Origin
Columbus, IN
Late night in Columbus on Sunday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbus, 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
49m
Distance
36.6 mi
59 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbus, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Bloomington, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel between Columbus and Bloomington, Indiana, you are looking at a straightforward 36.6-mile trip. Expect to spend about 49 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via Van Buren Street, SR 46, and Jonathan Moore Pike to complete the journey. With a modest fuel cost of approximately $6, this is a budget-friendly transit through the heart of the Midwest. Because the route is short and efficient, it offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery, this drive serves as a reliable connection between these two Indiana hubs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Van Buren Street | 18.2 mi | 21m |
| SR 46 | 9.2 mi | 13m |
| Jonathan Moore Pike | 8.4 mi | 12m |
| 3rd Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Indiana Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Van Buren Street
— 18.2 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on SR 46
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Street
2
Continue on Jonathan Moore Pike
8.4 mi
·
12 min
·
Jonathan Moore Pike
3
Continue on SR 46
9.2 mi
·
13 min
·
SR 46
4
Turn left onto SR 46
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Van Buren Street
5
Turn right onto South Indiana Avenue
452 ft
·
16 sec
·
South Indiana Avenue
6
Turn right
99 ft
·
7 sec
7
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 36.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.3 miles from Columbus, 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
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 18.3 and 36.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
18.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
SR 46 / Van Buren Street
Turn left onto SR 46 / Van Buren Street
Navigation decision point
4
36.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
South Indiana Avenue
Turn right onto South Indiana Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
36.6 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.72 one way
$11.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.28 | $12.57 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.04 | $14.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.08 | $16.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.76 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.20 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Bloomington, IN
Late night in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Nashville, IN
18 mi in
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
6 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
49m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 36.6-mile stretch. Highway travel accounts for only 25% of the total distance, meaning you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted portion of the journey covers 18.2 miles on Van Buren Street, which dictates the initial feel of your trip. Because the route relies heavily on state roads and local connectors, you will need to stay alert for frequent turns. This transition from city streets to regional highways keeps the experience engaging and requires more active attention than a standard high-speed commute.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.2 mi on Van Buren Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 18.3 miles in near SR 46 / Van Buren Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Columbus, IN to Bloomington, IN is easy. At 49m with 25% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 18.3 miles (SR 46 / Van Buren Street): Navigation decision point; at 36.5 miles (South Indiana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 36.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
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 49m. Total distance: 36.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (25%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.2 miles on Van Buren Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 18.3 miles (SR 46 / Van Buren Street): Navigation decision point; at 36.5 miles (South Indiana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 36.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bloomington, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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