Origin
Prairie Creek, IN
Late night in Prairie Creek on Friday
Local time
1:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Prairie Creek, IN to Bloomington, IN
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 45m
Distance
68.2 mi
110 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 38m
★
6 AM
1h 46m
8 AM
2h 1m
10 AM
1h 51m
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.
Prairie Creek, IN
Mahesh Mohan
Bloomington, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Prairie Creek, IN to Bloomington, IN covers 68.2 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 State Road 46, US 41, W 158 1/2 Dr for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.5 miles on State Road 46. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.66 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
34.1 miles from Prairie Creek, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 68.2 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 (16%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 45m drive with frequent turns across 68.2 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.
State Road 46 is the longest continuous segment at about 46.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 51st Place.
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 1h 45m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 51st Place): Navigation decision point; at 12.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 17 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 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 51st Place
Turn right onto South 51st Place
Navigation decision point
4
12.3 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward SR 641 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward SR 641 North
4
17 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward SR 46: Riley Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward SR 46: Riley Road
4
17.4 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
SR 46 / State Road 46
Enter roundabout onto SR 46 / State Road 46
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
66.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
|
North College Avenue
Turn sharp right onto North College Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Road 46 | 46.5 mi | 1h 9m |
| US 41 | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| W 158 1/2 Dr | 5.8 mi | 10m |
| SR 641 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| West Temperance Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West Morgan Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North College Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Dunn Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
State Road 46
— 46.5 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prairie Creek, IN and Bloomington, IN.
1
Start on West 158th Drive
151 ft
·
8 sec
·
West 158th Drive
2
Turn right onto South 51st Place
335 ft
·
19 sec
·
South 51st Place
3
Turn left onto SR 246
5.8 mi
·
10 min
·
W 158 1/2 Dr
4
Turn left onto US 41; US 150
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
US 41; US 150
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Toward SR 641 North
6
Continue on SR 641
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
SR 641
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Toward SR 46: Riley Road
8
Enter roundabout onto SR 46
27 ft
·
1 sec
·
State Road 46
9
Continue on SR 46
33 mi
·
47 min
·
State Road 46
10
Turn left onto US 231; SR 46; SR 67
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Morgan Street
11
Continue on SR 46
7.8 mi
·
11 min
·
State Road 46
12
Continue on SR 46
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Temperance Street
13
Continue on SR 46
5.7 mi
·
10 min
·
State Road 46
14
Turn sharp right onto 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
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 34.1 miles from Prairie Creek, IN, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.5 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 15 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.1 miles or 49m 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 25m
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 Prairie Creek, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Prairie Creek, IN
This is one driving day of about 68.2 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Prairie Creek, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Road 46 for about 46.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.1 mi from Prairie Creek, IN · 49m 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 34.1 miles from Prairie Creek, 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
$10.66 one way
$21.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.71 | $23.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.12 | $26.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.06 | $30.12 |
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: 23.9 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 | 20.5 | 0 | $7.16 | $3.27 |
| Efficient EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.97 | $2.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.3 | 0 | $9.55 | $4.36 |
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
Bloomington, IN
Late night in Bloomington on Friday
Local time
1:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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 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 Prairie Creek, IN to Bloomington, IN covers 68.2 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 State Road 46, US 41, W 158 1/2 Dr. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.1 miles from Prairie Creek, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.66 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 is a straightforward 1h 45m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 51st Place): Navigation decision point; at 12.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 17 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Prairie Creek, IN to Bloomington, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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