Trip from Lafayette, IN to Union City, IN

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 58m

Distance

119 mi

192 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min

4 AM

2h 47m ★

6 AM

2h 58m

8 AM

3h 21m

10 AM

3h 6m

12 PM

3h 4m

3 PM

3h 7m

5 PM

3h 20m

8 PM

2h 51m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Lafayette, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Union City, IN

Matt Fitz Gibaud

Trip Overview

The drive from Lafayette, IN to Union City, IN covers 119 miles and takes about 2h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 65, South Walnut Street, East State Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13.7 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.60 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

59.5 miles from Lafayette, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 119 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 58m 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 2h 58m drive with frequent turns across 119 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 65 is the longest continuous segment at about 13.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Douglas Street.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 58m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

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 16.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Douglas Street

Turn right onto Douglas Street

Navigation decision point

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Street

Turn right onto South Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

16.9 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the exit toward SR 28: Frankfort, Attica

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 158 Toward SR 28: Frankfort, Attica

45.9 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in | SR 28 / West 200 South

Enter roundabout onto SR 28 / West 200 South

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

46 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | West 200 South

Enter roundabout onto West 200 South

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

On the drive from Lafayette, IN to Union City, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Attica along the way.

Attica

16.9 mi in | ~21m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 65	13.7 mi	14m
South Walnut Street	13.3 mi	19m
East State Street	10.1 mi	17m
East 600 North	10 mi	14m
West 200 South	9.9 mi	14m
County Road 100 South	7.8 mi	11m
SR 28	7.4 mi	11m
Cleveland Street	7.3 mi	10m

Longest stretch: I 65 — 13.7 mi, about 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on this road

184 ft · 15 sec · this road

Turn right onto Douglas Street

165 ft · 8 sec · Douglas Street

Turn left onto Grant Street

34 ft · 3 sec · Grant Street

Turn right onto South Street

2.8 mi · 5 min · South Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 24 sec

Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis

Merge onto I 65

14 mi · 14 min · I 65

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 28 sec

Exit 158 Toward SR 28: Frankfort, Attica Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto SR 28

7.4 mi · 11 min · SR 28

Turn straight onto SR 28

1.2 mi · 1 min · West Walnut Street

Turn right onto US 421; SR 28

406 ft · 13 sec · South Hoke Avenue

Turn left onto US 421; SR 28

3.4 mi · 5 min · East Wabash Street

Continue on US 421; SR 28

2.0 mi · 2 min · East County Road 50 S

Turn right onto US 421; SR 28

0.5 mi · 50 sec · US 421; SR 28

Turn left onto SR 28

7.8 mi · 11 min · County Road 100 South

Continue on SR 28

6.1 mi · 9 min · West 200 South

Enter roundabout onto SR 28

98 ft · 1 sec · West 200 South

Continue on SR 28

0.1 mi · 14 sec · West 200 South

Enter roundabout onto SR 28

150 ft · 2 sec · West 200 South

Continue on SR 28

0.1 mi · 12 sec · West 200 South

Enter roundabout onto West 200 South

109 ft · 1 sec · West 200 South

Continue on West 200 South

3.4 mi · 5 min · West 200 South

Continue on West Old State Road 28

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Old State Road 28

Continue on West Jefferson Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · West Jefferson Street

Continue on SR 28

4.0 mi · 6 min · East 150 South

Continue on SR 28

3.2 mi · 4 min · State Road 28

Continue on SR 28

1.5 mi · 2 min · East 150 South

Continue on SR 28

2.7 mi · 4 min · Main Street

Continue on SR 28

6.1 mi · 8 min · 1200 North

Continue on SR 28

7.3 mi · 10 min · Cleveland Street

Continue on US 35; SR 28

10.0 mi · 14 min · East 600 North

Continue on SR 28

2.7 mi · 4 min · East County Road 600 North

At end of road, turn left onto SR 28; SR 67

4.2 mi · 4 min · West State Street

Continue on SR 28

1.7 mi · 3 min · West State Street

Continue on SR 28

10 mi · 17 min · East State Street

Turn right onto SR 28

13 mi · 19 min · South Walnut Street

Turn slight right onto SR 28

0.6 mi · 2 min · North Columbia Street

Turn right onto West Division Street

38 ft · 1 sec · West Division Street

Arrive at destination

West Division Street

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 59.5 miles from Lafayette, IN, or about 1h 26m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.7 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 26 miles or 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 59.5 miles or 1h 26m 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 22m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union City, 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 119 miles and 2h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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.

The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 13.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 59.5 mi from Lafayette, IN · 1h 26m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Elwood, IN

60 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

Mulberry, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elwood, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 59.5 miles from Lafayette, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Union City, IN

The final approach into Union City, 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 Union City, 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

$18.60 one way

$37.21 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$20.43	$40.85
premium	$4.89	$22.90	$45.80
diesel	$5.61	$26.27	$52.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 41.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	35.7	$12.49	$5.71
Efficient EV	29.8	$10.41	$4.76
EV Truck/SUV	47.6	$16.66	$7.62

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 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

Lafayette, IN

Afternoon in Lafayette on Thursday

Local time

1:03 PM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 14 mph 17% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 5:21AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 10:37PM EDT until April 17 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

Destination

Union City, IN

Afternoon in Union City on Thursday

Local time

1:03 PM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

73°F

Elwood, IN

60 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

3 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

2h 58m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Lafayette, IN to Union City, IN covers 119 miles and takes about 2h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 65, South Walnut Street, East State Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 59.5 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 $18.60 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.

This is a straightforward 2h 58m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

On the drive from Lafayette, IN to Union City, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Attica along the way.

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