Spanning 178.9 miles across Indiana, this trip between Lowell and Bloomington typically takes about 3 hours and 9 minutes. It is a straightforward journey that works perfectly as a one-day excursion, though you could easily extend it into an overnight stay if you prefer a more relaxed pace. You should budget approximately $24 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the heart of the Midwest, the route utilizes East 181st Avenue, I-65 South, and the Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. Whether you are heading south for a weekend or a quick getaway, this drive offers a reliable connection between these two Hoosier communities.
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
90.9 miles from Lowell, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
110.3 mi
1h 58m
I 69
38.3 mi
42m
I 465
13.7 mi
15m
I 65
5.9 mi
6m
East 181st Avenue
4.6 mi
6m
North Walnut Street
3.2 mi
4m
East Commercial Avenue
1.5 mi
3m
North College Avenue
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
— 110.3 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lowell, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on SR 2
1.5 mi·3 min·East Commercial Avenue
2
Continue on SR 2
4.6 mi·6 min·East 181st Avenue
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
4
Merge onto I 65
110 mi·1 hr 58 min·Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
5.9 mi·6 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
7
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
8
Merge onto I 465
14 mi·15 min·I 465
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 69
38 mi·42 min·I 69
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
Since this is a 3-hour and 9-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule. It is wise to budget for at least one stop during your 178.9-mile journey to stretch your legs and refresh. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before heading out, setting aside the $24 estimate to ensure you are covered for the entire transit. Because the route is turn-heavy, focus on your navigation early, especially when transitioning between East 181st Avenue and the Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. Take advantage of the short duration to depart early, which helps you avoid potential congestion and ensures you reach your destination with time to spare.
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 90.9 miles from Lowell, IN, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.3 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 40 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.9 miles or 1h 41m 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 48m
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 Lowell, 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 Lowell, IN
This is one driving day of about 181.8 miles and 3h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Lowell, 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 Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway for about 110.3 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.2 and 137.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.2 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
Navigation decision point
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
5
6.4 mi into trip|~10m in|I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
116.7 mi into trip|~2h 9m 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
122.6 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 465 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 123
Toward I 465 South
7
137.2 mi into trip|~2h 34m 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
$28.42 one way
$56.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.21
$62.41
premium
$4.89
$34.99
$69.97
diesel
$5.61
$40.14
$80.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.5
0
$19.09
$8.73
Efficient EV
45.5
0
$15.91
$7.27
EV Truck/SUV
72.7
0
$25.45
$11.64
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Lowell, IN
Late night
in Lowell on Tuesday
Local time
3:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IN
Late night
in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
5 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 29m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
Lake Michigan's might has influenced Indiana Dunes for millennia. Wind and waves have shaped the land, leaving a rich mosaic of habitats along these 15 miles of Indiana coast. Over 50 miles of trails...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
$20
near mile 6.3
Park Closure: Partial Closures to Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While the route incorporates major arteries like I-65 South, it maintains a unique character that demands your attention behind the wheel. Because the highway share is 0%, you will find yourself navigating local roads that shift in rhythm, especially since there is no single long, uninterrupted stretch on East 181st Avenue. You will experience a mix of driving environments that keep the journey engaging from start to finish. Be prepared for a hands-on driving experience that contrasts sharply with the typical high-speed highway experience.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 110.3 mi on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.2 miles in.
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 181.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 6.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6.4 miles (I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.7 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 29m. Total distance: 181.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 110.3 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6.4 miles (I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.7 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Bloomington, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
