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Trip from Indianapolis, IN to Terre Haute, IN

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 31m

Distance

76.7 mi

123 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 24m ★
6 AM
1h 31m
8 AM
1h 45m
10 AM
1h 36m
12 PM
1h 35m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 27m

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

city and county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States

Terre Haute, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from Indianapolis to Terre Haute, you are looking at a straightforward 76.7-mile trip across the Indiana Midwest. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 31 minutes behind the wheel for this journey, which is easily manageable as a single-day excursion. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $12, this route is highly efficient for those needing to move between these two cities. Because the drive is short, you do not need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless your specific schedule requires it. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection that works well for both business commuters and casual travelers looking to bridge these two hubs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

38.3 miles from Indianapolis, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 76.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 31m 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 turn-heavy local driving experience that shifts away from a traditional high-speed interstate grind. You will spend the vast majority of your time—specifically 72.6 miles—navigating the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip. The remaining portion of the journey transitions into local navigation using South 3rd Street and South Capitol Avenue. Since the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a drive that prioritizes local access over sustained interstate speeds. The road’s personality is defined by these transitions, requiring you to stay alert as you move from major arterial roads into the city-specific streets of your destination.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 72.6 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

839 ft 501 ft

Total Climb

195 ft

Total Descent

410 ft

Highest Point

839 ft

~38.3 mi in

Elevation Range

338 ft

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 near West Market Street.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Indianapolis, IN to Terre Haute, IN is easy. At 1h 31m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North Capitol Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (South Capitol Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 6 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 | West Market Street

Turn left onto West Market Street

Navigation decision point

6
0.2 mi into trip | ~1m in | North Capitol Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto North Capitol Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
4
0.6 mi into trip | ~2m in | South Capitol Avenue

Keep slight right at fork onto South Capitol Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
1.4 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

Merge onto I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
74 mi into trip | ~1h 25m in

Take the exit toward US 41, US 150: Terre Haute, Evansville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 7 Toward US 41, US 150: Terre Haute, Evansville

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway 72.6 mi 1h 21m
South 3rd Street 2.4 mi 5m
South Capitol Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
North Capitol Avenue 0.4 mi 1m
West Market Street 0.2 mi <1m
North 3rd Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Dwight D Eisenhower Highway — 72.6 mi, about 1h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Indianapolis, IN and Terre Haute, IN.

1

Start on this road

257 ft · 32 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto West Market Street

0.2 mi · 41 sec · West Market Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto North Capitol Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Capitol Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4

Keep slight right at fork onto South Capitol Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Capitol Avenue
5

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
6

Merge onto I 70

73 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 7 Toward US 41, US 150: Terre Haute, Evansville
8

Turn right onto US 41; US 150

2.4 mi · 5 min · South 3rd Street
9

Arrive at destination

US 41; US 150

Trip Plan

Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. You won't need to plan for any mandatory stops since the 1 hour and 31-minute duration is short enough to drive in one go. Keep your fuel budget around $12 in mind, and consider fueling up before you leave Indianapolis to avoid any stress upon arrival. Given that this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, ensure your navigation system is ready to help you navigate the final segments on South 3rd Street and South Capitol Avenue. Taking the route in one stretch allows you to reach Terre Haute quickly without the need for complex trip-pacing strategies.

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 38.3 miles from Indianapolis, IN, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.6 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 22m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 38.3 miles or 45m 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 Terre Haute, 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 76.7 miles and 1h 31m.

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 Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 72.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 38.3 mi from Indianapolis, IN · 45m into the drive

person who operates a mill

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Miller, IN

38 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

Speedway, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brooklyn, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38.3 miles from Indianapolis, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Dwight D Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.6 miles.

Arriving in Terre Haute, IN

The final approach into Terre Haute, IN 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

$11.99 one way

$23.98 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.17 $26.33
premium $4.89 $14.76 $29.52
diesel $5.61 $16.93 $33.87

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: 26.8 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 0 $8.05 $3.68
Efficient EV 19.2 0 $6.71 $3.07
EV Truck/SUV 30.7 0 $10.74 $4.91

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 16, 2026

Origin

Indianapolis, IN

Afternoon in Indianapolis on Friday

Local time

1:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Terre Haute, IN

Afternoon in Terre Haute on Friday

Local time

1:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Sunny

WSW 15 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 3:01PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 12:24PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

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

6 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

1h 31m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Terre Haute, IN covers 76.7 miles and takes about 1h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, South 3rd Street, South Capitol Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 38.3 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 $11.99 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 Indianapolis, IN to Terre Haute, IN is easy. At 1h 31m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North Capitol Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (South Capitol Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

The route from Indianapolis, IN to Terre Haute, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 501 ft to 839 ft elevation with about 195 ft of total climbing.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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