Origin
Richland, IN
Late night in Richland on Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richland, IN to Bloomington, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 53m
Distance
79.2 mi
127 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 46m
★
6 AM
1h 54m
8 AM
2h 11m
10 AM
2h 0m
12 PM
1h 58m
3 PM
2h 1m
5 PM
2h 10m
8 PM
1h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richland, IN
Mats Van Lishout
Bloomington, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 79.2-mile drive from Richland to Bloomington, Indiana, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 53 minutes. With a projected fuel cost of around $12, it's an economical option for exploring the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes SR 46, Van Buren Street, and State Road 3, offering a mixed driving experience. Given its relatively short distance and duration, you can easily complete this journey without needing an overnight stay, allowing for flexibility in your schedule and ample time to enjoy your destination upon arrival.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.6 miles from Richland, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| SR 46 | 21.6 mi | 31m |
| Van Buren Street | 18.2 mi | 21m |
| State Road 3 | 16.3 mi | 23m |
| Jonathan Moore Pike | 8.4 mi | 12m |
| County Road 50 North | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| SR 244 | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| 10th Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 3rd Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
SR 46
— 21.6 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richland, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on SR 244
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
SR 244
2
Turn left onto SR 3
16 mi
·
23 min
·
State Road 3
3
Continue on SR 46
12 mi
·
17 min
·
SR 46
4
Continue on 25th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
25th Street
5
Turn left onto County Road 650 East
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road 650 East
6
Turn right onto County Road 50 North
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
County Road 50 North
7
Turn right onto US 31
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
North National Road
8
Turn left onto 10th Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
10th Street
9
Turn left onto Central Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
10
Turn right onto SR 46
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
3rd Street
11
Continue on Jonathan Moore Pike
8.4 mi
·
12 min
·
Jonathan Moore Pike
12
Continue on SR 46
9.2 mi
·
13 min
·
SR 46
13
Turn left onto SR 46
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Van Buren Street
14
Turn right onto South Indiana Avenue
452 ft
·
16 sec
·
South Indiana Avenue
15
Turn right
99 ft
·
7 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 53-minute drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Bloomington. Since the total distance is only 79.2 miles, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it suits you best. There are no mandated stops in the data, but consider a brief pause if needed, especially during the 21.6-mile stretch on SR 46. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, you can easily budget for this trip. Keep an eye on road conditions as you approach Bloomington, as traffic can increase.
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 39.6 miles from Richland, IN, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.6 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.6 miles or 59m 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 39m
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 Richland, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Richland, IN
This is one driving day of about 79.2 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Richland, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on SR 46 for about 21.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.6 miles from Richland, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 4.3 and 79.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
4.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
SR 3 / State Road 3
Turn left onto SR 3 / State Road 3
Navigation decision point
4
39.8 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
10th Street
Turn left onto 10th Street
Navigation decision point
4
60.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
|
SR 46 / Van Buren Street
Turn left onto SR 46 / Van Buren Street
Navigation decision point
4
79.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
South Indiana Avenue
Turn right onto South Indiana Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
79.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.38 one way
$24.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.59 | $27.19 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.24 | $30.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.49 | $34.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.32 | $3.80 |
| Efficient EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.93 | $3.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.7 | 0 | $11.09 | $5.07 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Bloomington, IN
Late night in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
21 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
1h 53m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll encounter a mixed drive on this route, with about 33% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 21.6 miles on SR 46, providing a good opportunity to settle in. As you transition between main roads like SR 46, Van Buren Street, and State Road 3, expect the character of the drive to evolve, moving from more open stretches to potentially more varied local conditions. This blend means you won't be stuck on a monotonous interstate for the entire trip.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.6 mi on SR 46.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.3 miles in near SR 3 / State Road 3.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 53m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.3 miles (SR 3 / State Road 3): Navigation decision point; at 39.8 miles (10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 60.9 miles (SR 46 / Van Buren Street): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Bloomington, IN
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 79.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.6 miles on SR 46. 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: at 4.3 miles (SR 3 / State Road 3): Navigation decision point; at 39.8 miles (10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 60.9 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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