Uptown Cafe
Early in the drive, right off the route
Carmel, Indiana
Hours: 6 am–2 pm
+13175644149
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 42m
Distance
130.5 mi
210 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kokomo, IN
Alexey Demidov
Austin, IN
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Kokomo, IN to Austin, IN covers 130.5 miles and takes about 2h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 65, US 31, I 69 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 66 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.73 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
65.3 miles from Kokomo, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 130.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 2h 42m highway drive covering 130.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 65 and US 31. The longest continuous stretch is about 66 miles on I 65.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and US 31. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 33.9 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 130.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 33.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.1 miles (Keystone Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward Keystone Parkway, Rangeline Road, Clay Terrace Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto Keystone Parkway toward Keystone Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 465 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Emerson Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 66 mi | 1h 11m |
| US 31 | 28.7 mi | 37m |
| I 69 | 13.6 mi | 15m |
| Keystone Parkway | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| I 465 | 4 mi | 4m |
| South Emerson Avenue | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| South Washington Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| South Lafountain Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kokomo, IN and Austin, IN.
Start on West Sycamore Street
Turn left onto South Washington Street
Continue on South Lafountain Street
Continue on SR 931
Continue on SR 931
Take the ramp onto SR 931
Merge onto US 31; SR 28
Turn right onto East 226th Street
Turn left
Continue on this road
Turn right onto East 226th Street
Turn right onto US 31
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork onto Keystone Parkway
Enter roundabout
Continue
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 465
Merge onto I 69; I 465
Continue on I 69; I 74; I 465
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight onto South Emerson Avenue
Turn right onto East Southport Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
At end of road, turn left onto US 31
Turn left onto West Booe Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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 29 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.3 miles or 1h 29m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Austin, IN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Kokomo, 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 Kokomo, IN
This is one driving day of about 130.5 miles and 2h 42m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65.3 mi from Kokomo, IN · 1h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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.
A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 65.3 miles from Kokomo, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66 miles.
The final approach into Austin, 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 Austin, IN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Carmel, Indiana
Early in the drive, right off the route
Hours: 6 am–2 pm
+13175644149
Mega Js Caffe
Kokomo, Indiana
Oaken Barrel Brewing Company
Greenwood, Indiana
Top Coffee Stop
Kokomo, Indiana
Near the start, right off the route
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+17654197958
F-Bomb Energy
Kokomo, Indiana
Doubting Thomas Cafe
Kokomo, Indiana
Early in the drive, right off the route
Carmel, Indiana
Hours: 6 am–2 pm
+13175644149
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Kokomo, Indiana
Hours: 7 am–3 pm
+17654595552
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Greenwood, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+13178872287
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Greenwood, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+13178591336
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, right off the route
Carmel, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm
+13179369445
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, right off the route
Carmel, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–3 pm
+13178480189
Around the midpoint, short detour
Indianapolis, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+13178070248
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Carmel, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–12 pm
+13176692256
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Kokomo, Indiana
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+17654197958
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Kokomo, Indiana
Hours: 8 am–6 pm
+17652527750
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Kokomo, Indiana
Hours: 8 am–4 pm
+17657803094
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Kokomo, Indiana
Hours: 12–5 pm
+17654526224
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Carmel, Indiana
Hours: 7 am–5 pm
+13175669132
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Kokomo, Indiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Kokomo, Indiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18668167584
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Kokomo, Indiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the end, ~9 min detour
Seymour, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18122711298
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Regular Gas
$17.73 one way
$35.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $19.78 | $39.56 |
| premium | $4.15 | $21.32 | $42.64 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $19.27 | $38.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.70 | $6.26 |
| Efficient EV | 32.6 | 0 | $11.42 | $5.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.2 | 0 | $18.27 | $8.35 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Kokomo on Saturday
Local time
5:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Austin on Saturday
Local time
5:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
73°F
Lawrence, IN
65 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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