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Trip from Indiana, IA to Buffalo (historical), IA

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

1h 32m

Distance

62.4 mi

100 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 25m ★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 28m

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

Downtown Indiana, IA, IA

Indiana, IA

Kelly

Downtown Buffalo (historical), IA, IA

Buffalo (historical), IA

Karolina

Trip Overview

This straightforward 62.4-mile drive from Indiana to Buffalo, Iowa, is a quick trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 32 minutes. Designed as a single-day adventure, you'll spend most of your time on major highways, with a 93% highway share, making it a focused journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $10, so it's an economical option. This route stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout. It's perfect for a short excursion or a quick connection between these two Iowa locations.

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

31.2 miles from Indiana, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 62.4-mile trip. With 93% of the drive on main roads like IA 92 and IA 5, you'll encounter primarily higher-speed travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 32.8 miles on IA 92, offering a good period of consistent driving. This profile suggests a relatively smooth and efficient journey, with fewer complex turns or slower local road segments to manage.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IA 92 is the longest continuous segment at about 32.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 92 and IA 5. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near IA 5.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Indiana, IA to Buffalo (historical), IA is easy. At 1h 32m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 8.1 miles (IA 5): Navigation decision point; at 59.8 miles (North John Wayne Drive): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

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

5
2 mi into trip | ~3m in | IA 5

Turn sharp left onto IA 5

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

4
8.1 mi into trip | ~12m in | IA 5

Take the ramp onto IA 5

Navigation decision point

4
59.8 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in | North John Wayne Drive

Turn left onto North John Wayne Drive

Navigation decision point

4
62.3 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in | CR G50 / St Charles Road

Turn left onto CR G50 / St Charles Road

Navigation decision point

5
62.4 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in | Maple Lane

Turn right onto Maple Lane

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
IA 92 32.8 mi 48m
IA 5 17.7 mi 22m
State Highway 92 7.2 mi 10m
County Highway G76 2 mi 3m
Clark Tower Road 1.5 mi 2m
North John Wayne Drive 1 mi 3m
St Charles Road <0.1 mi <1m
Maple Lane <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: IA 92 — 32.8 mi, about 48m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Indiana, IA and Buffalo (historical), IA.

1

Start on CR G76

1.9 mi · 3 min · County Highway G76
2

Continue on CR G76

0.2 mi · 26 sec · County Highway G76
3

Turn sharp left onto IA 5

6.1 mi · 9 min · IA 5
4

Take the ramp onto IA 5

12 mi · 13 min · IA 5
5

Continue on IA 92

33 mi · 48 min · IA 92
6

Turn straight onto IA 92

7.2 mi · 10 min · State Highway 92
7

Turn left onto North John Wayne Drive

1.0 mi · 3 min · North John Wayne Drive
8

Continue on CR P71

1.5 mi · 2 min · Clark Tower Road
9

Turn left onto CR G50

343 ft · 10 sec · St Charles Road
10

Turn right onto Maple Lane

195 ft · 8 sec · Maple Lane
11

Arrive at destination

Maple Lane

Trip Plan

Given the short 1 hour and 32-minute duration, this 62.4-mile route offers great flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps after a morning coffee, and still arrive well before lunch. With only a $10 fuel cost and no designated stops in the data, you can make this trip with minimal planning. Keep an eye on IA 92, as it forms the longest stretch of your drive at 32.8 miles; ensure you're comfortable with highway conditions for this segment.

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 31.2 miles from Indiana, IA, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.8 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 14 miles or 19m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 31.2 miles or 43m 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 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buffalo (historical), IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Indiana, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Indiana, IA

This is one driving day of about 62.4 miles and 1h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Indiana, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IA 92 for about 32.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 31.2 mi from Indiana, IA · 43m into the drive

city in Warren County and Polk County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Norwalk, IA

31 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

Pleasantville, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Norwalk, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.2 miles from Indiana, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Buffalo (historical), IA

The final approach into Buffalo (historical), IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.76 one way

$19.51 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $10.71 $21.42
premium $4.89 $12.01 $24.02
diesel $5.61 $13.78 $27.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.7 0 $6.55 $3.00
Efficient EV 15.6 0 $5.46 $2.50
EV Truck/SUV 25 0 $8.74 $3.99

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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

Indiana, IA

Evening in Indiana on Wednesday

Local time

7:41 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Buffalo (historical), IA

Evening in Buffalo (historical) on Wednesday

Local time

7:41 PM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

74°F

Norwalk, IA

31 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

13 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

1h 32m 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 Indiana, IA to Buffalo (historical), IA covers 62.4 miles and takes about 1h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IA 92, IA 5, State Highway 92. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.2 miles from Indiana, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.76 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 Indiana, IA to Buffalo (historical), IA is easy. At 1h 32m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 8.1 miles (IA 5): Navigation decision point; at 59.8 miles (North John Wayne Drive): Navigation decision point.
The route from Indiana, IA to Buffalo (historical), IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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