Fairfield, IN to Terre Haute, IN is 157.7 miles and takes about 3h 29m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway and I 74, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a local drive with frequent turns rather than an open highway cruise. With a drive time under four hours, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. Consider this an easy, straightforward journey perfect for a quick trip between these two Indiana cities.
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
78.9 miles from Fairfield, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 29m. Total distance: 157.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (19%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This route offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, with only 19% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a good portion of your time navigating local roads, including sections of Dwight D Eisenhower Highway and East 1st Street. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 67.3 miles on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires attention to navigation as you transition between different road types.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 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 67.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 9.3 miles in near SR 44 / West Union Street.
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 157.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 9.3 miles (SR 44 / West Union Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 54.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.4 miles (I 74; US 421): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
9.3 mi into trip|~21m in|SR 44 / West Union Street
Turn left onto SR 44 / West Union Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
54.2 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the ramp toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
5
54.4 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|I 74; US 421
Merge onto I 74; US 421
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
87.2 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 West
6
155.1 mi into trip|~3h 23m in
Take the exit toward US 41, US 150: Terre Haute, Evansville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 7
Toward US 41, US 150: Terre Haute, Evansville
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
67.3 mi
1h 13m
I 74
21.6 mi
23m
East 1st Street
16.8 mi
25m
West 3rd Street
16.4 mi
24m
West Union Street
11.5 mi
17m
East Raymond Street
7.8 mi
12m
Indiana Highway 101
6.4 mi
11m
South 3rd Street
2.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 67.3 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, IN and Terre Haute, IN.
1
Start on this road
2.5 mi·9 min·this road
2
Turn left onto SR 101
6.4 mi·11 min·Indiana Highway 101
3
Continue on SR 101
0.4 mi·45 sec·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto SR 44
12 mi·17 min·West Union Street
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto SR 44
0.2 mi·16 sec·North Eastern Avenue
6
Turn right onto SR 44
16 mi·24 min·West 3rd Street
7
Turn left onto SR 44 Truck
226 ft·5 sec·North Perkins Street
8
Turn right onto SR 44 Truck
17 mi·25 min·East 1st Street
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
10
Merge onto I 74; US 421
22 mi·23 min·I 74; US 421
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on this road
1.2 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 94Toward Southeastern Avenue
12
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Southeastern Avenue
13
Turn slight left onto East Raymond Street
7.8 mi·12 min·East Raymond Street
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on Sam Jones Expressway
1.5 mi·2 min·Sam Jones Expressway
Use the left lane.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 70 WestUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 70
67 mi·1 hr 13 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 7Toward US 41, US 150: Terre Haute, Evansville
18
Turn right onto US 41; US 150
2.4 mi·5 min·South 3rd Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 41; US 150
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 157.7-mile drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Since the total duration is around 3 hours and 29 minutes, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point, to refuel or stretch your legs. Given the $25 fuel cost estimate, ensure your tank is full before you leave Fairfield to avoid any unexpected stops. Keep an eye on local road signage as you'll be navigating a mix of highway and local streets.
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 78.9 miles from Fairfield, IN, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.3 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 35 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.9 miles or 1h 56m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Terre Haute, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairfield, 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 Fairfield, IN
This is one driving day of about 157.7 miles and 3h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Fairfield, 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 Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 67.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 78.9 mi from Fairfield, IN
· 1h 56m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.65 one way
$49.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.07
$54.14
premium
$4.89
$30.35
$60.70
diesel
$5.61
$34.82
$69.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.3
0
$16.56
$7.57
Efficient EV
39.4
0
$13.80
$6.31
EV Truck/SUV
63.1
0
$22.08
$10.09
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Fairfield, IN
Morning
in Fairfield on Saturday
Local time
8:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Terre Haute, IN
Morning
in Terre Haute on Saturday
Local time
8:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°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
25 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
3h 29m 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 Fairfield, IN to Terre Haute, IN covers 157.7 miles and takes about 3h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, I 74, East 1st Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 78.9 miles from Fairfield, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.65 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 157.7 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.3 miles (SR 44 / West Union Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 54.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.4 miles (I 74; US 421): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fairfield, IN to Terre Haute, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
