Trip from Ferdinand, IN to South Bend, IN

Drive Time

5h 46m

Distance

279.3 mi

449 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 33m ★

6 AM

5h 46m

8 AM

6h 13m

10 AM

5h 56m

12 PM

5h 53m

3 PM

5h 57m

5 PM

6h 11m

8 PM

5h 38m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Ferdinand, IN

Wikimedia Commons

South Bend, IN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Ferdinand, IN to South Bend, IN covers 279.3 miles and takes about 5h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Meridian Street, I 69, South John F Kennedy Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 119.3 miles on North Meridian Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.42 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

139.6 miles from Ferdinand, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 45m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Ferdinand, IN to South Bend, IN covers 279.3 miles and takes about 5h 46m, 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 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

North Meridian Street is the longest continuous segment at about 119.3 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 150.5 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 279.3 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 150.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 151 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 151 miles (North Keystone Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

150.5 mi into trip | ~2h 58m in

Take the exit toward Keystone Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 33 Toward Keystone Avenue

151 mi into trip | ~2h 59m in

Turn right toward North Keystone Parkway, West 96th Street, West 98th Street, East 96th Street

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward North Keystone Parkway, West 96th Street...

151 mi into trip | ~2h 59m in | North Keystone Avenue

Merge onto North Keystone Avenue

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

151.3 mi into trip | ~3h in

Enter roundabout toward North Keystone Parkway, East 98th Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward North Keystone Parkway, East 98th Street

151.5 mi into trip | ~3h in

Keep slight left at fork toward Keystone Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward Keystone Parkway

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North Meridian Street	119.3 mi	2h 28m
I 69	95.9 mi	1h 47m
South John F Kennedy Avenue	17 mi	22m
US 231	16.3 mi	18m
Main Street	10.3 mi	15m
Keystone Parkway	5 mi	7m
Newton Street	4.3 mi	5m
I 465	2.9 mi	3m

Longest stretch: North Meridian Street — 119.3 mi, about 2h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ferdinand, IN and South Bend, IN.

Start on SR 162

10 mi · 15 min · Main Street

Continue on East 3rd Avenue

2.6 mi · 3 min · East 3rd Avenue

Continue on SR 164

0.1 mi · 16 sec · West 3rd Street

Turn right onto SR 164

4.3 mi · 5 min · Newton Street

Continue on US 231; SR 56

16 mi · 18 min · US 231; SR 56

Continue on US 50; US 150; US 231

0.2 mi · 18 sec · West Broadway Street

Turn left onto US 231

17 mi · 22 min · South John F Kennedy Avenue

Use the left lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Merge onto I 69

84 mi · 1 hr 33 min · I 69

Use the straight lane.

Continue on I 69; I 465

12 mi · 13 min · I 69; I 465

Keep slight left at fork onto I 465

0.3 mi · 19 sec · I 465

Continue on I-465 WB

0.8 mi · 56 sec · I-465 WB

Continue on I 465

2.6 mi · 3 min · I 465

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Exit 33 Toward Keystone Avenue Use the slight right lane.

Turn right

172 ft · 6 sec

Toward North Keystone Parkway, West 96th Street, West 98th Street, East 96th Street Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto North Keystone Avenue

0.3 mi · 44 sec · North Keystone Avenue

Use the right lane.

Enter roundabout

113 ft · 6 sec

Toward North Keystone Parkway, East 98th Street

Continue

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Toward North Keystone Parkway, East 98th Street

Keep slight left at fork

436 ft · 11 sec

Toward Keystone Parkway

Merge onto Keystone Parkway

5.0 mi · 7 min · Keystone Parkway

Merge onto US 31

119 mi · 2 hr 28 min · North Meridian Street

Enter roundabout onto BUS US 31

128 ft · 6 sec · South Michigan Street

Continue on BUS US 31

2.5 mi · 6 min · South Michigan Street

Continue on South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

0.7 mi · 2 min · South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

Enter roundabout onto SR 933

124 ft · 7 sec · North Michigan Street

Continue on SR 933

454 ft · 17 sec · North Michigan Street

Turn right onto East Navarre Street

131 ft · 4 sec · East Navarre Street

Arrive at destination

East Navarre Street

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 139.6 miles from Ferdinand, IN, or about 2h 45m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.3 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 80 miles or 1h 39m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 139.6 miles or 2h 45m 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 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Bend, IN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Ferdinand, 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 Ferdinand, IN

This is one driving day of about 279.3 miles and 5h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ferdinand, 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 North Meridian Street for about 119.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 139.6 mi from Ferdinand, IN · 2h 45m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cincinnati, OH

140 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

Champaign, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cincinnati, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 139.6 miles from Ferdinand, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before North Meridian Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 119.3 miles.

Arriving in South Bend, IN

The final approach into South Bend, 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 South Bend, 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.

Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

National Memorial

Abraham Lincoln grew from youth to manhood on this southern Indiana soil. Many character and moral traits of one of the world's most respected leaders was formed and nurtured here. Explore Lincoln's b...

10 mi from route ~26 min detour Free

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$42.42 one way

$84.85 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 98 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$46.77	$93.53
premium	$4.80	$52.73	$105.45
diesel	$5.64	$62.05	$124.10

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 97.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	83.8	1	$29.33	$13.41
Efficient EV	69.8	0	$24.44	$11.17
EV Truck/SUV	111.7	1	$39.10	$17.88

Gas CO2

98 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Ferdinand, IN

Afternoon in Ferdinand on Monday

Local time

3:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South Bend, IN

Afternoon in South Bend on Monday

Local time

3:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°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

12 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

5h 46m 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 Ferdinand, IN to South Bend, IN covers 279.3 miles and takes about 5h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Meridian Street, I 69, South John F Kennedy Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 139.6 miles from Ferdinand, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.42 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.

The route from Ferdinand, IN to South Bend, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

South Bend, IN to Ferdinand, IN

Plan the drive back the other way.

279.8 mi 5h 48m

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Trip from Ferdinand, IN to South Bend, IN

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in South Bend, IN

National Parks Near This Route

Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Ferdinand, IN

South Bend, IN

Same local time

12 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 46m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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