Spanning 97.2 miles, the journey from Mulberry to Bloomington is a straightforward trek across the heart of Indiana. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 53 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a simple one-day road trip. You won't need to worry about heavy highway traffic, as the route is entirely local, keeping your fuel costs to a modest $13. Since the entire drive stays within the Midwest, the transition between these two Indiana towns feels familiar and consistent. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, this route offers a manageable pace that avoids the stress of major interstate congestion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51 miles from Mulberry, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
38.3 mi
42m
I 65
34 mi
37m
I 465
13.7 mi
15m
West Mulberry Jefferson Road
4.2 mi
12m
North Walnut Street
3.2 mi
4m
SR 28
2.5 mi
3m
North County Road 580 West
1.2 mi
4m
North College Avenue
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 38.3 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mulberry, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on this road
9 ft·2 sec·this road
2
Turn right
36 ft·4 sec
3
Turn right onto South Main Street
458 ft·20 sec·South Main Street
4
Turn slight left onto Jefferson Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Jefferson Road
5
Continue on West Mulberry Jefferson Road
4.2 mi·12 min·West Mulberry Jefferson Road
6
Turn right onto North County Road 580 West
1.2 mi·4 min·North County Road 580 West
7
Turn right onto SR 28
2.5 mi·3 min·SR 28
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
9
Merge onto I 65
28 mi·30 min·I 65
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
5.9 mi·6 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
12
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
13
Merge onto I 465
14 mi·15 min·I 465
14
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 69
38 mi·42 min·I 69
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward College Avenue, Walnut Street
17
Turn straight onto North Walnut Street
3.2 mi·4 min·North Walnut Street
18
Continue on North College Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·North College Avenue
19
Turn left onto West 10th Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·West 10th Street
20
Turn right onto North Dunn Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Dunn Street
21
Turn left onto East 4th Street
379 ft·15 sec·East 4th Street
22
Turn straight
99 ft·7 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal schedule. You can easily complete the 97.2-mile distance in one go, as no stops are strictly required to reach your destination. Keep in mind that because this route relies exclusively on local roads, your travel time may be more sensitive to local traffic patterns than a highway route would be. A smart strategy is to check your GPS before leaving Mulberry to ensure the local roads are clear of any unexpected delays. Given the fuel estimate of $13, you might find it most convenient to fill up your tank before you head out, ensuring you have no need for mid-trip stops.
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 51 miles from Mulberry, IN, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.3 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 22 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51 miles or 1h 11m 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 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 Mulberry, 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 Mulberry, IN
This is one driving day of about 102 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Mulberry, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 69 for about 38.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 57.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Main Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
8.4 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the ramp toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
Navigation decision point
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
6
36.9 mi into trip|~53m 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.
7
57.4 mi into trip|~1h 18m 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
$15.95 one way
$31.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.51
$35.02
premium
$4.89
$19.63
$39.26
diesel
$5.61
$22.52
$45.04
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: 35.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.6
0
$10.71
$4.90
Efficient EV
25.5
0
$8.92
$4.08
EV Truck/SUV
40.8
0
$14.28
$6.53
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 17, 2026
Origin
Mulberry, IN
Morning
in Mulberry on Tuesday
Local time
6:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IN
Morning
in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
6:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Clear
SW 3 mph0% chanceLive 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
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 13m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Forget the monotony of the interstate; this route is a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention. You will be navigating a sequence of local roads, including South Main Street, Jefferson Road, and West Mulberry Jefferson Road, rather than cruising down a high-speed highway. With a highway share of 0%, the experience is defined by constant adjustments rather than long, straight stretches. The longest uninterrupted section is 0 miles on South Main Street, meaning the road changes frequently as you navigate from Mulberry to Bloomington. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience where the lack of highway miles keeps you engaged with the local landscape.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.3 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and I 65. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 102 miles you will encounter 14 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: Navigation decision point; near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
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.
Top landmarks
•John L. Nichols House — house in Bloomington, Indiana
•Blair-Dunning House — Historic house in Indiana
•Vinegar Hill Historic District — Indiana historic district
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 102 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m 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 38.3 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.4 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.
