Origin
Kokomo, IN
Late night in Kokomo on Friday
Local time
1:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kokomo, IN to Carmel, IN
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
51m
Distance
36 mi
58 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kokomo, IN
Alexey Demidov
Carmel, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 36-mile drive from Kokomo to Carmel in Indiana is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 51 minutes to complete. Primarily utilizing US 31, with segments on South Washington Street and South Lafountain Street, this route offers a focused highway experience. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $6, it's an economical option for getting between these two Midwest locales. The drive is short enough that you won't need to worry about overnight stays, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times. Consider this a simple, efficient journey connecting two points in the heart of Indiana.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 36 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with about 80% of the journey on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 26.8 miles along US 31, offering a consistent pace. While mainly a highway experience, the inclusion of South Washington Street and South Lafountain Street means you'll encounter some local road sections, providing a slight change of scenery before rejoining higher-speed travel. This route's character is defined by its efficiency, with minimal time spent on slower, more complex local routes. It's designed for direct travel rather than extensive sightseeing along the way.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 31 is the longest continuous segment at about 26.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 31 and South Washington Street. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Washington Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 36 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Washington Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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
|
South Washington Street
Turn left onto South Washington Street
Navigation decision point
8
33.9 mi into trip
|
~47m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 129B
Toward Keystone Parkway, Rangeline Road, Clay T...
7
34.1 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
Keystone Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto Keystone Parkway toward Keystone Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Keystone Parkway
6
35.6 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Main Street
5
35.8 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
East Main Street
Enter roundabout onto East Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 31 | 26.8 mi | 34m |
| South Washington Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| South Lafountain Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Keystone Parkway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South County Road 00 East West | 1 mi | 1m |
| SR 931 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North County Road 600 West | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 31
— 26.8 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kokomo, IN and Carmel, IN.
1
Start on West Sycamore Street
21 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Sycamore Street
2
Turn left onto South Washington Street
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Washington Street
3
Continue on South Lafountain Street
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South Lafountain Street
4
Continue on SR 931
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South County Road 00 East West
5
Continue on SR 931
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
North County Road 600 West
6
Take the ramp onto SR 931
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
SR 931
7
Merge onto US 31; SR 28
19 mi
·
23 min
·
US 31; SR 28
8
Turn right onto East 226th Street
270 ft
·
10 sec
·
East 226th Street
9
Turn left
320 ft
·
50 sec
10
Continue on this road
320 ft
·
25 sec
·
this road
11
Turn right onto East 226th Street
270 ft
·
9 sec
·
East 226th Street
12
Turn right onto US 31
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
US 31
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 129B
Toward Keystone Parkway, Rangeline Road, Clay Terrace Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto Keystone Parkway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Keystone Parkway
Toward Keystone Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
Toward Main Street
Use the slight right lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto East Main Street
22 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Main Street
17
Continue on East Main Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18 mi from Kokomo, IN · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18 miles from Kokomo, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Carmel, IN
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Carmel, IN if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.63 one way
$11.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.18 | $12.36 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.93 | $13.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.95 | $15.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.78 | $1.73 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.15 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.04 | $2.30 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Carmel, IN
Late night in Carmel on Friday
Local time
1:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Sheridan, IN
18 mi in
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
1 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
51m 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 Kokomo, IN to Carmel, IN covers 36 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 31, South Washington Street, South Lafountain Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18 miles from Kokomo, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.63 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 36 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Washington Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
The route from Kokomo, IN to Carmel, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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