Bloomington is located in the heart of the Midwest, in one of the region's most picturesque areas. Conveniently located within a day's drive of over half of the U.S. population, Bloomington is a great place to visit and an easy place to get to. Made famous in the 1979 movie "Breaking Away," Bloomington is bicycle and pedestrian friendly, through several other modes of transportation are also available.
Air Service
Licensed pilots with private aircraft can fly directly into the Monroe County Airport, located just west of Bloomington. For the rest of us, primary air service to Bloomington is provided by the Indianapolis International Airport, located just 50 miles to the north. The Indianapolis Airport is served by 18 different airlines and averages over 400 flights per day, including non-stop and direct flights to more than 100 destinations, serving more than seven million passengers each year.
Passengers traveling on to Bloomington can enjoy rental car or shuttle service to and from the Indianapolis Airport. Contact the Bloomington Visitors Center at (866) 333-0088 for more information.
Highway Access
Bloomington can be accessed from two major state highways; Indiana Highway 37, which runs north-south from Indianapolis in the north to Interstate 64 in the south and Indiana Highway 46, which runs east-west from Columbus in the east to Terre Haute in the west. Several Interstates are easily accessed from these two highways, making Bloomington a great driving destination.
Car Services
Car rentals and taxi services are available from several companies both locally and at the Indianapolis International Airport, for visitors who are traveling by air. See our Automotive and Transportation Services page for details on local car services.
Bus Service
Bloomington Transit (812) 336-7433 Uptown, downtown, cross town and around town, the best way to get there is Bloomington Transit. Several routes run daily, in town and on campus. Main passenger transfer terminal is located at the corner of Third and Walnut Streets.
Rural Transit (812) 876-1079 A service of the Area 10 Agency on Aging, Rural Transit offers bus service to everyone from Monroe, Owen and Lawrence counties. You can ride no matter your age or physical abilities. Rural Transit offers three different transportation services. Express services travels between Spencer, Ellettsville, and Bloomington Monday through Friday. County Routes offers round-trip service between specific points in the counties on a one- to five-times weekly basis. County Sweeps offers service throughout each county 6-8 am and 4-6 pm Monday through Friday.
IU Campus Bus Service (812) 855-8384 Campus Bus Service operates weekdays from 7:30 am to 12 Midnight, Saturdays from 8:40 am to 11:30 pm and Sunday 10:30 am to 11:30 pm. There is no service on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, New Year's Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day. This is a free service.
Go Express Travel (800) 589-6004 GO Express Travel provides superior ground transportation services throughout Indiana and Chicagoland. GO Express offers immaculate, late model vehicles, including limos and motorcoaches driven by impeccable, professional chauffeurs. Indianapolis Airport Shuttle services for boarding in Bloomington or for boarding at the Indianapolis Airport are available daily
Mileage to Bloomington:
City | Distance | Drive Time |
Indianapolis, IN | 50 miles | 1 hour |
Fort Wayne, IN | 169 miles | 3.5 hours |
South Bend, IN | 190 miles | 4 hours |
Evansville, IN | 116 miles | 2.75 hours |
Chicago, IL | 227 miles | 4.5 hours |
Cincinnati, OH | 118 miles | 2.25 hours |
Louisville, KY | 98 miles | 2 hours |
St. Louis, MO | 202 miles | 4 hours |
Detroit, MI | 365 miles | 7.5 hours |