Simonton Lake to Bloomington is 217.4 miles and takes about 4h 32m via US 31 and I-69, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Indiana, moving south through the Midwest. With 80% of the trip on highways, it's a fairly direct path, making it a good option if you want to reach your destination without extensive detours. Plan for a single day of travel, as the 4.5-hour estimate is manageable for most drivers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
108.7 miles from Simonton Lake, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 31
99.1 mi
2h 4m
I 69
38.3 mi
42m
South Michigan Street
24.9 mi
29m
I 465
24.4 mi
28m
Saint Joseph Valley Parkway
12.9 mi
14m
North Nappanee Street
4.5 mi
6m
Cassopolis Street
3.6 mi
5m
North Walnut Street
3.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 31
— 99.1 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Simonton Lake, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on SR 19
3.6 mi·5 min·Cassopolis Street
2
Turn right onto SR 19
1.7 mi·2 min·East Bristol Street
3
Continue on SR 19
4.5 mi·6 min·North Nappanee Street
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
5
Merge onto US 20
13 mi·14 min·Saint Joseph Valley Parkway
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 31 South: Plymouth, Indianapolis
7
Merge onto BUS US 31
25 mi·29 min·South Michigan Street
8
Merge onto US 31
0.9 mi·1 min·US 31
9
Turn slight right
512 ft·6 sec
10
Continue on US 31
85 mi·1 hr 44 min·US 31
11
Turn right onto East 226th Street
270 ft·10 sec·East 226th Street
12
Turn left
320 ft·50 sec
13
Continue on this road
320 ft·25 sec·this road
14
Turn right onto East 226th Street
270 ft·9 sec·East 226th Street
15
Turn right onto US 31
13 mi·17 min·US 31
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto US 31
0.6 mi·55 sec·US 31
Exit 123Toward I 465, US 31 SouthUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 465 WestUse the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto I 465
4.8 mi·5 min·I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 465
20 mi·23 min·I 465
Toward I 465 South
20
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 69
38 mi·42 min·I 69
22
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward College Avenue, Walnut Street
23
Turn straight onto North Walnut Street
3.2 mi·4 min·North Walnut Street
24
Continue on North College Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·North College Avenue
25
Turn left onto West 10th Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·West 10th Street
26
Turn right onto North Dunn Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Dunn Street
27
Turn left onto East 4th Street
379 ft·15 sec·East 4th Street
28
Turn straight
99 ft·7 sec
29
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour, 32-minute drive, consider leaving in the morning to allow ample time for the 217.4-mile trip. The $34 fuel cost is an estimate, so checking current prices before you depart is wise. Since this is a single-day route, you can be flexible with stops; however, it's good to know that the longest uninterrupted stretch is 99.1 miles on US 31, so plan your breaks accordingly. Keep an eye out for the transition from highway to surface roads, particularly on South Michigan Street, as this is where you'll likely encounter slower speeds and more local traffic.
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 108.7 miles from Simonton Lake, IN, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.1 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 48 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.7 miles or 2h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 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 Simonton Lake, 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 Simonton Lake, IN
This is one driving day of about 217.4 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Simonton Lake, 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 US 31 for about 99.1 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 23.2 and 172.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
23.2 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit toward US 31 South: Plymouth, Indianapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 31 South: Plymouth, Indianapolis
6
134.1 mi into trip|~2h 48m in|US 31
Turn right onto US 31
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
147.1 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|US 31
Take the exit onto US 31 toward I 465, US 31 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 123
Toward I 465, US 31 South
7
147.8 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 465 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 465 West
7
172.8 mi into trip|~3h 37m 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
$33.99 one way
$67.98 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.32
$74.63
premium
$4.89
$41.84
$83.67
diesel
$5.61
$48.00
$96.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.2
0
$22.83
$10.44
Efficient EV
54.4
0
$19.02
$8.70
EV Truck/SUV
87
1
$30.44
$13.91
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 19, 2026
Origin
Simonton Lake, IN
Late night
in Simonton Lake on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IN
Late night
in Bloomington on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Partly Cloudy then Patchy Frost
WNW 6 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 9:53PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 9:53PM EDT until April 24 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
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
30 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 32m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 drive is mostly highway, with 80% of the 217.4 miles on faster roads like US 31 and I-69. You'll encounter one stretch of 99.1 miles on US 31 before transitioning to other routes. Expect a steady pace for most of the trip, with the highway portion likely featuring more frequent exits and merges as you pass through various towns and cities. The final leg will be on surface roads, indicated by South Michigan Street.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.1 mi on US 31.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 31 and I 69. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.2 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 217.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 134.1 miles (US 31): Lane positioning matters here; at 147.1 miles (US 31): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Simonton Lake, IN to Bloomington, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Indianapolis along the way.
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 4h 32m. Total distance: 217.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.1 miles on US 31. 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 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 134.1 miles (US 31): Lane positioning matters here; at 147.1 miles (US 31): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Bloomington, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
