Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Bloomington travel guide

Bloomington Tourism | Bloomington Guide

You're Going to Love Bloomington

With a population of 80,405, Bloomington is a must-see destination in Indiana, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Bloomington deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Where to Eat in Bloomington

If you’re looking for affordable options, Topo's 403 (403 N. Walnut St.) and DeAngelo's (2620 East Third Street) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Chop Shop Market & Table (1915 S Walnut St) and YATAGARASU (430 E Kirkwood Ave) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Bloomington.

When to visit Bloomington

Bloomington in January
Estimated hotel price
$109
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bloomington in January
Estimated hotel price
$109
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Bloomington in July, when the average temperature is 73.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 84.2 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 21.2 °F, with an average temperature of 30.2 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in May, when precipitation is around 5.2″. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Bloomington, with an average rainfall of 2.8″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Bloomington

Plane

Although Bloomington doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Indianapolis Airport (IND), which is located 40 miles from Bloomington. Louisville Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from American Airlines, Delta, WestJet and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Bloomington departs from Atlanta and takes around 1h 23m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Bloomington. The train journey from Bloomington to Chicago takes 4h 54m and costs around $33 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Washington, D.C., expect to pay about $124 for a 18h 16m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Bloomington is to pick up a car rental from Chicago, which is about 196 miles from Bloomington. You’ll find branches of Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Turo, among others, in Chicago.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bloomington, including Amtrak, Greyhound and FlixBus. From Chicago, the bus ride to Bloomington takes 225 miles and will cost you around $73. From Nashville, the ticket costs about $110 for a journey of 245 miles. The most popular bus station is Bloomington 1725 E 3rd St, located 0.7 miles from downtown Bloomington. Bloomington Transit Ctr is also a commonly used station, and is 0.5 miles from the city center.

Plane

Although Bloomington doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Indianapolis Airport (IND), which is located 40 miles from Bloomington. Louisville Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from American Airlines, Delta, WestJet and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Bloomington departs from Atlanta and takes around 1h 23m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Bloomington. The train journey from Bloomington to Chicago takes 4h 54m and costs around $33 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Washington, D.C., expect to pay about $124 for a 18h 16m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Bloomington is to pick up a car rental from Chicago, which is about 196 miles from Bloomington. You’ll find branches of Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Turo, among others, in Chicago.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bloomington, including Amtrak, Greyhound and FlixBus. From Chicago, the bus ride to Bloomington takes 225 miles and will cost you around $73. From Nashville, the ticket costs about $110 for a journey of 245 miles. The most popular bus station is Bloomington 1725 E 3rd St, located 0.7 miles from downtown Bloomington. Bloomington Transit Ctr is also a commonly used station, and is 0.5 miles from the city center.

Airports near Bloomington

SDFLouisville Intl
EVVEvansville Dress Regional
INDIndianapolis

Airlines serving Bloomington

Lufthansa
Good (7,054 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,337 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,851 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,589 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,937 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,791 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,703 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,448 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (781 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,700 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,221 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,566 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,263 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,349 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (346 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,275 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,981 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (968 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (769 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,076 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Bloomington

Where to stay in Bloomington

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Bloomington and Candlewood Suites Bloomington. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Bloomington, with prices from $60 to $2,188 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Bloomington are about 53% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Bloomington by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Bloomington

Most booked hotels in Bloomington

See all
Graduate by Hilton Bloomington
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, 621 reviews)
$164+
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Hyatt Place Bloomington
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1012 reviews)
$123+
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Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bloomington
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 528 reviews)
$111+
View
Courtyard by Marriott Bloomington
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 490 reviews)
$113+
View
Cascades Inn
2 stars
Excellent (8.1, 1534 reviews)
$67+
View
Super 8 by Wyndham Bloomington University Area
2 stars
Good (7.2, 801 reviews)
$69+
View

Renting a car in Bloomington

Renting a car in Bloomington costs $83 per day, on average, or $166 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz and Avis are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Bloomington is the Budget branch at 912 South Walnut Street, which is 1 mile from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 23% more expensive than at Indianapolis.

Expect to pay $3.41 per gallon in Bloomington (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $40.88 and $54.51. The most frequently booked car type in Bloomington is Full-size (Jeep Grand Cherokee L or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Chevrolet Spark or similar) are, on average, 51% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Bloomington costs $83 per day, on average, or $166 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz and Avis are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Bloomington is the Budget branch at 912 South Walnut Street, which is 1 mile from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 23% more expensive than at Indianapolis.

Expect to pay $3.41 per gallon in Bloomington (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $40.88 and $54.51. The most frequently booked car type in Bloomington is Full-size (Jeep Grand Cherokee L or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Chevrolet Spark or similar) are, on average, 51% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Car rental agencies in Bloomington

Hertz

Hertz

Payless

Payless
Find car rentals in Bloomington

Bloomington Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Bloomington city guide for the best Bloomington travel tips. To help you organize your Bloomington trip ideas, this Bloomington visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.