Whiting, IN to Bloomington, IN is 213.5 miles and takes about 4h 8m via Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway and I-69, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, traversing the Midwest region. You'll mostly be on surface roads with some interstate cruising, making it a straightforward drive. It's a single-day option that won't consume your entire day, leaving time for activities at your destination.
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
106.8 miles from Whiting, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
132.6 mi
2h 25m
I 69
38.3 mi
42m
I 465
13.7 mi
15m
Indiana Toll Road
10.1 mi
10m
I 65
5.9 mi
6m
North Walnut Street
3.2 mi
4m
Calumet Avenue
2.4 mi
4m
East 5th Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
— 132.6 mi, about 2h 25m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 98 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,173 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,837
Quietest
2 AM
~307 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Whiting, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on this road
292 ft·26 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Sheridan Avenue
161 ft·9 sec·Sheridan Avenue
3
Turn right onto 119th Street
0.7 mi·2 min·119th Street
4
Turn left onto US 41
2.4 mi·4 min·Calumet Avenue
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East
6
Merge onto I 90
10 mi·10 min·Indiana Toll Road
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Exit 14BToward SR 53: BroadwayUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn right onto SR 53
0.2 mi·38 sec·Broadway
9
Turn left onto US 12; US 20
1.6 mi·2 min·East 5th Avenue
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto I 65
133 mi·2 hr 25 min·Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
5.9 mi·6 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
13
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
14
Merge onto I 465
14 mi·15 min·I 465
15
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 69
38 mi·42 min·I 69
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
With a total driving time of just over 4 hours, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Bloomington before evening. Consider a brief stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs, as the longest continuous highway stretch is 132.6 miles. Given the manageable distance and fuel cost of around $33, you have flexibility in your departure time. Keep an eye on local traffic, especially as you approach Bloomington, as surface road segments can sometimes have unexpected delays.
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 106.8 miles from Whiting, IN, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.6 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 47 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.8 miles or 2h 2m 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 20m
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 Whiting, 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 Whiting, IN
This is one driving day of about 213.5 miles and 4h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Whiting, 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 Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway for about 132.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 168.9 — 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|Sheridan Avenue
Turn left onto Sheridan Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
13.8 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the exit toward SR 53: Broadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 14B
Toward SR 53: Broadway
6
14.2 mi into trip|~20m in|US 12; US 20 / East 5th Avenue
Turn left onto US 12; US 20 / East 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
148.4 mi into trip|~2h 48m 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
168.9 mi into trip|~3h 13m 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
$33.32 one way
$66.64 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.66
$73.33
premium
$4.99
$41.91
$83.82
diesel
$6.13
$51.50
$103.00
Estimated Tolls: $0.71
Indiana Toll Road
(10.1 mi)$0.71
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-11-09.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.1
0
$22.42
$10.25
Efficient EV
53.4
0
$18.68
$8.54
EV Truck/SUV
85.4
1
$29.89
$13.66
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Nov 9, 2026
Origin
Whiting, IN
Late night
in Whiting on Thursday
Local time
3:38 AM
CST
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bloomington, IN
Late night
in Bloomington on Thursday
Local time
4:38 AM
EST
Current temp
63°F
Sunny
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
4h 8m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
Lake Michigan's might has influenced Indiana Dunes for millennia. Wind and waves have shaped the land, leaving a rich mosaic of habitats along these 15 miles of Indiana coast. Over 50 miles of trails...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
$20
near mile 14.7
Park Closure: Partial Trail Closure - Dunewood Trace
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route involves 27% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch of highway covering 132.6 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. Expect the majority of your drive to be on surface roads, which often means more frequent intersections and traffic lights. You'll notice the transition from highway speeds to more localized traffic patterns as you move between segments.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 132.6 mi on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Sheridan Avenue.
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 213.5 miles you will encounter 17 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 (Sheridan Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.2 miles (US 12; US 20 / East 5th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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 4h 8m. Total distance: 213.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 132.6 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.71 in tolls one way, starting with Indiana Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 30 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Sheridan Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.2 miles (US 12; US 20 / East 5th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Bloomington, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
