This 121.4-mile journey from Brookston, Indiana to Bloomington, Indiana is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 26 minutes on the road, covering 88% of the distance on major interstates like I-65, I-69, and I-465. With a projected fuel cost of around $19, this route offers an economical option for a quick trip within the Midwest. It's a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two Indiana cities without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.7 miles from Brookston, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
54.5 mi
59m
I 69
38.3 mi
42m
I 465
13.7 mi
15m
South Prairie Street
7.4 mi
13m
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
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 54.5 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brookston, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on South Railroad Street
41 ft·4 sec·South Railroad Street
2
Turn right onto SR 18
361 ft·12 sec·West 3rd Street
3
Turn left onto SR 43
7.4 mi·13 min·South Prairie Street
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·30 sec
5
Merge onto I 65
49 mi·52 min·I 65
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
5.9 mi·6 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
8
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
9
Merge onto I 465
14 mi·15 min·I 465
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 69
38 mi·42 min·I 69
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward College Avenue, Walnut Street
13
Turn straight onto North Walnut Street
3.2 mi·4 min·North Walnut Street
14
Continue on North College Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·North College Avenue
15
Turn left onto West 10th Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·West 10th Street
16
Turn right onto North Dunn Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Dunn Street
17
Turn left onto East 4th Street
379 ft·15 sec·East 4th Street
18
Turn straight
99 ft·7 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 26 minute duration, this trip is ideal for a single-day excursion, offering flexibility in your departure time. You won't need to worry about extensive stops, but it's always wise to utilize the opportunities provided by the interstate system for fuel and rest. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 54.5 miles on I-65, to ensure you have enough to reach Bloomington comfortably. The $19 fuel cost estimate makes budgeting straightforward for this efficient drive.
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 60.7 miles from Brookston, IN, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 27 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.7 miles or 1h 11m 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 57m
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 Brookston, 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 Brookston, IN
This is one driving day of about 121.4 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Brookston, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 115.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 18 / West 3rd Street
Turn right onto SR 18 / West 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
6
56.3 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|I 65
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
62.2 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 465 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 123
Toward I 465 South
7
76.8 mi into trip|~1h 31m 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
5
115.8 mi into trip|~2h 15m 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
$18.98 one way
$37.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.84
$41.68
premium
$4.89
$23.36
$46.72
diesel
$5.61
$26.80
$53.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.4
0
$12.75
$5.83
Efficient EV
30.4
0
$10.62
$4.86
EV Truck/SUV
48.6
0
$17.00
$7.77
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 16, 2026
Origin
Brookston, IN
Morning
in Brookston on Sunday
Local time
7:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IN
Morning
in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
7:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Sunny
WSW 14 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 3:01PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 16 at 12:24PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
24 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
2h 26m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route leans heavily into highway driving, with 88% of the journey taking place on interstates. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including a notable 54.5-mile segment on I-65. The profile is primarily a highway-focused drive, meaning you'll spend most of your time on multi-lane roads designed for efficient travel. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal deviations onto slower, local roads for the majority of the trip.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.5 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 69. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 18 / West 3rd Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 121.4 miles you will encounter 12 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 18 / West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 56.3 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 121.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.5 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 18 / West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 56.3 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bloomington, IN before heading back.
