Origin
Lexington, IN
Evening in Lexington on Thursday
Local time
6:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lexington, IN to Bloomington, IN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 45m
Distance
83.7 mi
135 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 38m
★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 1m
10 AM
1h 51m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 52m
5 PM
2h 0m
8 PM
1h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lexington, IN
William Fortunato
Bloomington, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lexington, IN to Bloomington, IN covers 83.7 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 I 65, Van Buren Street, Jonathan Moore Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.5 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.09 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
41.9 miles from Lexington, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 83.7 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 (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Lexington, IN to Bloomington, IN covers 83.7 miles and takes about 1h 45m, 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 13 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 38.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in near SR 3; SR 56; SR 203.
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 83.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 3.4 miles (SR 3; SR 56; SR 203): Lane positioning matters here; at 49.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
SR 3; SR 56; SR 203
Turn left onto SR 3; SR 56; SR 203
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
49.1 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward SR 46: Nashville, Bloomington, Columbus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 68
Toward SR 46: Nashville, Bloomington, Columbus
5
49.3 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
65.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
SR 46 / Van Buren Street
Turn left onto SR 46 / Van Buren Street
Navigation decision point
5
83.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
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 Lexington, IN to Bloomington, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Columbus along the way.
Columbus
49.1 mi in
|
~59m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 38.5 mi | 41m |
| Van Buren Street | 18.2 mi | 21m |
| Jonathan Moore Pike | 16 mi | 23m |
| SR 3 | 7 mi | 11m |
| State Road 203 | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| South Cherry Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Indiana Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 38.5 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on SR 203; SR 356
18 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn left onto SR 203
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
South Cherry Street
3
Continue on SR 203
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
State Road 203
4
Turn left onto SR 3; SR 56; SR 203
7.0 mi
·
11 min
·
SR 3; SR 56; SR 203
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
6
Merge onto I 65
38 mi
·
41 min
·
I 65
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 68
Toward SR 46: Nashville, Bloomington, Columbus
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
9
Merge onto SR 46
16 mi
·
23 min
·
Jonathan Moore Pike
10
Turn left onto SR 46
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Van Buren Street
11
Turn right onto South Indiana Avenue
452 ft
·
16 sec
·
South Indiana Avenue
12
Turn right
99 ft
·
7 sec
13
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.9 miles from Lexington, IN, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.5 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.9 miles or 51m 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 Lexington, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lexington, IN
This is one driving day of about 83.7 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Lexington, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 38.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.9 mi from Lexington, IN · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.9 miles from Lexington, 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
$13.09 one way
$26.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.37 | $28.73 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.11 | $32.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.48 | $36.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.1 | 0 | $8.79 | $4.02 |
| Efficient EV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.32 | $3.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.5 | 0 | $11.72 | $5.36 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 Thursday
Local time
6:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Nineveh, IN
42 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
20 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 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 Lexington, IN to Bloomington, IN covers 83.7 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 I 65, Van Buren Street, Jonathan Moore Pike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.9 miles from Lexington, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.09 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 83.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 3.4 miles (SR 3; SR 56; SR 203): Lane positioning matters here; at 49.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Lexington, IN to Bloomington, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Columbus along the way.
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