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No booking fees. Free cancellation on most cars
Save by finding great deals and securing low price rentals
Road Genius makes it easy to find great car rental deals in Bloomington, Indiana. Compare prices and make bookings in one place. Simple. Pick up a car downtown or near College Mall and visit Indiana University, Lake Monroe and Brown County State Park on your own schedule. Demand jumps during graduation and football weekends, so reserve early for the widest choice and low prices. Many visitors fly into Indianapolis and drive down.
Bloomington has no commercial airport, so visitors arrive by car or bus, or fly into Indianapolis and drive down.
| Location | Pros | Cons |
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| Downtown Bloomington |
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| East Side/College Mall area |
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Available Rental Companies:
Transportation to Rental Locations:
On average, car rentals in Bloomington (IN) cost around $64 per day, with the lowest-priced rentals starting at $41 per day.
Compare pickup spots – prices swing wildly between Downtown Bloomington, the East Side and Indianapolis Airport. Run the same dates through each location and pick the cheapest combo of daily rate + transport to the desk.
Lock in early for IU "mega-weeks" – graduation (early May), move-in (mid-Aug) and home football weekends sell out months ahead. Booking early here really does beat last-minute surge pricing.
Shift your rental window – picking up Tue–Thu instead of Fri can dodge weekend premiums and limited Sunday hours.
Go for weekly pricing if you're staying 4-5+ days – Bloomington locations often drop the per-day cost on 7-day rentals.
Where to Park:
Local Driving Rules:
Speed Limits:
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Book a car rental so you can drive to:
Brown County State Park – overlooks, trails
Lake Monroe – beaches, marinas
Hoosier National Forest – trailheads, campgrounds
Nashville, Indiana – galleries, shops
Do I need a car in Bloomington if I'm only visiting the IU campus?
If you're staying close to campus or downtown, you might not need a car for your whole trip. You can easily walk around the campus and downtown areas or take the bus. However, we recommend a car if you plan to explore beyond these areas or visit nearby attractions.
Where can I park near Indiana University?
IU provides visitor parking in garages and certain lots where you can pay by the hour or day. The easiest places for visitors to park are the Indiana Memorial Union lot, the Fee Lane parking garage and the Henderson Street garage. Street parking near campus usually has time limits and staff enforce the rules on weekdays.
How far is Bloomington from Indianapolis Airport?
Bloomington is about 55 miles (88 km) from Indianapolis International Airport. The drive takes around 1 hour using I-69 and I-465, depending on traffic.
Are there any driving restrictions during special events?
During big events like home football games, graduation or festivals, officials might close certain streets around campus and downtown or change the flow of traffic. You should follow the signs and any directions from the police at these times.
Is parking difficult to find in downtown Bloomington?
Downtown has plenty of metered street parking and public garages, but spots can fill up during busy times like weekend evenings and special events. You can usually find a spot in the 4th Street and Morton Street garages even when street parking is full.
When is the busiest time for car rentals in Bloomington?
Car rentals are busiest during IU graduation weekend (early May), move-in weekend (mid-August), homecoming, parents' weekend and home football game weekends (September-November). We recommend you book well in advance for these times.
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