Origin
Lafayette, IN
Afternoon in Lafayette on Saturday
Local time
1:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lafayette, IN to Indianapolis, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
62.7 mi
101 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lafayette, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 62.7-mile drive from Lafayette to Indianapolis is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 17 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-65, this route is a highway-focused experience, making it an efficient way to travel between these two Indiana cities. With a projected fuel cost of around $10, it's an economical option for a quick journey. Given its short duration and highway nature, you won't need to worry about overnight stays, allowing for maximum flexibility in your departure and arrival times. This trip stays within the Midwest region, offering a familiar landscape throughout.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 57.8 mi | 1h 5m |
| South Street | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| North West Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Indiana Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Capitol Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Market Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Douglas Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Grant Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 57.8 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lafayette, IN and Indianapolis, IN.
1
Start on this road
184 ft
·
15 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Douglas Street
165 ft
·
8 sec
·
Douglas Street
3
Turn left onto Grant Street
34 ft
·
3 sec
·
Grant Street
4
Turn right onto South Street
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
South Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
6
Merge onto I 65
42 mi
·
45 min
·
I 65
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
15 mi
·
19 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 114
Toward Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on North West Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North West Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn slight left onto Indiana Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Indiana Avenue
11
Turn right onto North Capitol Avenue
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Capitol Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto West Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Market Street
Use the left lane.
13
At end of road, turn right
257 ft
·
28 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.4 miles from Lafayette, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 62.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Douglas Street
Turn right onto Douglas Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Street
Turn right onto South Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
45.6 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
I 65
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
61.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 114
Toward Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street
7
62.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
West Market Street
Turn left onto West Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.80 one way
$19.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.76 | $21.53 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.07 | $24.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.84 | $27.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.58 | $3.01 |
| Efficient EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.49 | $2.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.1 | 0 | $8.78 | $4.01 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Indianapolis, IN
Afternoon in Indianapolis on Saturday
Local time
1:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 12 mph
17% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 11:48AM CDT until April 18 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 11:04AM CDT until April 23 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
11 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 17m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 92% of the journey on high-speed roads, mostly I-65. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 57.8 miles, allowing for consistent progress. While the bulk of the drive is on the interstate, you'll transition to local roads like South Street and North West Street as you approach your Indianapolis destination. This means the initial part of the trip is about efficient travel, with a shift to more urban navigation towards the end.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.8 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and South Street. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Douglas 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 62.7 miles you will encounter 10 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 (Douglas Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.6 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Indianapolis, IN
Full guide →Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana and also the state’s largest city. Efforts to beautify and modernize the city have brought Indianapolis into the 21st century as a world-class destination for everything from business meetings and trade conventions to backpackers making their way across the States. Indianapolis is widely hailed as the "Racing Capital of the World" because of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500 and Brickyard 400 at the Brickyard, and as the "Amateur Sports Capital of America" for hosting the NCAA Hall of Champions. The city has several attractions outside of sports, including museums, a large zoo, over 100 ethnic restaurants, several arts and historic districts, and a revitalized downtown. Although Indy has been mocked with the epithet "India-noplace", visitors will encounter a mix of a large metropolitan city and a simple Midwestern community.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 62.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.8 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Indianapolis, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Douglas Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.6 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Indianapolis, IN before heading back.
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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