Origin
Carmel, IN
Night in Carmel on Tuesday
Local time
11:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carmel, IN to Clinton, IN
Data updated 3 hours ago
Drive Time
2h 10m
Distance
88.8 mi
143 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 2m
★
6 AM
2h 11m
8 AM
2h 29m
10 AM
2h 17m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 18m
5 PM
2h 28m
8 PM
2h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carmel, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Clinton, IN
Mohan Nannapaneni
Trip Overview
The drive from Carmel, IN to Clinton, IN covers 88.8 miles and takes about 2h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ernie Pyle Memorial Highway, I 465, Rockville Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.5 miles on Ernie Pyle Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.88 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
44.4 miles from Carmel, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Carmel, IN to Clinton, IN covers 88.8 miles and takes about 2h 10m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ernie Pyle Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 35.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 88.8 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 0.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.5 miles (Keystone Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Keystone Parkway
Merge onto Keystone Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Enter roundabout toward I 465: South Keystone Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward I 465: South Keystone Avenue
8
4.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 465 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 465 West
7
24 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward US 36 West: Rockville Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13
Toward US 36 West: Rockville Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ernie Pyle Memorial Highway | 35.5 mi | 52m |
| I 465 | 19.4 mi | 23m |
| Rockville Road | 12.8 mi | 20m |
| US 41 | 11.2 mi | 16m |
| Keystone Parkway | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| East Main Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| East Ohio Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| State Road 163 | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Ernie Pyle Memorial Highway
— 35.5 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carmel, IN and Clinton, IN.
1
Start on East Main Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Enter roundabout
37 ft
·
2 sec
3
Continue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
4
Merge onto Keystone Parkway
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Keystone Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Enter roundabout
137 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 465: South Keystone Avenue
6
Continue
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 465: South Keystone Avenue
7
Keep slight right at fork
380 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 465 West
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
this road
9
Merge onto I 465
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 465
12 mi
·
14 min
·
I 465
Toward I 465 South
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 13
Toward US 36 West: Rockville Road
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto US 36
6.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Rockville Road
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on US 36
6.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Rockville Road
14
Continue on US 36
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
East Main Street
15
Continue on US 36
36 mi
·
52 min
·
Ernie Pyle Memorial Highway
16
Continue on US 36
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East Ohio Street
17
Turn left onto US 41
11 mi
·
16 min
·
US 41
18
Turn right onto SR 163
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
State Road 163
19
Turn right onto SR 163
328 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
SR 163
Trip Plan
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 44.4 miles from Carmel, IN, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.5 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 80 miles or 1h 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.4 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clinton, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carmel, 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 Carmel, IN
This is one driving day of about 88.8 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Carmel, 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 Ernie Pyle Memorial Highway for about 35.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.4 mi from Carmel, IN · 1h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.4 miles from Carmel, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Clinton, IN
The final approach into Clinton, 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 Clinton, 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
$13.88 one way
$27.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $15.24 | $30.49 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.09 | $34.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.61 | $39.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.32 | $4.26 |
| Efficient EV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.77 | $3.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.5 | 0 | $12.43 | $5.68 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Clinton, IN
Night in Clinton on Tuesday
Local time
11:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°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
13 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 10m 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 Carmel, IN to Clinton, IN covers 88.8 miles and takes about 2h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ernie Pyle Memorial Highway, I 465, Rockville Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.4 miles from Carmel, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.88 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 demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 88.8 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 0.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.5 miles (Keystone Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Carmel, IN to Clinton, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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