Trip from Alaska, IN to Eel River, IN

Drive Time

1h 7m

Distance

41.8 mi

67 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 2m ★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Alaska, IN, IN

Alaska, IN

John De Leon

Downtown Eel River, IN, IN

Eel River, IN

Volcsei Peter

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick excursion through the Indiana heartland, the 41.8-mile trek from Alaska to Eel River is an ideal candidate for a single-day journey. You should budget approximately 1 hour and 7 minutes behind the wheel to complete this trip across the Midwest. With a fuel cost estimate of just $6, it is a budget-friendly way to navigate between these two points. The route utilizes a combination of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, State Route 59, and State Road 42 to get you to your destination. Because the total duration is quite short, there is no need to split this into an overnight stay, making it a perfect low-stress day trip. It is a straightforward drive that prioritizes efficiency over lengthy sightseeing pauses.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

20.9 miles from Alaska, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 38m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will spend 23% of your time on highways, the majority of the trip consists of smaller roads that shift the pace of your journey. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which lasts for 17.9 miles before you transition onto different state routes. This transition from high-speed pavement to local roads creates a changing environment as you progress toward Eel River. Be prepared to navigate frequent turns throughout the journey, which keeps the experience engaging for those who prefer an active driving style over steady highway travel.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 17.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near SR 42 / County Road 500 N.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 1h 7m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (SR 42 / County Road 500 N): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (SR 42 / State Road 42): Navigation decision point; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
3.3 mi into trip | ~12m in | SR 42 / County Road 500 N

Turn left onto SR 42 / County Road 500 N

Navigation decision point

4
4.7 mi into trip | ~15m in | SR 42 / State Road 42

Turn right onto SR 42 / State Road 42

Navigation decision point

5
30.9 mi into trip | ~49m in

Take the exit toward SR 59: Linton, Brazil

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward SR 59: Linton, Brazil
4
31.3 mi into trip | ~50m in | SR 59 / State Route 59

Turn left onto SR 59 / State Route 59

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
4
40.9 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in | West County Road 450 South

Turn right onto West County Road 450 South

Navigation decision point

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Alaska, IN to Eel River, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Brazil along the way.

Brazil

30.9 mi in | ~49m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway 17.9 mi 19m
State Route 59 9.6 mi 13m
State Road 42 5.5 mi 9m
South Main Street 2.2 mi 4m
North Bowman Road 1.3 mi 4m
County Road 500 N 1.2 mi 2m
Lewisville Road 1 mi 3m
County Road 1250 West 1 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Dwight D Eisenhower Highway — 17.9 mi, about 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Alaska, IN and Eel River, IN.

1

Start on Lewisville Road

1.0 mi · 3 min · Lewisville Road
2

Turn right onto North Bowman Road

1.3 mi · 4 min · North Bowman Road
3

Continue on County Road 1250 West

1.0 mi · 3 min · County Road 1250 West
4

Turn left onto SR 42

1.2 mi · 2 min · County Road 500 N
5

Continue on SR 42

0.2 mi · 28 sec · North Patrick Road
6

Turn right onto SR 42

5.5 mi · 9 min · State Road 42
7

Turn right onto US 231

0.3 mi · 28 sec · S Main St
8

Continue on US 231

2.2 mi · 4 min · South Main Street
9

Turn left

0.3 mi · 36 sec
10

Merge onto I 70

18 mi · 19 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward SR 59: Linton, Brazil
12

Turn left onto SR 59

9.6 mi · 13 min · State Route 59
Use the straight / left lanes.
13

Turn right onto West County Road 450 South

0.7 mi · 2 min · West County Road 450 South
14

Turn right onto South County Road 75 West

0.1 mi · 30 sec · South County Road 75 West
15

Arrive at destination

West County Road 450 South

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip with 0 planned stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule. I recommend leaving mid-morning to take full advantage of the daylight, especially since the route involves technical, turn-heavy local roads that are best navigated with clear visibility. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before setting out, as the $6 estimated cost is quite low, but you will want to avoid unnecessary detours that could add time to your hour-long journey. Because the longest single stretch is under 18 miles, you can easily pace yourself without needing forced rest breaks. My top tip is to familiarize yourself with the transition points between the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, State Route 59, and State Road 42 before you leave to ensure a smooth transition between road types.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 20.9 miles from Alaska, IN, or about 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.9 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 41.8 miles or 1h 7m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 20.9 miles or 38m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 56m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eel River, IN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Alaska, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Alaska, IN

This is one driving day of about 41.8 miles and 1h 7m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Alaska, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 17.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 20.9 mi from Alaska, IN · 38m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Champaign, IL

21 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Champaign, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 41.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Champaign, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.9 miles from Alaska, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Eel River, IN

The final approach into Eel River, IN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Eel River, IN.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.35 one way

$12.70 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $7.00 $14.00
premium $4.80 $7.89 $15.78
diesel $5.64 $9.29 $18.57

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.5 0 $4.39 $2.01
Efficient EV 10.5 0 $3.66 $1.67
EV Truck/SUV 16.7 0 $5.85 $2.68

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Alaska, IN

Evening in Alaska on Sunday

Local time

7:38 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Eel River, IN

Evening in Eel River on Sunday

Local time

7:38 PM

EDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

23 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 7m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Alaska, IN to Eel River, IN covers 41.8 miles and takes about 1h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, State Route 59, State Road 42. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.9 miles from Alaska, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.35 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 7m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (SR 42 / County Road 500 N): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (SR 42 / State Road 42): Navigation decision point; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Alaska, IN to Eel River, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Brazil along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Alaska, IN or browse trips ending in Eel River, IN.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IN road trips.

Explore maps for Alaska, IN or Eel River, IN on MapSof.net.