this 171.8-mile trip from Bourbon to Bloomington offers flexibility. Consider an early morning departure to maximize your time at your destination, especially since the estimated fuel cost is only $27. While the drive is straightforward, there is one longest stretch of 80.6 miles on US 31, so plan your first break before or after this segment. The limited number of stops suggests you might want to identify a convenient rest area or gas station in advance, perhaps around the halfway point, 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 85.9 miles from Bourbon, IN, or about 1h 54m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.6 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 38 miles or 55m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 85.9 miles or 1h 54m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 3m

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 Bourbon, 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 Bourbon, IN

This is one driving day of about 171.8 miles and 3h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Bourbon, 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 US 31 for about 80.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Hamilton County, Indiana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Carmel, IN

86 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

Flora, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Noblesville, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 85.9 miles from Bourbon, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 31 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.6 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Freeland’s Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carmel, Indiana

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $100 or ab mile 98.1

Hours: 5–9 pm

+13173169875

Visit website

Pad Thai Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carmel, Indiana

0.8 mi

Kona Grill - Carmel

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carmel, Indiana

1.1 mi

Freeland’s Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $100 or ab mile 98.1

Carmel, Indiana

Hours: 5–9 pm

+13173169875

Visit website

Pad Thai Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 98.1

Carmel, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+13178188272

Visit website

Kona Grill - Carmel

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately mile 98.1

Carmel, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+13175661400

Visit website

Flight Burger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 98.1

Carmel, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+13176692256

Visit website

Noodles and Company

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 110.4

Indianapolis, Indiana

Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm

+13174718100

Visit website

DE ORO Mexican Grill

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 98.1

Carmel, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+13175800333

Visit website

King Gyros Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 171.8

Bloomington, Indiana

Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm

+18123344144

Visit website

Cloverleaf South Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 171.8

Bloomington, Indiana

Hours: 5 am–3 pm

+18126501017

Visit website

Capstone Cafe & Bookstore

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 98.1

Carmel, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+13175669132

Visit website

Founders Grounds Coffee Company

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 122.7

Speedway, Indiana

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+13179815358

Visit website

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 171.8

Bloomington, Indiana

+18665212658

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 171.8

Bloomington, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 61.3

Kokomo, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 88.5 and 127.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

88.5 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in | US 31

Turn right onto US 31

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

101.5 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in | US 31

Take the exit onto US 31 toward I 465, US 31 South

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 123 Toward I 465, US 31 South

102.1 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 465 West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 465 West

102.7 mi into trip | ~2h 18m in | I 465

Merge onto I 465

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

127.1 mi into trip | ~2h 47m in

Take the exit toward I 69 South: Evansville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 5 Toward I 69 South: Evansville

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.86 one way

$53.72 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 60 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$29.49	$58.98
premium	$4.89	$33.06	$66.12
diesel	$5.61	$37.93	$75.86

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 60.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	51.5	$18.04	$8.25
Efficient EV	43	$15.03	$6.87
EV Truck/SUV	68.7	$24.05	$11.00

Gas CO2

60 kg

EV CO2

20 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 15, 2026

Origin

Bourbon, IN

Late night in Bourbon on Sunday

Local time

3:44 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bloomington, IN

Late night in Bloomington on Sunday

Local time

3:44 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

22 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 42m 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 experience for the majority of this 171.8-mile journey. With 84% of the route on interstates and major highways like US 31 and I-69, the pace is generally brisk. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 80.6 miles on US 31, offering a solid period of consistent driving. While the profile is predominantly highway, be prepared for potential transitions as you move between these main arteries. This route prioritizes efficient travel over winding backroads.

84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 80.6 mi on US 31.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 31 and I 69. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 88.5 miles in near US 31.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 171.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 88.5 miles (US 31): Lane positioning matters here; at 101.5 miles (US 31): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 102.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 42m. Total distance: 171.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 80.6 miles on US 31. 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.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bloomington, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 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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Explore more options from Bourbon, IN or browse trips ending in Bloomington, IN.

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Trip from Bourbon, IN to Bloomington, IN

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Freeland’s Restaurant

Freeland’s Restaurant

Pad Thai Restaurant

Kona Grill - Carmel

Flight Burger

Noodles and Company

DE ORO Mexican Grill

King Gyros Restaurant

Cloverleaf South Restaurant

Capstone Cafe & Bookstore

Founders Grounds Coffee Company

Tesla Supercharger

Blink Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

EV Connect Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

EVBOLT Charging Station

EV Connect Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Bourbon, IN

Bloomington, IN

Same local time

22 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 42m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Arriving in Bloomington, IN

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Bloomington, IN

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