Columbia to Bloomington is 93.1 miles and takes about 2h 21m via East 1st Street and I 69, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, connecting two Midwest locations. The majority of this route is on surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate cruise. With a duration under two and a half hours and a low fuel cost, this is a straightforward drive suitable for a single day trip with plenty of flexibility.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.6 miles from Columbia, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East 1st Street
18.7 mi
27m
State Road 44
18.6 mi
28m
I 69
15.7 mi
17m
West McKay Road
12.7 mi
18m
SR 44
9.8 mi
14m
West Columbia Road
3.7 mi
8m
North Walnut Street
3.2 mi
4m
East Jefferson Street
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
East 1st Street
— 18.7 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on South County Road 375 West
7 ft·5 sec·South County Road 375 West
2
Turn left onto West Columbia Road
3.7 mi·8 min·West Columbia Road
3
Continue on South 650 W
2.1 mi·5 min·South 650 W
4
Turn left onto SR 44
9.8 mi·14 min·SR 44
5
Turn left onto SR 44 Truck
226 ft·5 sec·North Perkins Street
6
Turn right onto SR 44 Truck
19 mi·27 min·East 1st Street
7
Continue on SR 44
0.5 mi·58 sec·East Broadway Street
8
Turn left onto SR 9; SR 44
0.4 mi·36 sec·South Harrison Street
9
Turn right onto SR 44
0.6 mi·54 sec·Colescott Street
10
Turn left onto SR 44
1.2 mi·1 min·Miller Avenue
11
Turn right onto SR 44
13 mi·18 min·West McKay Road
12
Enter roundabout onto East King Street
102 ft·1 sec·East King Street
13
Continue on East King Street
0.6 mi·57 sec·East King Street
14
Turn left onto North Forsythe Street
491 ft·10 sec·North Forsythe Street
15
Turn right onto East Jefferson Street
2.1 mi·3 min·East Jefferson Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Enter roundabout onto SR 44
224 ft·3 sec·State Road 44
17
Continue on SR 44
19 mi·28 min·State Road 44
18
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the left lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 252
103 ft·1 sec·SR 252
20
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
21
Merge onto I 69
16 mi·17 min·I 69
22
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward College Avenue, Walnut Street
23
Turn straight onto North Walnut Street
3.2 mi·4 min·North Walnut Street
24
Continue on North College Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·North College Avenue
25
Turn left onto West 10th Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·West 10th Street
26
Turn right onto North Dunn Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Dunn Street
27
Turn left onto East 4th Street
379 ft·15 sec·East 4th Street
28
Turn straight
99 ft·7 sec
29
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given this trip is just over two hours, you can easily complete it in one day. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour traffic and arrive in Bloomington with ample time. There are no designated stops recommended, so you have the flexibility to pause whenever needed, perhaps in a town along State Road 44. With a low fuel cost of around $15, you won't need to worry about frequent fill-ups, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye out for the transition points between surface streets and I 69, as this will dictate your driving pace.
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 46.6 miles from Columbia, IN, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.7 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 20 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.6 miles or 1h 14m 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 58m
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 Columbia, 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 Columbia, IN
This is one driving day of about 93.1 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Columbia, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East 1st Street for about 18.7 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 87.6 — 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|West Columbia Road
Turn left onto West Columbia Road
Navigation decision point
4
5.8 mi into trip|~14m in|SR 44
Turn left onto SR 44
Navigation decision point
5
50.3 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|East Jefferson Street
Turn right onto East Jefferson Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
71.1 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Take the ramp toward I 69 South: Evansville
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
5
87.6 mi into trip|~2h 11m 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
$14.56 one way
$29.11 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.98
$31.96
premium
$4.89
$17.92
$35.83
diesel
$5.61
$20.56
$41.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.9
0
$9.78
$4.47
Efficient EV
23.3
0
$8.15
$3.72
EV Truck/SUV
37.2
0
$13.03
$5.96
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Columbia, IN
Morning
in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
9:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IN
Morning
in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
9:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Franklin, IN
47 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 21m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only 27% on highways. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch on East 1st Street, covering 18.7 miles. Expect to transition from surface roads to highway driving, and then back again. The profile suggests a driving experience dominated by local roads rather than high-speed interstate travel.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.7 mi on East 1st Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Columbia Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 21m drive. You will face about 20 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Columbia Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles (SR 44): Navigation decision point; at 50.3 miles (East Jefferson Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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
The longest stretch is about 18.7 miles on East 1st Street. 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: near the start (West Columbia Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles (SR 44): Navigation decision point; at 50.3 miles (East Jefferson Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bloomington, IN before heading back.
