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 Janko's Little Zagreb (223 W 6th St) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Chop Shop Market & Table (1915 S Walnut St) and Southern Stone (405 W Patterson Drive) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Bloomington.
When to visit Bloomington
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″.
How to Get to Bloomington
Plane
Although Bloomington doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Indianapolis Airport (IND), which is located 64 km 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 New York and takes around 2h 05m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Bloomington. The train journey from Bloomington to Alexandria takes 17h 56m and costs around $118 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from New York, expect to pay about $188 for a 22h 30m trip.
Car
Another option to get to Bloomington is to pick up a car rental from Chicago, which is about 315 km from Bloomington. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Turo, among others, in Chicago.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bloomington, including Tornado Bus, Amtrak and Greyhound. From Louisville, the bus ride to Bloomington takes 193 km and will cost you around $42. From Nashville, the ticket costs about $250 for a journey of 274 km. The most popular bus station is Bloomington 1725 E 3rd St, located 1.2 km from downtown Bloomington. Bloomington Transit Ctr is also a commonly used station, and is 0.8 km from the city center.
Airlines serving 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.
Where to stay in popular areas of Bloomington
Most booked hotels in Bloomington
Renting a car in Bloomington
Renting a car in Bloomington costs $68 per day, on average, or $136 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz and Budget 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 km from the city center.
It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 3% cheaper than airport locations in Bloomington.
Expect to pay $3.90 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 $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Bloomington is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Nissan Versa Note or similar) are, on average, 58% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.