Origin
Indianapolis, IN
Morning in Indianapolis on Monday
Local time
9:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Indianapolis, IN to Simonton Lake, IN
Drive Time
3h 32m
Distance
159.4 mi
257 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
19 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 20m
★
6 AM
3h 32m
8 AM
3h 57m
10 AM
3h 41m
12 PM
3h 38m
3 PM
3h 42m
5 PM
3h 56m
8 PM
3h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Indianapolis, IN to Simonton Lake, IN covers 159.4 miles and takes about 3h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Meridian Street, Saint Joseph Valley Parkway, South Nappanee Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 134 miles on North Meridian Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.21 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
79.7 miles from Indianapolis, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 32m drive with frequent turns across 159.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Meridian Street is the longest continuous segment at about 134 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 early in the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Indianapolis, IN to Simonton Lake, IN is easy. At 3h 32m with 9% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 0.2 miles (North Meridian Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese 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
3
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North Meridian Street
Continue onto North Meridian Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
135.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East: Mishawaka, Elkhart
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 East: Mishawaka, Elkhart
4
148.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 14m in
Take the exit toward SR 19 North: Elkhart
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward SR 19 North: Elkhart
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Indianapolis, IN to Simonton Lake, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Elkhart along the way.
Elkhart
135.5 mi in
|
~2h 58m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Meridian Street | 134 mi | 2h 56m |
| Saint Joseph Valley Parkway | 12.9 mi | 14m |
| South Nappanee Street | 4.8 mi | 7m |
| Cassopolis Street | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Bristol Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| US Highway 31 North | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Monument Circle | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Meridian Street
— 134 mi, about 2h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indianapolis, IN and Simonton Lake, 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
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Monument Circle
4
Continue on North Meridian Street
11 mi
·
23 min
·
North Meridian Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on North Meridian Street
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Meridian Street
6
Continue on US 31
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 31 North
7
Continue on US 31
120 mi
·
2 hr 28 min
·
North Meridian Street
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward US 20 East: Mishawaka, Elkhart
9
Merge onto US 20
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Saint Joseph Valley Parkway
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward SR 19 North: Elkhart
11
Turn straight onto SR 19
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
South Nappanee Street
12
Continue on SR 19
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Bristol Street
13
Turn left onto SR 19
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Cassopolis Street
14
Arrive at destination
SR 19
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 79.7 miles from Indianapolis, IN, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 134 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 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.7 miles or 1h 50m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Simonton Lake, 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.
+
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 Indianapolis, IN
This is one driving day of about 159.4 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Indianapolis, 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.
The longest stretch is on North Meridian Street for about 134 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.7 mi from Indianapolis, IN · 1h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.7 miles from Indianapolis, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Meridian Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 134 miles.
Arriving in Simonton Lake, IN
The final approach into Simonton Lake, 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 Simonton Lake, IN.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.21 one way
$48.42 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $26.69 | $53.38 |
| premium | $4.80 | $30.09 | $60.18 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $35.41 | $70.83 |
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: 55.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
EV Charging Along Route
19 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
The Amp at 16 Tech - Tesla Supercharger
Indianapolis, IN
Tesla
16 DCFC
Target - Tesla Supercharger
Indianapolis, IN
Tesla
16 DCFC
Plaza Garage - Tesla Supercharger
Indianapolis, IN
Tesla
12 DCFC
Meijer - Tesla Supercharger
Carmel, IN
Tesla
10 DCFC
GetGo Café and Market - Tesla Supercharger
Carmel, IN
Tesla
8 DCFC
Simon Fashion Mall at Keystone (Indianapolis, IN)
Indianapolis, IN
Electrify America
6 DCFC
Meijer #130 (Carmel, IN)
Carmel, IN
Electrify America
6 DCFC
Tom Wood Ford
Indianapolis, IN
FORD_CHARGE
4 DCFC
Tesla: 5
ChargePoint Network: 4
eVgo Network: 2
Electrify America: 2
Non-Networked: 2
FORD_CHARGE: 2
CHARGELAB: 2
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.8 | 0 | $16.74 | $7.65 |
| Efficient EV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.95 | $6.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.8 | 0 | $22.32 | $10.20 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Simonton Lake, IN
Morning in Simonton Lake on Monday
Local time
9:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°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
18 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
3h 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 Indianapolis, IN to Simonton Lake, IN covers 159.4 miles and takes about 3h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Meridian Street, Saint Joseph Valley Parkway, South Nappanee Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.7 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 $24.21 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 Indianapolis, IN to Simonton Lake, IN is easy. At 3h 32m with 9% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Monument Circle): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North Meridian Street): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Indianapolis, IN to Simonton Lake, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Elkhart along the way.
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Return Trip
Simonton Lake, IN to Indianapolis, INPlan the drive back the other way.
159.3 mi
3h 33m
Continue From Simonton Lake, IN
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