The drive from Harlan, IA to Indiana, IA covers 150.1 miles and takes about 2h 55m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, IA 5, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 82.4 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.47 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75 miles from Harlan, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 150.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 55m highway drive covering 150.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and IA 5. The longest continuous stretch is about 82.4 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 82.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and IA 5. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 93.9 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort6/10
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 150.1 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 93.9 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.2 miles (Ramp 72 H): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 94.6 miles (I 35): 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.
9
93.9 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
5
94.2 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|Ramp 72 H
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 H toward I 35 South: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 123B
Toward I 35 South: Kansas City
5
94.6 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
98.4 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, Norwalk
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 68
Toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport,...
5
148 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|CR G76 / County Highway G76
Turn sharp right onto CR G76 / County Highway G76
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Harlan, IA and Indiana, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City, Des Moines and Norwalk.
Minneapolis
93.9 mi in|~1h 46m|via I 80
Kansas City
93.9 mi in|~1h 46m|via I 80
Des Moines
98.4 mi in|~1h 51m
Norwalk
98.4 mi in|~1h 51m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
82.4 mi
1h 28m
IA 5
36 mi
44m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
12.9 mi
14m
US 59
8.5 mi
11m
I 35
3.8 mi
4m
County Highway G76
2 mi
3m
12th Street
1.5 mi
2m
Linden Road
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 82.4 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harlan, IA and Indiana, IA.
1
Start on Willow Street
55 ft·4 sec·Willow Street
2
Turn right onto 12th Street
1.5 mi·2 min·12th Street
3
Continue on Linden Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Linden Road
4
Continue on 800th Street
0.4 mi·46 sec·800th Street
5
Turn left onto US 59
8.5 mi·11 min·US 59
6
Continue on US 59
0.1 mi·19 sec·Avoca Lane
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
8
Merge onto I 80
82 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 80
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
0.3 mi·18 sec·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 H
0.4 mi·51 sec·Ramp 72 H
Exit 123BToward I 35 South: Kansas City
11
Merge onto I 35
3.8 mi·4 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 68Toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, NorwalkUse the slight right lane.
13
Continue on IA 5
13 mi·14 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto IA 5
19 mi·22 min·IA 5
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
15
Turn left onto IA 5; IA 92
11 mi·11 min·IA 5; IA 92
16
Take the exit onto IA 5
0.5 mi·1 min·IA 5
17
Turn right onto IA 5
5.8 mi·8 min·IA 5
18
Turn sharp right onto CR G76
0.2 mi·24 sec·County Highway G76
19
Continue on CR G76
1.9 mi·3 min·County Highway G76
20
Arrive at destination
CR G76
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75 miles from Harlan, IA, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.4 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 33 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75 miles or 1h 25m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indiana, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Harlan, IA 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 Harlan, IA
This is one driving day of about 150.1 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Harlan, IA.
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 I 80 for about 82.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75 mi from Harlan, IA
· 1h 25m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45
0
$15.76
$7.20
Efficient EV
37.5
0
$13.13
$6.00
EV Truck/SUV
60
0
$21.01
$9.61
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Harlan, IA
Late night
in Harlan on Saturday
Local time
3:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
SSW 10 to 16 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Indiana, IA
Late night
in Indiana on Saturday
Local time
3:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
9 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
2h 55m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Harlan, IA to Indiana, IA covers 150.1 miles and takes about 2h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, IA 5, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75 miles from Harlan, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.47 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.
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 150.1 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 93.9 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.2 miles (Ramp 72 H): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 94.6 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Harlan, IA and Indiana, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City, Des Moines and Norwalk.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
