Drive Time
5h 18m
Distance
264.9 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
The drive from Clarksville, IN to Elkhart, IN covers 264.9 miles and takes about 5h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Eastern Boulevard, Southport Road, East Southport Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.98 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
132.4 miles from Clarksville, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 18m drive with frequent turns across 264.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southport Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Southport Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Emerson Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-465 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Keystone Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Keystone Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Keystone Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Clarksville, IN and Elkhart, IN.
Start on East Brooks Avenue
Turn right onto Eastern Boulevard
Turn left
Take the ramp slight left
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward Southport Road
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto East Southport Road
Turn left onto South Emerson Avenue
Take the ramp straight
Merge slight left
Continue straight
Keep slight left
Continue on I-465 WB
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward Keystone Avenue
Turn right onto North Keystone Parkway, West 96th Street, West 98th Street, East 96th Street
Merge slight left onto North Keystone Avenue
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Keystone Parkway, East 98th Street
Exit the roundabout onto North Keystone Parkway, East 98th Street
Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Parkway
Merge slight left onto Keystone Parkway
Merge slight left onto North Meridian Street
Take the exit slight right toward US 20 East: Mishawaka, Elkhart
Merge slight left onto Saint Joseph Valley Parkway
Take the exit slight right toward SR 19 North: Elkhart
Turn straight onto South Nappanee Street
Turn right
Continue on West Franklin Street
Turn right onto Pletcher Court
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.4 miles or 2h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elkhart, IN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Clarksville, 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 Clarksville, IN
This is one driving day of about 264.9 miles and 5h 18m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 132.4 mi from Clarksville, IN · 2h 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
132 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 132.4 miles from Clarksville, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Elkhart, 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 Elkhart, IN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$35.98 one way
$71.96 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $40.15 | $80.30 |
| premium | $4.15 | $43.28 | $86.56 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $39.11 | $78.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 79.5 | 0 | $27.81 | $12.72 |
| Efficient EV | 66.2 | 0 | $23.18 | $10.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 106 | 1 | $37.09 | $16.95 |
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Clarksville on Saturday
Local time
6:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Elkhart on Saturday
Local time
6:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
76°F
Cincinnati, OH
132 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Explore more options from Clarksville, IN or browse trips ending in Elkhart, IN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IN road trips.
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