Bloomington travel guide

Bloomington Tourism | Bloomington Guide

You're Going to Love Bloomington

With a population of 85,185, Bloomington is a must-see destination in Minnesota, 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, Bloomington Chop House (3900 American Blvd. W.) and Lela (5601 West 78th Street) are great picks.

When to visit Bloomington

Bloomington in January
Estimated hotel price
$117
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bloomington in January
Estimated hotel price
$117
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Bloomington

Plane

When flying to Bloomington, you’ll arrive at Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport (MSP), which is located 8 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Bloomington include Air France, Aeromexico and Delta. The shortest domestic flight to Bloomington departs from Detroit and takes around 1h 45m.

Car

Another option to get to Bloomington is to pick up a car rental from Minneapolis, which is about 12 miles from Bloomington. You’ll find branches of Thrifty and Ace, among others, in Minneapolis.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bloomington, including Megabus, Bus and Greyhound. From Rochester, the bus ride to Bloomington takes 90 miles and will cost you around $29. From Eau Claire, the ticket costs about $22 for a journey of 130 miles.

Plane

When flying to Bloomington, you’ll arrive at Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport (MSP), which is located 8 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Bloomington include Air France, Aeromexico and Delta. The shortest domestic flight to Bloomington departs from Detroit and takes around 1h 45m.

Car

Another option to get to Bloomington is to pick up a car rental from Minneapolis, which is about 12 miles from Bloomington. You’ll find branches of Thrifty and Ace, among others, in Minneapolis.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bloomington, including Megabus, Bus and Greyhound. From Rochester, the bus ride to Bloomington takes 90 miles and will cost you around $29. From Eau Claire, the ticket costs about $22 for a journey of 130 miles.

Airports near Bloomington

Airlines serving Bloomington

Lufthansa
Good (4,688 reviews)
KLM
Good (846 reviews)
SWISS
Good (951 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,573 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,608 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,280 reviews)
Air France
Good (979 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,597 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,113 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,953 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,441 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,925 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (226 reviews)
Finnair
Good (864 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (923 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,175 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,712 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (834 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (512 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (1,595 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in popular areas of Bloomington

Most booked hotels in Bloomington

Homewood Suites by Hilton Edina Minneapolis
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 495 reviews)
$147+
Intercontinental Minneapolis St Paul Airport
5 stars
Excellent (8.8, 801 reviews)
$209+
Country Inn & Suites By Radisson, Bloomington Moa
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 1302 reviews)
$127+
Radisson Blu Mall of America
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1567 reviews)
$194+
Hyatt Regency Bloomington - Minneapolis
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, 632 reviews)
$120+
Great Wolf Lodge Bloomington
3 stars
Good (7.9, 218 reviews)
$224+

Renting a car in Bloomington

Renting a car in Bloomington costs $57 per day, on average, or $113 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 14% 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 Compact (Ford Focus or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Chrysler 200 or similar) are, on average, 48% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Bloomington costs $57 per day, on average, or $113 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 14% 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 Compact (Ford Focus or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Chrysler 200 or similar) are, on average, 48% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.