Sims, IN to Bloomington, IN is 115 miles and takes about 2 hours 27 minutes via I 69 and SR 37, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest drive keeps you within Indiana for its entirety, offering a straightforward journey from one point to another. With a highway-focused profile, expect a consistent pace for most of the trip. This route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing you ample time to reach your destination and settle in without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.5 miles from Sims, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
65.1 mi
1h 14m
SR 37
15.3 mi
19m
SR 13
9.3 mi
11m
North 900 West
6 mi
8m
South 800 West
5.2 mi
7m
North Walnut Street
3.2 mi
4m
State Road 13
3.2 mi
4m
North Anderson Street
2.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 65.1 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sims, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on South Washington Street
301 ft·18 sec·South Washington Street
2
Turn left onto East Howard Street
0.2 mi·48 sec·East Howard Street
3
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.5 mi·2 min·South Main Street
4
Turn left onto West 400 South
1.7 mi·2 min·West 400 South
5
Turn right onto SR 13; SR 19
5.2 mi·7 min·South 800 West
6
Continue on SR 13
3.2 mi·4 min·State Road 13
7
Continue on SR 13
6.0 mi·8 min·North 900 West
8
Continue on SR 13
2.9 mi·4 min·North Anderson Street
9
Turn right onto SR 37; SR 13
2.4 mi·2 min·SR 37; SR 13
10
Continue on SR 13; SR 37
9.3 mi·11 min·SR 13; SR 37
11
Enter roundabout onto SR 37
105 ft·1 sec·SR 37
12
Continue on SR 37
13 mi·17 min·SR 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 69
3.1 mi·3 min·I 69
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
1.0 mi·1 min·I 69
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on I 69
22 mi·25 min·I 69
Exit 200Toward I 465 South, I 69 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
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.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward College Avenue, Walnut Street
18
Turn straight onto North Walnut Street
3.2 mi·4 min·North Walnut Street
19
Continue on North College Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·North College Avenue
20
Turn left onto West 10th Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·West 10th Street
21
Turn right onto North Dunn Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Dunn Street
22
Turn left onto East 4th Street
379 ft·15 sec·East 4th Street
23
Turn straight
99 ft·7 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 27 minute duration and 115-mile distance, this trip is easily completed in a single day. You could depart anytime in the morning and still arrive with plenty of daylight. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, it's an economical choice. Pay attention to the transition from I 69 to SR 37 as it marks a key point in the route. Since there are no mandated stops in the data, feel free to make spontaneous breaks as needed, perhaps at a rest area along I 69.
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 57.5 miles from Sims, IN, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.1 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 25 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.5 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h
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 Sims, 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 Sims, IN
This is one driving day of about 115 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Sims, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 69 for about 65.1 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 109.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Howard Street
Turn left onto East Howard Street
Navigation decision point
6
47.4 mi into trip|~1h 6m 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
48.4 mi into trip|~1h 7m 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
70.2 mi into trip|~1h 33m 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
109.4 mi into trip|~2h 17m 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
$17.98 one way
$35.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.74
$39.48
premium
$4.89
$22.13
$44.26
diesel
$5.61
$25.39
$50.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.5
0
$12.08
$5.52
Efficient EV
28.8
0
$10.06
$4.60
EV Truck/SUV
46
0
$16.10
$7.36
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Sims, IN
Morning
in Sims on Tuesday
Local time
9:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IN
Morning
in Bloomington on Tuesday
Local time
9:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph55% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 10:34PM EDT until April 22 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 10:34PM EDT until April 24 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
75°F
Beech Grove, IN
58 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
8 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
2h 27m 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?
This drive leans heavily into highway travel, with 78% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 69 and SR 37. You'll experience a significant stretch of uninterrupted driving, with the longest segment covering 65.1 miles on I 69. The character is predominantly that of a highway-focused journey, meaning you'll likely find a steady speed limit and efficient travel. While SR 13 is part of the mix, the overall feel is geared towards covering ground quickly and directly.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.1 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 37. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Howard 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 115 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 0.1 miles (East Howard Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.4 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 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.
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 27m. Total distance: 115 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.1 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: at 0.1 miles (East Howard Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.4 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 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.
