The drive from Alaska, IN to Smith, IN covers 215.5 miles and takes about 4h 21m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 65, Borman Expressway, Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 135.4 miles on I 65.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
107.7 miles from Alaska, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 21m. Total distance: 215.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 21m highway drive covering 215.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 65 and Borman Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 135.4 miles on I 65.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 65 is the longest continuous segment at about 135.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Borman Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.2 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 215.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 27.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
27.2 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the exit toward I 465, I 74
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 69
Toward I 465, I 74
8
29.5 mi into trip|~47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 465, I 74
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 465, I 74
8
30.7 mi into trip|~50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 465 North, I 74 West: Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 465 North, I 74 West: Peoria
7
41.1 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 20
Toward I 65 North: Chicago
8
178.1 mi into trip|~3h 33m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 259B
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo,...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Alaska, IN to Smith, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Detroit along the way.
Detroit
178.1 mi in|~3h 33m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
135.4 mi
2h 27m
Borman Expressway
26.8 mi
29m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
18.2 mi
19m
US 20
6.7 mi
9m
I 74
5.5 mi
6m
SR 42
4.2 mi
7m
65
3.9 mi
4m
North Fail Road
2.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 135.4 mi, about 2h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alaska, IN and Smith, IN.
1
Start on Lewisville Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Lewisville Road
2
Turn left onto North Wilson Road
1.0 mi·3 min·North Wilson Road
3
Turn left onto Awbrey Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Awbrey Road
4
Continue on North Craver Road
1.1 mi·4 min·North Craver Road
5
Continue on SR 42
3.0 mi·5 min·SR 42
6
Continue on SR 42
1.2 mi·2 min·SR 42
7
Continue on SR 42
1.2 mi·2 min·West Belle Union Road
8
Turn left onto North Little Point Road
0.3 mi·46 sec·North Little Point Road
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
10
Merge onto I 70
18 mi·19 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
11
Take the exit
2.3 mi·4 min
Exit 69Toward I 465, I 74Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 465, I 74Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 465 North, I 74 West: PeoriaUse the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto I 74; I 465
5.5 mi·6 min·I 74; I 465
15
Keep slight left at fork onto 65
3.9 mi·4 min·65
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 20Toward I 65 North: ChicagoUse the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto I 65
18 mi·19 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit onto US 52
0.2 mi·15 sec·US 52
Exit 141Toward US 52 West
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·9 sec
20
Merge onto I 65
118 mi·2 hr 8 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 259BToward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, DetroitUse the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Toledo, Detroit
23
Merge onto I 80; I 94; US 6
27 mi·29 min·Borman Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward US 20 East, US 35 South: La Porte, South Bend
25
Merge onto US 20
6.7 mi·9 min·US 20
26
Turn left onto North Fail Road
2.4 mi·5 min·North Fail Road
27
Arrive at destination
North Fail Road
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 107.7 miles from Alaska, IN, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135.4 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 47 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.7 miles or 2h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smith, 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 215.5 miles and 4h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Alaska, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 135.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 107.7 mi from Alaska, IN
· 2h 17m into the drive
The midpoint is around 107.7 miles from Alaska, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 135.4 miles.
Arriving in Smith, IN
The final approach into Smith, 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 Smith, IN.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
Lake Michigan's might has influenced Indiana Dunes for millennia. Wind and waves have shaped the land, leaving a rich mosaic of habitats along these 15 miles of Indiana coast. Over 50 miles of trails...
3 mi from route
~9 min detour
$20
near mile 193.2
Park Closure: Partial Closures to Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.69 one way
$67.38 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.99
$73.98
premium
$4.89
$41.47
$82.94
diesel
$5.61
$47.58
$95.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.6
0
$22.63
$10.34
Efficient EV
53.9
0
$18.86
$8.62
EV Truck/SUV
86.2
1
$30.17
$13.79
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Alaska, IN
Afternoon
in Alaska on Thursday
Local time
2:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Smith, IN
Afternoon
in Smith on Thursday
Local time
1:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Mulberry, IN
108 mi in
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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 21m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Smith, IN covers 215.5 miles and takes about 4h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, Borman Expressway, Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 107.7 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 $33.69 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 215.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Alaska, IN to Smith, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Detroit along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Indiana Dunes National Park.
