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Trip from Hartford, IN to Lafayette, IN

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 20m

Distance

156.1 mi

251 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 8m ★
6 AM
3h 20m
8 AM
3h 44m
10 AM
3h 29m
12 PM
3h 26m
3 PM
3h 30m
5 PM
3h 43m
8 PM
3h 13m

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

Downtown Hartford, IN, IN

Hartford, IN

Jay Brand

Downtown Lafayette, IN, IN

Lafayette, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Hartford, IN to Lafayette, IN covers 156.1 miles and takes about 3h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Hartford Pike, Nelson Road, Cole Lane for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.40 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

78.1 miles from Hartford, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 20m. Total distance: 156.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 20m drive with frequent turns across 156.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Hartford Pike is one of the defining roads on this drive.

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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Hartford, IN to Lafayette, IN is easy. At 3h 20m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Hartford, IN to Lafayette, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Hartford Pike
Nelson Road
Cole Lane
West Perry Street
South Buckeye Street
East Main Street
North Ireland Street
North Michigan Avenue

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Hartford Pike — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Hartford Ridge Road

39 ft · 4 sec · Hartford Ridge Road
2

Turn right onto Hartford Pike

0.3 mi · 1 min · Hartford Pike
3

Turn left onto Nelson Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Nelson Road
4

Continue on Cole Lane

2.5 mi · 5 min · Cole Lane
5

Turn left

1.0 mi · 1 min
6

Continue straight

17 mi · 22 min
7

Continue on West Perry Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Perry Street
8

Turn right onto South Buckeye Street

22 mi · 33 min · South Buckeye Street
9

Continue on East Main Street

0.4 mi · 40 sec · East Main Street
10

Turn right onto North Ireland Street

0.4 mi · 32 sec · North Ireland Street
11

Turn left onto North Michigan Avenue

1.9 mi · 2 min · North Michigan Avenue
12

Turn right

0.2 mi · 21 sec
13

Take the ramp straight toward I 74 West, US 421: Indianapolis

39 mi · 41 min · I 74 West, US 421: Indianapolis
14

Continue on Southeastern Avenue

1.2 mi · 1 min · Southeastern Avenue
15

Continue on Southeastern Avenue

3.6 mi · 5 min · Southeastern Avenue
16

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Southeastern Avenue

105 ft · 6 sec · Southeastern Avenue
17

Exit the roundabout onto Southeastern Avenue

1.4 mi · 2 min · Southeastern Avenue
18

Continue on Cruse Street

423 ft · 14 sec · Cruse Street
19

Turn right onto East Market Street

364 ft · 16 sec · East Market Street
20

Turn left onto Dickson Street

525 ft · 20 sec · Dickson Street
21

Turn left onto East Ohio Street

128 ft · 6 sec · East Ohio Street
22

Turn right onto Dickson Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Dickson Street
23

Turn left onto East New York Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · East New York Street
24

Turn right onto North Pine Street

0.2 mi · 27 sec · North Pine Street
25

Take the ramp straight

125 ft · 3 sec
26

Keep slight right to continue on I 65 North: Chicago

0.2 mi · 31 sec · I 65 North: Chicago
27

Merge slight left

30 mi · 35 min
28

Take the exit slight right toward US 52 West

0.2 mi · 16 sec · US 52 West
29

Keep slight left

0.1 mi · 10 sec
30

Merge slight left

30 mi · 32 min
31

Take the exit slight right toward SR 26: Lafayette, Rossville

0.2 mi · 29 sec · SR 26: Lafayette, Rossville
32

Turn left

0.2 mi · 24 sec
33

Continue on South Street

2.7 mi · 5 min · South Street
34

Turn slight left onto Jackson Street

0.1 mi · 30 sec · Jackson Street
35

Turn right

177 ft · 13 sec
36

Arrive at your destination

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 78.1 miles from Hartford, IN, or about 1h 40m into the drive.

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 34 miles or 43m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 78.1 miles or 1h 40m 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 44m

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, 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, IN

This is one driving day of about 156.1 miles and 3h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Hartford, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 78.1 mi from Hartford, IN · 1h 40m into the drive

town in Indiana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hope, IN

78 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

Versailles, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hope, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 78.1 miles from Hartford, 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

$24.40 one way

$48.81 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 55 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $26.80 $53.59
premium $4.89 $30.04 $60.08
diesel $5.61 $34.46 $68.93

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 54.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 46.8 0 $16.39 $7.49
Efficient EV 39 0 $13.66 $6.24
EV Truck/SUV 62.4 0 $21.85 $9.99

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

Hartford, IN

Night in Hartford on Friday

Local time

11:01 PM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lafayette, IN

Night in Lafayette on Friday

Local time

11:01 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

54°F

Hope, IN

78 mi in

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

1 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

3h 20m 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, IN to Lafayette, IN covers 156.1 miles and takes about 3h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Hartford Pike, Nelson Road, Cole Lane. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 78.1 miles from Hartford, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.40 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.

The drive from Hartford, IN to Lafayette, IN is easy. At 3h 20m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Hartford, IN to Lafayette, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Hartford, IN to Lafayette, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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