Origin
Hammond, IN
Late night in Hammond on Wednesday
Local time
5:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hammond, IN to French Lick, IN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
5h 6m
Distance
262 mi
422 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 53m
★
6 AM
5h 6m
8 AM
5h 33m
10 AM
5h 16m
12 PM
5h 13m
3 PM
5h 17m
5 PM
5h 32m
8 PM
4h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
French Lick, IN
Cliff Booth
Trip Overview
This 262-mile journey from Hammond, Indiana, to French Lick, Indiana, will take you about 5 hours and 6 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway and I-69, this route is best tackled as a single-day trip, especially with a fuel cost estimated around $41. The drive offers a mixed driving profile, meaning you'll experience both highway speeds and potentially slower stretches. Given its duration and the fact that you're staying within Indiana, this is a straightforward drive for anyone looking to explore more of the Midwest. Plan for one main stop to break up the drive.
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
131 miles from Hammond, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This route presents a mixed driving experience, with 49% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches like the 129.3-mile segment on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, which might offer a different pace than the interstate. Expect a blend of faster-paced driving on I-69 interspersed with potentially more local road conditions as you navigate SR 37. This variety means you won't be stuck in a monotonous interstate grind the entire way, offering a dynamic feel behind the wheel as the scenery and road type shift.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 129.3 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 10.1 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 262 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 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 140.6 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
10.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
6
10.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
140.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 38m in
|
I 65
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
161 mi into trip
|
~3h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 69 South: Evansville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
6
209.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 58m in
|
SR 37
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 37 toward SR 37 South: Bedford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 114
Toward SR 37 South: Bedford
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway | 129.3 mi | 2h 20m |
| I 69 | 47.5 mi | 53m |
| SR 37 | 41.6 mi | 52m |
| I 465 | 13.7 mi | 15m |
| US 150 | 10.9 mi | 15m |
| Borman Expressway | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| I 65 | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| 173rd Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
— 129.3 mi, about 2h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hammond, IN and French Lick, IN.
1
Start on Columbia Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Columbia Avenue
2
Turn left onto 173rd Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
173rd Street
3
Turn right onto Southeastern Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Southeastern Avenue
4
Turn left onto 175th Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
175th Street
5
Turn right onto SR 152
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Indianapolis Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East, US 6 East: Detroit
7
Merge onto I 80; I 94; US 6
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Borman Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 11
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 65
129 mi
·
2 hr 20 min
·
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 123
Toward I 465 South
13
Continue on this road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 123
Toward I 465 South
14
Merge onto I 465
14 mi
·
15 min
·
I 465
15
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 5
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 69
47 mi
·
53 min
·
I 69
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 37
42 mi
·
52 min
·
SR 37
Exit 114
Toward SR 37 South: Bedford
18
Enter roundabout onto US 150; SR 37; SR 56
156 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Main Street
19
Continue on US 150; SR 37; SR 56
260 ft
·
6 sec
·
West Main Street
20
Continue on US 150; SR 56
11 mi
·
15 min
·
US 150; SR 56
21
Continue on Main Street
67 ft
·
3 sec
·
Main Street
22
Turn right onto North Maple Street
466 ft
·
26 sec
·
North Maple Street
23
Turn left onto West College Street
106 ft
·
4 sec
·
West College Street
24
Arrive at destination
West College Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Hammond to maximize your daylight hours in French Lick. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in where you choose to rest or refuel. The longest uninterrupted stretch is over 129 miles, so ensure you're comfortable before starting that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition between different road types, and utilize the estimated $41 fuel cost to budget accordingly. This drive is well within the scope of a single day, allowing for a relaxed pace.
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 131 miles from Hammond, IN, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.3 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 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131 miles or 2h 28m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near French Lick, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hammond, 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 Hammond, IN
This is one driving day of about 262 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hammond, 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 Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway for about 129.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 131 mi from Hammond, IN · 2h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
131 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 131 miles from Hammond, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 129.3 miles.
Arriving in French Lick, IN
The final approach into French Lick, 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 French Lick, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.96 one way
$81.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
92 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $44.97 | $89.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $50.42 | $100.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $57.85 | $115.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.6 | 0 | $27.51 | $12.58 |
| Efficient EV | 65.5 | 0 | $22.92 | $10.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 104.8 | 1 | $36.68 | $16.77 |
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% 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.
Destination
French Lick, IN
Morning in French Lick on Wednesday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
8 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
5h 6m 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 Hammond, IN to French Lick, IN covers 262 miles and takes about 5h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, I 69, SR 37. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 131 miles from Hammond, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.96 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 262 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 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 140.6 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Hammond, IN to French Lick, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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