Skip to main content

Trip from Hartford City, IN to Lafayette, IN

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

2h 2m

Distance

81.7 mi

131 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 54m ★
6 AM
2h 3m
8 AM
2h 20m
10 AM
2h 9m
12 PM
2h 7m
3 PM
2h 10m
5 PM
2h 20m
8 PM
1h 58m

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

city in Indiana, United States

Hartford City, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Lafayette, IN, IN

Lafayette, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Hartford City, IN to Lafayette, IN covers 81.7 miles and takes about 2h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East County Road 400 South, County Road 900 North, State Road 26 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.1 miles on East County Road 400 South. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.77 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

40.8 miles from Hartford City, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 2m drive with frequent turns across 81.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East County Road 400 South is the longest continuous segment at about 21.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 6.5 miles in near SR 26 / County Road 950 East.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Hartford City, IN to Lafayette, IN is easy. At 2h 2m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles (SR 26 / County Road 950 East): Navigation decision point; at 8.6 miles (SR 26 / County Road 900 South): Navigation decision point; at 81.6 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

3 of 3 key points

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

4
6.5 mi into trip | ~9m in | SR 26 / County Road 950 East

Turn left onto SR 26 / County Road 950 East

Navigation decision point

4
8.6 mi into trip | ~12m in | SR 26 / County Road 900 South

Turn right onto SR 26 / County Road 900 South

Navigation decision point

5
81.6 mi into trip | ~2h 2m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East County Road 400 South 21.1 mi 31m
County Road 900 North 11.9 mi 18m
State Road 26 10.4 mi 14m
West County Road 900 South 10 mi 14m
West Water Street 6 mi 9m
East Main Street 5.2 mi 7m
900 South 4.9 mi 7m
County Road 900 South 3.3 mi 4m
Longest stretch: East County Road 400 South — 21.1 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hartford City, IN and Lafayette, IN.

1

Start on SR 26

0.5 mi · 46 sec · West Washington Street
2

Continue on SR 26

6.0 mi · 9 min · West Water Street
3

Turn left onto SR 26

2.0 mi · 3 min · County Road 950 East
4

Turn right onto SR 26

3.0 mi · 4 min · County Road 900 South
5

Continue on SR 26

4.9 mi · 7 min · 900 South
6

Continue on SR 26

0.3 mi · 28 sec · County Road 900 South
7

Continue on SR 26

0.5 mi · 51 sec · 8th Street
8

Continue on SR 26

0.8 mi · 1 min · East 900 South
9

Continue on SR 26

10 mi · 14 min · West County Road 900 South
10

Continue on SR 26

21 mi · 31 min · East County Road 400 South
11

Continue on SR 26

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
12

Continue on SR 26

1.8 mi · 2 min · County Road West 400 South
13

Continue on SR 26

10 mi · 14 min · State Road 26
14

Continue on SR 26

4.5 mi · 6 min · East Main Street
15

Continue on SR 26

0.2 mi · 17 sec · County Road 900 North
16

Continue on SR 26

0.4 mi · 35 sec · West Main Street
17

Continue on SR 26

12 mi · 17 min · County Road 900 North
18

Continue on South Street

2.7 mi · 5 min · South Street
19

Turn slight left onto Jackson Street

0.1 mi · 30 sec · Jackson Street
20

Turn right

178 ft · 13 sec
21

Arrive at destination

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.8 miles from Hartford City, IN, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.1 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 59m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 40.8 miles or 1h 1m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 42m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Hartford City, 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 Hartford City, IN

This is one driving day of about 81.7 miles and 2h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hartford City, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on East County Road 400 South for about 21.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 40.8 mi from Hartford City, IN · 1h 1m into the drive

Downtown chicago-il

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Chicago, IL

41 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 40.8 miles from Hartford City, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lafayette, IN

The final approach into Lafayette, 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 Lafayette, IN.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.77 one way

$25.55 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.02 $28.05
premium $4.89 $15.72 $31.44
diesel $5.61 $18.04 $36.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.5 0 $8.58 $3.92
Efficient EV 20.4 0 $7.15 $3.27
EV Truck/SUV 32.7 0 $11.44 $5.23

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 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 data refreshed 4 days ago

Origin

Hartford City, IN

Morning in Hartford City on Wednesday

Local time

8:22 AM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lafayette, IN

Morning in Lafayette on Wednesday

Local time

8:22 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°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

16 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

2h 2m 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 Hartford City, IN to Lafayette, IN covers 81.7 miles and takes about 2h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East County Road 400 South, County Road 900 North, State Road 26. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.8 miles from Hartford City, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.77 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.
The drive from Hartford City, IN to Lafayette, IN is easy. At 2h 2m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles (SR 26 / County Road 950 East): Navigation decision point; at 8.6 miles (SR 26 / County Road 900 South): Navigation decision point; at 81.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Hartford City, IN to Lafayette, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Hartford City, IN or browse trips ending in Lafayette, IN.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IN road trips.

Explore maps for Hartford City, IN or Lafayette, IN on MapSof.net.