Traveling from Hartford City to Bloomington covers 136.1 miles through the heart of Indiana, typically requiring about 2 hours and 31 minutes of drive time. Because this route avoids major highways entirely, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip that doesn't demand an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $18 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly way to navigate between these two Midwest locations. Since you will be sticking to local roads like West Water Street, County Road 950 East, and County Road 900 South, the pace is much slower than a standard interstate commute. Use this trip if you prefer a direct, rural path through the state rather than a high-speed transit route.
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
66.3 miles from Hartford City, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
115.1 mi
2h 8m
West Water Street
6 mi
9m
North Walnut Street
3.2 mi
4m
County Road 900 South
3.1 mi
4m
County Road 950 East
2 mi
3m
North College Avenue
1 mi
2m
West Washington Street
0.5 mi
<1m
North Dunn Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 115.1 mi, about 2h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hartford City, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on SR 26
0.5 mi·46 sec·West Washington Street
2
Continue on SR 26
6.0 mi·9 min·West Water Street
3
Turn left onto SR 26
2.0 mi·3 min·County Road 950 East
4
Turn right onto SR 26
3.1 mi·4 min·County Road 900 South
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
6
Merge onto I 69; US 35
29 mi·30 min·I 69; US 35
7
Continue on I 69; SR 9; SR 67
24 mi·26 min·I 69; SR 9; SR 67
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
1.0 mi·1 min·I 69
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on I 69
22 mi·25 min·I 69
Exit 200Toward I 465 South, I 69 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
39 mi·44 min·I 69
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward College Avenue, Walnut Street
12
Turn straight onto North Walnut Street
3.2 mi·4 min·North Walnut Street
13
Continue on North College Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·North College Avenue
14
Turn left onto West 10th Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·West 10th Street
15
Turn right onto North Dunn Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Dunn Street
16
Turn left onto East 4th Street
379 ft·15 sec·East 4th Street
17
Turn straight
99 ft·7 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Plan for one dedicated stop during your 136.1-mile trek to break up the technical driving and keep yourself alert. Since the route consists of local roads rather than fast-moving lanes, give yourself extra time to account for the frequent turns and slower speed limits. Depart during daylight hours to ensure you can clearly navigate the county road intersections that characterize this journey. Because there is no highway buffer, your fuel consumption may be more consistent, so aim to fill up before you leave Hartford City to keep your $18 budget on track. Flexibility is your greatest asset here, so don't feel pressured to rush through the transition from the northern to the southern sections of your route.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.3 miles from Hartford City, IN, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.1 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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.3 miles or 1h 17m 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 5m
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 Hartford City, 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 Hartford City, IN
This is one driving day of about 132.6 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Hartford City, 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 115.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.5 and 127.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
6.5 mi into trip|~9m in|SR 26 / County Road 950 East
Turn left onto SR 26 / County Road 950 East
Navigation decision point
6
65.1 mi into trip|~1h 15m 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
66 mi into trip|~1h 16m 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
87.8 mi into trip|~1h 42m 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
127.1 mi into trip|~2h 26m 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
$20.73 one way
$41.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.76
$45.52
premium
$4.89
$25.52
$51.04
diesel
$5.61
$29.28
$58.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.8
0
$13.92
$6.36
Efficient EV
33.2
0
$11.60
$5.30
EV Truck/SUV
53
0
$18.56
$8.49
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (65% 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
Hartford City, IN
Night
in Hartford City on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IN
Night
in Bloomington on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Beech Grove, IN
66 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
2 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 37m 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 journey is defined by its turn-heavy, local nature, offering a driving experience that stays off the main highway system entirely. With a 0% highway share, you will be navigating a series of rural connectors rather than cruising at high speeds. The longest stretch of uninterrupted driving you will encounter is 0 miles on West Water Street, meaning you should anticipate frequent turns and a constant need for focus. Expect a technical drive that requires your full attention as you transition between local county roads. It is a departure from the typical monotonous interstate grind, providing a hands-on experience behind the wheel.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 115.1 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and West Water Street. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.5 miles in near SR 26 / County Road 950 East.
Driving Effort5/10
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 132.6 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: at 6.5 miles (SR 26 / County Road 950 East): Navigation decision point; at 65.1 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66 miles (I 69): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 37m. Total distance: 132.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 115.1 miles on I 69. 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: at 6.5 miles (SR 26 / County Road 950 East): Navigation decision point; at 65.1 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66 miles (I 69): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bloomington, IN before heading back.
