Origin
Dale, IN
Evening in Dale on Wednesday
Local time
6:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dale, IN to Bloomington, IN
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 46m
Distance
87.8 mi
141 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 38m
★
6 AM
1h 46m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 50m
3 PM
1h 52m
5 PM
2h 1m
8 PM
1h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dale, IN
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Bloomington, IN
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Trip Overview
The drive from Dale, IN to Bloomington, IN covers 87.8 miles and takes about 1h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Medcalf Street, County Road 300 East, Newton Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.73 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
43.9 miles from Dale, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 46m drive with frequent turns across 87.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Medcalf Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Dale, IN to Bloomington, IN is easy. At 1h 46m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dale, IN to Bloomington, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Medcalf Street | — | — |
| County Road 300 East | — | — |
| Newton Street | — | — |
| West Broadway Street | — | — |
| South John F Kennedy Avenue | — | — |
| SR 45 South | — | — |
| Bloomfield Road | — | — |
| West 2nd Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Medcalf Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dale, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on South Washington Street
49 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Washington Street
2
Turn left onto West Medcalf Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Medcalf Street
3
Continue on County Road 300 East
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
County Road 300 East
4
At the end of the road, turn right
16 mi
·
19 min
5
Turn left onto Newton Street
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Newton Street
6
Continue on West Broadway Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
West Broadway Street
7
Turn left onto South John F Kennedy Avenue
17 mi
·
22 min
·
South John F Kennedy Avenue
8
Take the exit right
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
9
Merge slight left
30 mi
·
32 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward SR 45 South
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
SR 45 South
11
At the end of the road, turn left onto Bloomfield Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Bloomfield Road
12
Continue on West 2nd Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West 2nd Street
13
Turn left onto South Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
South Walnut Street
14
Turn right onto East 3rd Street
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
East 3rd Street
15
Turn right onto South Dunn Street
256 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Dunn Street
16
Continue on East Atwater Avenue
400 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Atwater Avenue
17
Turn left onto South Indiana Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Indiana Avenue
18
Turn right
98 ft
·
7 sec
19
Arrive at your destination
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 43.9 miles from Dale, IN, or about 53m into the drive.
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 19 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.9 miles or 53m 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 30m
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 Dale, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dale, IN
This is one driving day of about 87.8 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Dale, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.9 mi from Dale, IN · 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.9 miles from Dale, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.73 one way
$27.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $15.07 | $30.14 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.90 | $33.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.39 | $38.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.22 | $4.21 |
| Efficient EV | 22 | 0 | $7.68 | $3.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.1 | 0 | $12.29 | $5.62 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Bloomington, IN
Evening in Bloomington on Wednesday
Local time
7:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
19 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
1h 46m 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 Dale, IN to Bloomington, IN covers 87.8 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Medcalf Street, County Road 300 East, Newton Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.9 miles from Dale, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.73 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.
The drive from Dale, IN to Bloomington, IN is easy. At 1h 46m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dale, IN to Bloomington, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Dale, IN to Bloomington, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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