The drive from Bloomington, IN to Hamilton, IN covers 102.6 miles and takes about 2h 9m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 69, I 65, SR 39 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.2 miles on I 69.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.04 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.3 miles from Bloomington, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 102.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 9m highway drive covering 102.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 69 and I 65. The longest continuous stretch is about 38.2 miles on I 69.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 69 is the longest continuous segment at about 38.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and I 65. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Indiana Avenue.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 102.6 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: near the start (South Indiana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 43.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.2 miles (65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Indiana Avenue
Turn right onto South Indiana Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
43.6 mi into trip|~51m in
Take the exit toward I 465 West, I 74 West: Peoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 163
Toward I 465 West, I 74 West: Peoria
6
54.2 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|65
Keep slight left at fork onto 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
58.1 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 20
Toward I 65 North: Chicago
6
81.2 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward SR 47: Thorntown, Sheridan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 146
Toward SR 47: Thorntown, Sheridan
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 Bloomington, IN to Hamilton, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Sheridan along the way.
Sheridan
81.2 mi in|~1h 36m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
38.2 mi
42m
I 65
21.5 mi
23m
SR 39
11.5 mi
16m
I 74
9.2 mi
10m
Rossville Avenue
4.6 mi
6m
North Walnut Street
4.4 mi
6m
65
3.9 mi
4m
West County Road 400 North
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 38.2 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IN and Hamilton, IN.
1
Start on this road
99 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto South Indiana Avenue
0.2 mi·39 sec·South Indiana Avenue
3
Turn left onto East 7th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East 7th Street
4
Turn right onto North Walnut Street
4.4 mi·6 min·North Walnut Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
6
Merge onto I 69
38 mi·42 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
1.4 mi·3 min
Exit 163Toward I 465 West, I 74 West: Peoria
8
Merge onto I 74; I 465
9.2 mi·10 min·I 74; I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto 65
3.9 mi·4 min·65
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 20Toward I 65 North: ChicagoUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 65
18 mi·19 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 52
0.2 mi·15 sec·US 52
Exit 141Toward US 52 West
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·9 sec
14
Merge onto I 65
3.6 mi·3 min·I 65
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 146Toward SR 47: Thorntown, Sheridan
16
Turn right onto SR 47
1.8 mi·3 min·IN-47
17
Turn left onto SR 39
12 mi·16 min·SR 39
18
Turn left onto US 421; SR 39
0.5 mi·44 sec·West Kyger Street
19
Turn slight right onto US 421; SR 39
4.6 mi·6 min·Rossville Avenue
20
Turn left onto SR 38
2.7 mi·4 min·West County Road 400 North
21
Turn right onto North County Road 600 West
51 ft·2 sec·North County Road 600 West
22
Arrive at destination
North County Road 600 West
Trip Plan
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 51.3 miles from Bloomington, IN, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.2 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 23 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.3 miles or 1h 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 1h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hamilton, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bloomington, 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 Bloomington, IN
This is one driving day of about 102.6 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Bloomington, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 69 for about 38.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.3 mi from Bloomington, IN
· 1h 2m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.04 one way
$32.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.61
$35.22
premium
$4.89
$19.74
$39.49
diesel
$5.61
$22.65
$45.31
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: 35.9 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
30.8
0
$10.77
$4.92
Efficient EV
25.7
0
$8.98
$4.10
EV Truck/SUV
41
0
$14.36
$6.57
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 15, 2026
Origin
Bloomington, IN
Morning
in Bloomington on Saturday
Local time
8:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hamilton, IN
Morning
in Hamilton on Saturday
Local time
8:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°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 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 9m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bloomington, IN to Hamilton, IN covers 102.6 miles and takes about 2h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 69, I 65, SR 39. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.3 miles from Bloomington, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.04 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 102.6 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Indiana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 43.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.2 miles (65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Bloomington, IN to Hamilton, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Sheridan along the way.
