Trip from Fairfield, IN to Bloomington, IN

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 51m

Distance

119.6 mi

192 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

4 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

2h 41m ★

6 AM

2h 52m

8 AM

3h 14m

10 AM

2h 59m

12 PM

2h 57m

3 PM

3h 1m

5 PM

3h 13m

8 PM

2h 45m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

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Fairfield, IN

Soran Ali

county seat of Monroe County, Indiana, United States

Bloomington, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Fairfield, IN to Bloomington, IN covers 119.6 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 74, SR 46, Van Buren Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.5 miles on I 74. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.70 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

59.8 miles from Fairfield, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 119.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (59%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Fairfield, IN to Bloomington, IN covers 119.6 miles and takes about 2h 51m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 74 is the longest continuous segment at about 29.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near SR 101 / Indiana Highway 101.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 51m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (SR 101 / Indiana Highway 101): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 24.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 53.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

2.5 mi into trip | ~9m in | SR 101 / Indiana Highway 101

Turn sharp right onto SR 101 / Indiana Highway 101

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

24.1 mi into trip | ~46m in

Take the ramp toward I 74 West: Indianapolis

Navigation decision point

Toward I 74 West: Indianapolis

53.7 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in

Take the exit toward SR 3 South: Greensburg

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 134A Toward SR 3 South: Greensburg

80.2 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in | 10th Street

Turn left onto 10th Street

Navigation decision point

119.5 mi into trip | ~2h 51m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 74	29.5 mi	31m
SR 46	21.6 mi	31m
Van Buren Street	18.2 mi	21m
State Road 101	9.6 mi	16m
Jonathan Moore Pike	8.4 mi	12m
SR 3	7 mi	9m
SR 1	6.1 mi	10m
US 52	4.8 mi	7m

Longest stretch: I 74 — 29.5 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, IN and Bloomington, IN.

Start on this road

2.5 mi · 9 min · this road

Turn sharp right onto SR 101

1.1 mi · 1 min · Indiana Highway 101

Continue on SR 101

9.6 mi · 16 min · State Road 101

Continue on US 52; SR 1

0.3 mi · 24 sec · US 52; SR 1

Continue on US 52; SR 1

4.5 mi · 6 min · US 52; SR 1

Turn right onto SR 1

6.1 mi · 10 min · SR 1

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 74 West: Indianapolis

Merge onto I 74

29 mi · 31 min · I 74

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 38 sec

Exit 134A Toward SR 3 South: Greensburg

Continue on SR 3

7.0 mi · 9 min · SR 3

Continue on SR 46

12 mi · 17 min · SR 46

Continue on 25th Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · 25th Street

Turn left onto County Road 650 East

1.0 mi · 1 min · County Road 650 East

Turn right onto County Road 50 North

4.4 mi · 7 min · County Road 50 North

Turn right onto US 31

0.4 mi · 40 sec · North National Road

Turn left onto 10th Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · 10th Street

Turn left onto Central Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Central Avenue

Turn right onto SR 46

1.3 mi · 2 min · 3rd Street

Continue on Jonathan Moore Pike

8.4 mi · 12 min · Jonathan Moore Pike

Continue on SR 46

9.2 mi · 13 min · SR 46

Turn left onto SR 46

18 mi · 21 min · Van Buren Street

Turn right onto South Indiana Avenue

452 ft · 16 sec · South Indiana Avenue

Turn right

99 ft · 7 sec

Arrive at 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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 59.8 miles from Fairfield, IN, or about 1h 27m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.5 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 26 miles or 48m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 59.8 miles or 1h 27m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 24m

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 Fairfield, 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 Fairfield, IN

This is one driving day of about 119.6 miles and 2h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Fairfield, 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 I 74 for about 29.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 59.8 mi from Fairfield, IN · 1h 27m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hope, IN

60 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

Brookville, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Greensburg, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 59.8 miles from Fairfield, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Artists Colony Inn & Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Nashville, Indiana

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 102.5

+18125778565

Visit website

King Gyros Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Bloomington, Indiana

1.6 mi

Cloverleaf South Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Bloomington, Indiana

1.9 mi

Artists Colony Inn & Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 102.5

Nashville, Indiana

+18125778565

Visit website

King Gyros Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 119.6

Bloomington, Indiana

Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm

+18123344144

Visit website

Cloverleaf South Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 119.6

Bloomington, Indiana

Hours: 5 am–3 pm

+18126501017

Visit website

The Restaurant at Hard Truth

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 102.5

Nashville, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18127204840

Visit website

Angottis Italian Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30 mile 85.4

Columbus, Indiana

Hours: 4–9 pm

+18123750686

Visit website

Le Fernández Café

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour Moderately mile 85.4

Columbus, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+18129005551

Visit website

E Sushi Japanese Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 76.9

Columbus, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+18123766888

Visit website

Cloverleaf Family Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 119.6

Bloomington, Indiana

Hours: 5 am–3 pm

+18123341077

Visit website

Coffee On Main

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 8.5

Brookville, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 119.6

Bloomington, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 119.6

Bloomington, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EVBOLT Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 119.6

Bloomington, Indiana

+18665212658

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 119.6

Bloomington, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.70 one way

$37.40 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$20.53	$41.06
premium	$4.89	$23.02	$46.03
diesel	$5.61	$26.41	$52.81

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: 41.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

4 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Tesla Supercharger

Bloomington, Indiana

Tesla

1 DCFC

EV Connect Charging Station

Bloomington, Indiana

EV Connect

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Bloomington, Indiana

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

EVBOLT Charging Station

Bloomington, Indiana

Other

1 DCFC

Tesla: 1 EV Connect: 1 ChargePoint: 1 Other: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	35.9	$12.56	$5.74
Efficient EV	29.9	$10.46	$4.78
EV Truck/SUV	47.8	$16.74	$7.65

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Fairfield, IN

Evening in Fairfield on Thursday

Local time

5:02 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bloomington, IN

Evening in Bloomington on Thursday

Local time

5:02 PM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

54°F

Hope, IN

60 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

22 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 51m 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 Fairfield, IN to Bloomington, IN covers 119.6 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 74, SR 46, Van Buren Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 59.8 miles from Fairfield, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.70 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 2h 51m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The route from Fairfield, IN to Bloomington, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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