Middletown, IN to Bloomington, IN is 99.3 miles and takes about 2h 2m via I 69 and SR 9, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest and Indiana for its entirety. Expect a predominantly highway experience that should feel straightforward and efficient. Given the relatively short duration and low fuel cost, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.6 miles from Middletown, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
62 mi
1h 10m
SR 9
24.7 mi
27m
Mill Street
5.1 mi
8m
North Walnut Street
3.2 mi
4m
North College Avenue
1 mi
2m
East 53rd Street
1 mi
1m
Scatterfield Road
0.5 mi
1m
North Dunn Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 62 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Middletown, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on Columbia Avenue
48 ft·4 sec·Columbia Avenue
2
Turn right onto North 8th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North 8th Street
3
Turn left onto SR 236
5.1 mi·8 min·Mill Street
4
Continue on SR 236
1.0 mi·1 min·East 53rd Street
5
Turn left onto SR 9
0.5 mi·1 min·Scatterfield Road
6
Take the ramp onto SR 9
25 mi·27 min·SR 9
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
1.0 mi·1 min·I 69
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 69
22 mi·25 min·I 69
Exit 200Toward I 465 South, I 69 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward College Avenue, Walnut Street
11
Turn straight onto North Walnut Street
3.2 mi·4 min·North Walnut Street
12
Continue on North College Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·North College Avenue
13
Turn left onto West 10th Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·West 10th Street
14
Turn right onto North Dunn Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Dunn Street
15
Turn left onto East 4th Street
379 ft·15 sec·East 4th Street
16
Turn straight
99 ft·7 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Leaving Middletown, IN in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and ensure you have ample time upon arrival in Bloomington. Given the drive is just over 2 hours, you likely won't need extensive stops, but there are plenty of services along I 69 if you do need to stretch your legs or refuel. The estimated fuel cost of $16 suggests a budget-friendly trip, so keep this in mind for your planning. Since this is a short, same-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your leisure, but a morning start is still advisable.
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 49.6 miles from Middletown, IN, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62 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 22 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.6 miles or 1h 1m 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 37m
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 Middletown, 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 Middletown, IN
This is one driving day of about 99.3 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Middletown, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 69 for about 62 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 93.7 — 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|North 8th Street
Turn right onto North 8th Street
Navigation decision point
6
31.7 mi into trip|~40m 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
32.7 mi into trip|~42m 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
54.5 mi into trip|~1h 7m 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
93.7 mi into trip|~1h 51m 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
$15.52 one way
$31.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.05
$34.09
premium
$4.89
$19.11
$38.22
diesel
$5.61
$21.92
$43.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.8
0
$10.43
$4.77
Efficient EV
24.8
0
$8.69
$3.97
EV Truck/SUV
39.7
0
$13.90
$6.36
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Middletown, IN
Afternoon
in Middletown on Sunday
Local time
4:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IN
Afternoon
in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
4:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Beech Grove, IN
50 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
3 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 2m 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?
With 87% of this route on highways, you'll spend most of your time on I 69. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 62 miles on I 69, offering a good opportunity for steady cruising. You'll transition from highway driving to surface roads like SR 9 and Mill Street as you approach Bloomington. Expect a fairly consistent pace with a significant portion dedicated to efficient travel.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and SR 9. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 8th Street.
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 99.3 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (North 8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 31.7 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.7 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 2m. Total distance: 99.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m 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 62 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North 8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 31.7 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.7 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.
