Madison, IN to Bloomington, IN is 82.5 miles and takes about 1h 59m via Lanier Drive, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Indiana, traveling through the Midwest region. Expect a route with frequent turns as you navigate local roads for much of the journey. With its relatively short distance and duration, this trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.2 miles from Madison, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lanier Drive
20.1 mi
29m
Van Buren Street
18.2 mi
21m
South State Street
17.8 mi
27m
SR 46
9.2 mi
13m
Jonathan Moore Pike
8.4 mi
12m
State Street
3.9 mi
5m
Cragmont Street
1.7 mi
2m
3rd Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Lanier Drive
— 20.1 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on this road
71 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto West Street
184 ft·9 sec·West Street
3
Turn left onto SR 56
0.7 mi·1 min·West Main Street
4
Turn right onto SR 7
1.7 mi·2 min·Cragmont Street
5
Turn left onto SR 7
0.3 mi·28 sec·SR 7
6
Turn straight onto SR 7
20 mi·29 min·Lanier Drive
7
Turn right onto SR 3; SR 7
0.2 mi·16 sec·Poplar Street
8
Continue on SR 3; SR 7
0.5 mi·1 min·State Roads 3 & 7
9
Continue on SR 3; SR 7
18 mi·27 min·South State Street
10
Continue on SR 46
3.9 mi·5 min·State Street
11
Continue on SR 46
1.3 mi·2 min·3rd Street
12
Continue on Jonathan Moore Pike
8.4 mi·12 min·Jonathan Moore Pike
13
Continue on SR 46
9.2 mi·13 min·SR 46
14
Turn left onto SR 46
18 mi·21 min·Van Buren Street
15
Turn right onto South Indiana Avenue
452 ft·16 sec·South Indiana Avenue
16
Turn right
99 ft·7 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 59m duration, starting your drive in the morning from Madison is ideal, allowing you to arrive in Bloomington with plenty of daylight. Since this is a shorter, turn-heavy route, you won't need to plan for extensive stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading out, as services might be more spaced out on local roads. The $13 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra. Pay close attention to your GPS for the numerous turns to avoid backtracking on this local road network.
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 41.2 miles from Madison, IN, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.1 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 18 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.2 miles or 1h 2m 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 44m
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 Madison, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Madison, IN
This is one driving day of about 82.5 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Madison, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Lanier Drive for about 20.1 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 82.4 — 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 Street
Turn right onto West Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 7 / Cragmont Street
Turn right onto SR 7 / Cragmont Street
Navigation decision point
4
64.2 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|SR 46 / Van Buren Street
Turn left onto SR 46 / Van Buren Street
Navigation decision point
4
82.4 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|South Indiana Avenue
Turn right onto South Indiana Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
82.4 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.90 one way
$25.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.16
$28.32
premium
$4.89
$15.88
$31.75
diesel
$5.61
$18.21
$36.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.8
0
$8.66
$3.96
Efficient EV
20.6
0
$7.22
$3.30
EV Truck/SUV
33
0
$11.55
$5.28
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Madison, IN
Late night
in Madison on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IN
Late night
in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Columbus, IN
41 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
1h 59m 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 route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be navigating a series of local roads rather than long stretches of highway. Only about 12% of this drive involves highway travel, so be prepared for more frequent adjustments to your direction. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 20.1 miles on Lanier Drive. The road's personality shifts as you progress, moving from more suburban-feeling streets to potentially more rural or town-centered roads as you approach Bloomington.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.1 mi on Lanier Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
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 early in the drive near West Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Madison, IN to Bloomington, IN is easy. At 1h 59m with 12% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (SR 7 / Cragmont Street): Navigation decision point; at 64.2 miles (SR 46 / Van Buren Street): Navigation decision point.
Madison is a city along the Ohio River in Southern Indiana. Madison is surrounded by scenic limestone bluffs. The hills are tree-covered and the farmlands are fertile. Many of the grand homes and historic commercial buildings are still in use. The past co-exists with the present in perfect harmony.
Jefferson County is home to one of Indiana’s most beautiful state parks, Clifty Falls. This lush 1200-acre park offers scenic vista, four waterfalls and many hiking trails. Southern Indiana is also a nationally recognized wine region and three award-winning wineries are located within Jefferson County. Madison is also known as an antique mecca in the Midwest. Numerous specialty shops, unique restaurants and quaint B&Bs complement the historic downtown.
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.
The longest stretch is about 20.1 miles on Lanier Drive. 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: near the start (West Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (SR 7 / Cragmont Street): Navigation decision point; at 64.2 miles (SR 46 / Van Buren Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bloomington, IN before heading back.
