How far is Bloomington, IN from Columbus, IN?

The driving distance from Bloomington, IN to Columbus, IN is about 36.8 miles (59.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 32.5 miles (52.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
36.87 mi
00h 50m
Flight
32.5 mi
52.3 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bloomington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
32.5 mi
Kilometers
52.3 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
36.87 mi
Kilometers
59.33 km
Drive Time
00h 50m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbus
Mon, May 4, 5:40 PM EDT
Return by in Bloomington
Mon, May 4, 6:31 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bloomington
2026-05-04T16:50
Arrive Columbus
Mon, May 4, 5:40 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:51 AM to 10:51 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:48 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bloomington
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Nashville
IN

Town in Indiana, United States

From Bloomington
18.4 mi
00h 25m
To Columbus
18.5 mi
00h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Monday

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph SW
Destination
74°F
Monday

Scattered Rain Showers then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bloomington and Columbus.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington and Columbus.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    30 m · 9 sec

  2. 2

    Continue on East 4th Street

    115 m · 21 sec · East 4th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South Dunn Street

    659 ft · 18 sec · South Dunn Street

  4. 4

    Continue on East Atwater Avenue

    1.3 km · 1 min · East Atwater Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto South Mitchell Street

    133 m · 10 sec · South Mitchell Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto East 3rd Street

    2.6 mi · 3 min · East 3rd Street

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    14.9 mi · 17 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    18.2 mi · 28 min

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Washington Street

    119 m · 24 sec · Washington Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto 3rd Street

    31 m · 1 sec · 3rd Street

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 3rd Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bloomington and Columbus.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
11 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
29.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
East 3rd Street
35.7 mi · 97%
East Atwater Avenue
0.78 mi · 2%
South Dunn Street
0.12 mi
South Mitchell Street
0.08 mi
Washington Street
0.07 mi
East 4th Street
0.07 mi
Longest Stretch

East 3rd Street

Continue straight

18.2 mi · 00h 28m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 50m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.3 mi
32.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Nashville
00h 25m from Bloomington
Leave By
4:48 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Bloomington and Scattered Rain Showers then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms near Columbus.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bloomington to Columbus?

The road trip is about 36.8 miles (59.3 km) and usually takes 00h 50m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Nashville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.4 miles from Bloomington and 18.5 miles from Columbus.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 32.5 miles (52.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:48 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.90 one way or $9.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms around Bloomington and Scattered Rain Showers then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms near Columbus.

Stop Ideas Near Nashville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Nashville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Nashville.

RAIL

Indianapolis Union Station

62 mi away
350 South Illinois Street
RAIL

Connersville station

108 mi away
1012 Eastern Avenue
RAIL

Crawfordsville

108 mi away
Spring and Green Streets
BUS

Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana

112 mi away
1000 Smith Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bloomington and Columbus. Straight-line distance: 32.5 mi (52.3 km).

Bloomington

#1 Bloomington

The most populous city in Monroe County, Indiana.

Population85,603
Coordinates39.1653300, -86.5263900
Altitude235
CountryUnited States
Columbus

#2 Columbus

The most populous city in Bartholomew County, Indiana.

Population48,445
Coordinates39.2014400, -85.9213800
Altitude192
CountryUnited States
Start: Bloomington (-86.52639, 39.16533)
End: Columbus (-85.92138, 39.20144)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 59 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.3 gal
4.92 L · about $4.90
Round trip
$9.80
2.6 gal · 9.84 L
Estimated CO2
11.6 kg one way
Round trip: 23.1 kg / 51 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.90 $9.80
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.53 $11.06
Premium $4.65 $6.05 $12.10
Diesel $5.30 $6.90 $13.79

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Indiana · May 04, 2026

There is no time difference between Bloomington and Columbus. The current time is 16:50:00.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.