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Trip from Lafayette, IN to Simonton Lake, IN

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 51m

Distance

127.5 mi

205 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 41m ★
6 AM
2h 52m
8 AM
3h 14m
10 AM
3h 0m
12 PM
2h 57m
3 PM
3h 1m
5 PM
3h 13m
8 PM
2h 45m

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

Downtown Lafayette, IN, IN

Lafayette, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Simonton Lake, IN, IN

Simonton Lake, IN

Tommes Frites

Trip Overview

The drive from Lafayette, IN to Simonton Lake, IN covers 127.5 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Douglas Street, Grant Street, South Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.93 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

63.8 miles from Lafayette, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 127.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 51m 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 2h 51m drive with frequent turns across 127.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Douglas Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Lafayette, IN to Simonton Lake, IN is easy. At 2h 51m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lafayette, IN to Simonton Lake, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Douglas Street
Grant Street
South Street
North 18th Street
Schuyler Avenue
Hoosier Heartland Highway
the route
Old State Road 25

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Douglas Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on the route

184 ft · 16 sec · the route
2

Turn right onto Douglas Street

164 ft · 8 sec · Douglas Street
3

Turn left onto Grant Street

36 ft · 7 sec · Grant Street
4

Turn left onto South Street

495 ft · 16 sec · South Street
5

Turn right onto North 18th Street

1.6 mi · 3 min · North 18th Street
6

Turn right onto Schuyler Avenue

1.9 mi · 3 min · Schuyler Avenue
7

Continue on Hoosier Heartland Highway

0.4 mi · 39 sec · Hoosier Heartland Highway
8

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

10 ft · the route
9

Exit the roundabout

31 mi · 39 min
10

Turn right onto Old State Road 25

2.7 mi · 4 min · Old State Road 25
11

Continue on South Cicott Street

0.5 mi · 56 sec · South Cicott Street
12

Turn right onto West Market Street

0.5 mi · 55 sec · West Market Street
13

Turn left onto South 2nd Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · South 2nd Street
14

Turn right onto Eel River Avenue

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Eel River Avenue
15

Continue on High Street

0.3 mi · 34 sec · High Street
16

Turn left onto North 6th Street

0.1 mi · 27 sec · North 6th Street
17

Turn right onto Michigan Avenue

22 mi · 31 min · Michigan Avenue
18

Take the ramp left toward South Bend

0.3 mi · 41 sec · South Bend
19

Merge slight left

42 mi · 50 min
20

Take the exit slight right toward US 20 East: Mishawaka, Elkhart

0.4 mi · 56 sec · US 20 East: Mishawaka, Elkhart
21

Merge slight left onto Saint Joseph Valley Parkway

13 mi · 14 min · Saint Joseph Valley Parkway
22

Take the exit slight right toward SR 19 North: Elkhart

0.5 mi · 1 min · SR 19 North: Elkhart
23

Turn straight onto South Nappanee Street

4.8 mi · 7 min · South Nappanee Street
24

Continue on Bristol Street

1.7 mi · 2 min · Bristol Street
25

Turn left onto Cassopolis Street

3.6 mi · 5 min · Cassopolis Street
26

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.8 miles from Lafayette, IN, or about 1h 25m into the drive.

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 28 miles or 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 63.8 miles or 1h 25m 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 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Simonton Lake, IN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Lafayette, 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 Lafayette, IN

This is one driving day of about 127.5 miles and 2h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Lafayette, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 63.8 mi from Lafayette, IN · 1h 25m into the drive

city in Marshall County, Indiana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Plymouth, IN

64 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

Delphi, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Plymouth, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 63.8 miles from Lafayette, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Simonton Lake, IN

The final approach into Simonton Lake, 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 Simonton Lake, 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

$19.93 one way

$39.87 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $21.89 $43.77
premium $4.89 $24.54 $49.07
diesel $5.61 $28.15 $56.30

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 44.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38.3 0 $13.39 $6.12
Efficient EV 31.9 0 $11.16 $5.10
EV Truck/SUV 51 0 $17.85 $8.16

Gas CO2

45 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Lafayette, IN

Afternoon in Lafayette on Thursday

Local time

1:42 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Simonton Lake, IN

Afternoon in Simonton Lake on Thursday

Local time

1:42 PM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

52°F

Plymouth, IN

64 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

6 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 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 Lafayette, IN to Simonton Lake, IN covers 127.5 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Douglas Street, Grant Street, South Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 63.8 miles from Lafayette, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.93 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.
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 Lafayette, IN to Simonton Lake, IN is easy. At 2h 51m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lafayette, IN to Simonton Lake, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lafayette, IN to Simonton Lake, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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