Origin
Brookston, IN
Morning in Brookston on Friday
Local time
7:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brookston, IN to Bloomington, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 26m
Distance
121.4 mi
195 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 17m
★
6 AM
2h 27m
8 AM
2h 46m
10 AM
2h 33m
12 PM
2h 31m
3 PM
2h 34m
5 PM
2h 45m
8 PM
2h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brookston, IN
david hou
Bloomington, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 121.4-mile journey from Brookston, Indiana to Bloomington, Indiana is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 26 minutes on the road, covering 88% of the distance on major interstates like I-65, I-69, and I-465. With a projected fuel cost of around $19, this route offers an economical option for a quick trip within the Midwest. It's a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two Indiana cities without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.7 miles from Brookston, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 121.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route leans heavily into highway driving, with 88% of the journey taking place on interstates. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including a notable 54.5-mile segment on I-65. The profile is primarily a highway-focused drive, meaning you'll spend most of your time on multi-lane roads designed for efficient travel. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal deviations onto slower, local roads for the majority of the trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 65 is the longest continuous segment at about 54.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 69. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 18 / West 3rd Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 121.4 miles you will encounter 12 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 (SR 18 / West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 56.3 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 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
|
SR 18 / West 3rd Street
Turn right onto SR 18 / West 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
6
56.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m 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.
5
62.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 465 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 123
Toward I 465 South
7
76.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m 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
5
115.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 54.5 mi | 59m |
| I 69 | 38.3 mi | 42m |
| I 465 | 13.7 mi | 15m |
| South Prairie Street | 7.4 mi | 13m |
| North Walnut Street | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| North College Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Dunn Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West 10th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 54.5 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brookston, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on South Railroad Street
41 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Railroad Street
2
Turn right onto SR 18
361 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 3rd Street
3
Turn left onto SR 43
7.4 mi
·
13 min
·
South Prairie Street
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
5
Merge onto I 65
49 mi
·
52 min
·
I 65
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 123
Toward I 465 South
8
Continue on this road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 123
Toward I 465 South
9
Merge onto I 465
14 mi
·
15 min
·
I 465
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 5
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 69
38 mi
·
42 min
·
I 69
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward College Avenue, Walnut Street
13
Turn straight onto North Walnut Street
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Walnut Street
14
Continue on North College Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North College Avenue
15
Turn left onto West 10th Street
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
West 10th Street
16
Turn right onto North Dunn Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Dunn Street
17
Turn left onto East 4th Street
379 ft
·
15 sec
·
East 4th Street
18
Turn straight
99 ft
·
7 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 26 minute duration, this trip is ideal for a single-day excursion, offering flexibility in your departure time. You won't need to worry about extensive stops, but it's always wise to utilize the opportunities provided by the interstate system for fuel and rest. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 54.5 miles on I-65, to ensure you have enough to reach Bloomington comfortably. The $19 fuel cost estimate makes budgeting straightforward for this efficient drive.
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 60.7 miles from Brookston, IN, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 27 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.7 miles or 1h 11m 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 57m
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 Brookston, 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 Brookston, IN
This is one driving day of about 121.4 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Brookston, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 60.7 mi from Brookston, IN · 1h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.7 miles from Brookston, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bloomington, IN
The final approach into Bloomington, IN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Bloomington, IN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.98 one way
$37.96 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.84 | $41.68 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.36 | $46.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.80 | $53.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.4 | 0 | $12.75 | $5.83 |
| Efficient EV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.62 | $4.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.6 | 0 | $17.00 | $7.77 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Bloomington, IN
Morning in Bloomington on Friday
Local time
7:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Sunny
WSW 14 mph
8% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 3:01PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 16 at 12:24PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
24 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
2h 26m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Brookston, IN to Bloomington, IN covers 121.4 miles and takes about 2h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, I 69, I 465. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.7 miles from Brookston, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.98 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 121.4 miles you will encounter 12 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 (SR 18 / West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 56.3 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Brookston, IN to Bloomington, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Bloomington, IN
More from Brookston, IN
More trips to Bloomington, IN
Explore more options from Brookston, IN or browse trips ending in Bloomington, IN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IN road trips.