Origin
Bloomington, IN
Night in Bloomington on Thursday
Local time
11:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bloomington, IN to Prairie Creek, IN
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 45m
Distance
68.5 mi
110 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 37m
★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 1m
10 AM
1h 51m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
2h 0m
8 PM
1h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bloomington, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Prairie Creek, IN
Mahesh Mohan
Trip Overview
The drive from Bloomington, IN to Prairie Creek, IN covers 68.5 miles and takes about 1h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West State Road 46, State Road 46, US 41 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33 miles on West State Road 46. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.71 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
34.2 miles from Bloomington, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 68.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (24%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 45m drive with frequent turns across 68.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West State Road 46 is the longest continuous segment at about 33 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Indiana Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 68.5 miles you will encounter 16 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: near the start (South Indiana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (North Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.8 miles (SR 46 / West State Road 46): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese 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
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North Walnut Street
Turn right onto North Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
17.8 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
SR 46 / West State Road 46
Turn right onto SR 46 / West State Road 46
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
50.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
68.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
|
West 158th Drive
Turn right onto West 158th Drive
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West State Road 46 | 33 mi | 47m |
| State Road 46 | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| US 41 | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| SR 246 | 5.8 mi | 10m |
| West State Road 45 46 Bypass | 5.7 mi | 10m |
| SR 641 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| North Walnut Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| East Morgan Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
West State Road 46
— 33 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, IN and Prairie Creek, 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
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Walnut Street
5
Turn left onto SR 45; SR 46
159 ft
·
8 sec
·
West State Roade 45 46 Bypass
6
Continue on SR 45; SR 46
5.7 mi
·
10 min
·
West State Road 45 46 Bypass
7
Turn slight right onto SR 46
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Merge onto SR 46
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
West Temperance Street
9
Continue on SR 46
7.8 mi
·
11 min
·
State Road 46
10
Continue on SR 46
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East Morgan Street
11
Turn right onto SR 46
33 mi
·
47 min
·
West State Road 46
Use the straight lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto State Road 46
83 ft
·
3 sec
·
State Road 46
13
Continue on State Road 46
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
State Road 46
14
Enter roundabout
205 ft
·
10 sec
15
Continue
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
16
Merge onto SR 641
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
SR 641
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
18
Merge onto US 41; US 150
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
US 41; US 150
19
Turn right onto SR 246
5.8 mi
·
10 min
·
SR 246
20
Turn right
316 ft
·
8 sec
21
Turn right onto West 158th Drive
177 ft
·
7 sec
·
West 158th Drive
22
Arrive at destination
West 158th Drive
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 34.2 miles from Bloomington, IN, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33 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 15 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.2 miles or 55m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Prairie Creek, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bloomington, IN
This is one driving day of about 68.5 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Bloomington, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on West State Road 46 for about 33 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.2 mi from Bloomington, IN · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.2 miles from Bloomington, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Prairie Creek, IN
The final approach into Prairie Creek, IN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.71 one way
$21.42 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.76 | $23.52 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.18 | $26.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.12 | $30.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.19 | $3.29 |
| Efficient EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.99 | $2.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.59 | $4.38 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Prairie Creek, IN
Night in Prairie Creek on Thursday
Local time
11:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Spencer, IN
34 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
5 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
1h 45m 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 Prairie Creek, IN covers 68.5 miles and takes about 1h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West State Road 46, State Road 46, US 41. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.2 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 $10.71 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.5 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Indiana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (North Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.8 miles (SR 46 / West State Road 46): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bloomington, IN to Prairie Creek, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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