Auburn, IN to Lawrence, IN is 136 miles and takes about 2h 31m via I 69, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within Indiana, traversing the Midwest region from one point to another. Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience, making it a straightforward and efficient trip. With a recommended single day for travel, you can easily complete this journey without needing an overnight stay. It's a practical route for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
68 miles from Auburn, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
133.4 mi
2h 25m
West 7th Street
1.3 mi
2m
Pendleton Pike
0.7 mi
1m
McCoy Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 133.4 mi, about 2h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, IN and Lawrence, IN.
1
Start on SR 8
1.3 mi·2 min·West 7th Street
2
Turn left
0.2 mi·24 sec
3
Merge onto I 69
127 mi·2 hr 18 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
1.0 mi·1 min·I 69
Use the slight right lane.
5
Continue on I 69
5.2 mi·6 min·I 69
Exit 200Toward I 465 South, I 69 South
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 42Toward US 36 East, SR 67 North: Pendleton PikeUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
181 ft·6 sec
Toward US 36 East, SR 67 North: Lawrence
8
Turn left onto Pendleton Pike
0.7 mi·1 min·Pendleton Pike
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Turn left onto McCoy Street
416 ft·19 sec·McCoy Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left
59 ft·6 sec
11
Turn right
77 ft·5 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 2h 31m duration, this trip is best suited for a single-day adventure, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave Auburn, IN in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic as you approach Lawrence, IN. With only one recommended stop, plan to fuel up before you depart or during a brief break on I 69. The longest stretch is 133.4 miles on I 69, so ensure your fuel tank is adequately filled before entering this long segment to avoid any need for unscheduled stops.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68 miles from Auburn, IN, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133.4 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 30 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68 miles or 1h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lawrence, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Auburn, 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 Auburn, IN
This is one driving day of about 136 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Auburn, 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 69 for about 133.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 135.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|I 69
Merge onto I 69
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
128.6 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|I 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
134.8 mi into trip|~2h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 36 East, SR 67 North: Pendleton Pike
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 42
Toward US 36 East, SR 67 North: Pendleton Pike
7
135.1 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 36 East, SR 67 North: Lawrence
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 36 East, SR 67 North: Lawrence
5
135.9 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|McCoy Street
Turn left onto McCoy Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.26 one way
$42.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.34
$46.69
premium
$4.89
$26.17
$52.34
diesel
$5.61
$30.03
$60.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.8
0
$14.28
$6.53
Efficient EV
34
0
$11.90
$5.44
EV Truck/SUV
54.4
0
$19.04
$8.70
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 18, 2026
Origin
Auburn, IN
Afternoon
in Auburn on Saturday
Local time
4:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 15 mph95% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 10:34PM EDT until April 22 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 10:34PM EDT until April 24 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Lawrence, IN
Afternoon
in Lawrence on Saturday
Local time
4:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 9 mph63% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 10:34PM EDT until April 22 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 10:34PM EDT until April 24 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
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
10 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
2h 31m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 98% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I 69, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 133.4 miles. This means you can settle in for a consistent cruising experience for most of the trip. While the main arteries dominate, brief transitions onto roads like West 7th Street and Pendleton Pike will mark the beginning and end of your journey, offering a slight change of pace before reaching your destination.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 133.4 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and West 7th Street. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near I 69.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 136 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (I 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.6 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 134.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 136 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 133.4 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (I 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.6 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 134.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lawrence, IN before heading back.
