The drive from Indianapolis, IN to Clinton, IN covers 78 miles and takes about 1h 35m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 74, SR 101, Southeastern Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.8 miles on I 74.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.19 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.
Midpoint
39 miles from Indianapolis, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 78 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 1h 35m highway drive covering 78 miles, with most of the trip on I 74 and SR 101. The longest continuous stretch is about 61.8 miles on I 74.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 74 is the longest continuous segment at about 61.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and SR 101. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 35m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Monument Circle): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (East Washington Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Monument Circle
Turn left onto Monument Circle
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip|~3m in|East Washington Street
At end of road, turn left onto East Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip|~4m in|Southeastern Avenue
Turn right onto Southeastern Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
69 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward SR 101: Sunman, Milan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 156
Toward SR 101: Sunman, Milan
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Indianapolis, IN to Clinton, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Milan along the way.
Milan
69 mi in|~1h 19m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
61.8 mi
1h 6m
SR 101
6.2 mi
9m
Southeastern Avenue
6.1 mi
8m
SR 48
2.4 mi
4m
East Market Street
0.5 mi
1m
East Washington Street
0.4 mi
1m
North Spades Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Monument Circle
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 61.8 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indianapolis, IN and Clinton, IN.
1
Start on this road
257 ft·32 sec·this road
2
Turn left
37 ft·9 sec
3
Turn left onto Monument Circle
0.1 mi·23 sec·Monument Circle
4
Turn right onto East Market Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Market Street
5
Turn right onto North Park Avenue
512 ft·23 sec·North Park Avenue
6
At end of road, turn left onto East Washington Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East Washington Street
7
Turn right onto Southeastern Avenue
1.4 mi·2 min·Southeastern Avenue
Use the right lane.
8
Enter roundabout onto Southeastern Avenue
130 ft·7 sec·Southeastern Avenue
9
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
4.7 mi·6 min·Southeastern Avenue
10
Continue on I 74; US 421
62 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 74; US 421
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 156Toward SR 101: Sunman, Milan
12
Turn right onto SR 101
6.2 mi·9 min·SR 101
13
Turn right onto SR 48
2.4 mi·4 min·SR 48
14
Turn right onto North Spades Road
0.2 mi·52 sec·North Spades Road
15
Arrive at destination
North Spades Road
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 39 miles from Indianapolis, IN, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.8 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39 miles or 47m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clinton, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Indianapolis, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Indianapolis, IN
This is one driving day of about 78 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Indianapolis, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 74 for about 61.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39 mi from Indianapolis, IN
· 47m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.19 one way
$24.39 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.39
$26.78
premium
$4.89
$15.01
$30.02
diesel
$5.61
$17.22
$34.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.4
0
$8.19
$3.74
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.82
$3.12
EV Truck/SUV
31.2
0
$10.92
$4.99
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Indianapolis, IN
Night
in Indianapolis on Thursday
Local time
9:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clinton, IN
Night
in Clinton on Thursday
Local time
9:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Shelbyville, IN
39 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
22 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 35m 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 Indianapolis, IN to Clinton, IN covers 78 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 74, SR 101, Southeastern Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39 miles from Indianapolis, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.19 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 35m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Monument Circle): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (East Washington Street): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Indianapolis, IN to Clinton, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Milan along the way.
