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Trip from Kendallville, 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 3m

Distance

139.7 mi

225 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 52m ★
6 AM
3h 4m
8 AM
3h 26m
10 AM
3h 12m
12 PM
3h 9m
3 PM
3h 13m
5 PM
3h 25m
8 PM
2h 57m

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

city in Indiana, USA

Kendallville, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Lafayette, IN, IN

Lafayette, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Kendallville, IN to Lafayette, IN covers 139.7 miles and takes about 3h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Wabash Road, Hoosier Heartland Highway, South Lima Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.2 miles on Wabash Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.84 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

69.9 miles from Kendallville, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 3m. Total distance: 139.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (18%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 3m drive with frequent turns across 139.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Wabash Road is the longest continuous segment at about 46.2 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 around 23.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Kendallville, IN to Lafayette, IN is easy. At 3h 3m with 18% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.5 miles (I 69; US 24; US 30): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

5
23.2 mi into trip | ~33m in

Take the exit toward I 69 South, US 24 West, US 30 West: Indianapolis

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

Toward I 69 South, US 24 West, US 30 West: Indi...
5
23.5 mi into trip | ~34m in | I 69; US 24; US 30

Merge onto I 69; US 24; US 30

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

Use the straight lane.
5
37.3 mi into trip | ~49m in

Take the exit toward West Lafayette Center Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 296B Toward West Lafayette Center Road
4
135.7 mi into trip | ~2h 55m in | SR 25 / Hoosier Heartland Highway

Enter roundabout onto SR 25 / Hoosier Heartland Highway

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
139.7 mi into trip | ~3h 3m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Kendallville, IN and Lafayette, IN, road signs point toward La Porte and Rochester.

La Porte

100.7 mi in | ~2h 11m | via US 24; US 35

Rochester

100.7 mi in | ~2h 11m | via US 24; US 35

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Wabash Road 46.2 mi 58m
Hoosier Heartland Highway 35.4 mi 44m
South Lima Road 21.8 mi 30m
I 69 13.8 mi 15m
US 24 11.7 mi 15m
Lafayette Center Road 2 mi 2m
Schuyler Avenue 1.9 mi 3m
East 900 North 1.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Wabash Road — 46.2 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East Rush Street

47 ft · 9 sec · East Rush Street
2

Turn left onto South Main Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
3

Continue on South Main Street

258 ft · 7 sec · South Main Street
4

Turn left onto SR 3

22 mi · 30 min · South Lima Road
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 69 South, US 24 West, US 30 West: Indianapolis
6

Merge onto I 69; US 24; US 30

8.4 mi · 9 min · I 69; US 24; US 30
Use the straight lane.
7

Continue on I 69; US 33

5.4 mi · 5 min · I 69; US 33
8

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 57 sec
Exit 296B Toward West Lafayette Center Road
9

Continue on Lafayette Center Road

2.0 mi · 2 min · Lafayette Center Road
10

Continue on East 900 North

1.8 mi · 2 min · East 900 North
11

Turn left onto US 24

12 mi · 15 min · US 24
12

Continue on US 24

45 mi · 56 min · Wabash Road
Use the right lane.
13

Turn right onto US 24; US 35

1.6 mi · 1 min · Wabash Road
14

Continue on US 24; US 35

1.1 mi · 1 min · Logansport Bypass
15

Continue on US 24; US 35

35 mi · 43 min · Hoosier Heartland Highway
Toward US 24 West, US 35 North, SR 25 North: Logansport, La Porte, Rochester
16

Enter roundabout onto SR 25

237 ft · 6 sec · Hoosier Heartland Highway
17

Continue on SR 25

0.4 mi · 40 sec · Hoosier Heartland Highway
18

Continue on Schuyler Avenue

1.9 mi · 3 min · Schuyler Avenue
19

Turn left onto North 18th Street

1.6 mi · 3 min · North 18th Street
20

Turn left onto South Street

494 ft · 13 sec · South Street
21

Turn right onto Grant Street

34 ft · 1 sec · Grant Street
22

Turn right onto Douglas Street

165 ft · 12 sec · Douglas Street
23

Turn left

184 ft · 13 sec
24

Arrive at 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 69.9 miles from Kendallville, IN, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.2 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 31 miles or 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 69.9 miles or 1h 32m 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 28m

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 Kendallville, 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 Kendallville, IN

This is one driving day of about 139.7 miles and 3h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Kendallville, 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 Wabash Road for about 46.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 69.9 mi from Kendallville, IN · 1h 32m into the drive

Downtown Bolivar, IN, IN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bolivar, IN

70 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

Fort Wayne, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bolivar, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 69.9 miles from Kendallville, 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

$21.84 one way

$43.68 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 49 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $23.98 $47.96
premium $4.89 $26.88 $53.77
diesel $5.61 $30.84 $61.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 48.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 41.9 0 $14.67 $6.71
Efficient EV 34.9 0 $12.22 $5.59
EV Truck/SUV 55.9 0 $19.56 $8.94

Gas CO2

49 kg

EV CO2

16 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 14, 2026

Origin

Kendallville, IN

Morning in Kendallville on Saturday

Local time

7:05 AM

EDT

Current temp

35°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lafayette, IN

Morning in Lafayette on Saturday

Local time

7:05 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

52°F

Bolivar, IN

70 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

38 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 3m 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 Kendallville, IN to Lafayette, IN covers 139.7 miles and takes about 3h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Wabash Road, Hoosier Heartland Highway, South Lima Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 69.9 miles from Kendallville, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.84 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 Kendallville, IN to Lafayette, IN is easy. At 3h 3m with 18% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: at 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.5 miles (I 69; US 24; US 30): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Between Kendallville, IN and Lafayette, IN, road signs point toward La Porte and Rochester.

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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