Lawrence, IN to Evansville, IN is 178 miles and takes about 3h 20m via I 69, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, entirely within Indiana, making it a straightforward drive. Given its mostly highway profile and short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day trip. You'll encounter minimal deviations from the main interstate, keeping the focus on reaching your destination efficiently. Plan for a smooth and uncomplicated transit between these two Indiana cities.
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
89 miles from Lawrence, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
168.7 mi
3h 4m
East Lloyd Expressway
3.9 mi
4m
North Burkhardt Road
2.5 mi
4m
Pendleton Pike
0.7 mi
1m
East Walnut Street
0.7 mi
1m
US 36
0.3 mi
<1m
US 41
0.3 mi
<1m
Lynch Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 168.7 mi, about 3h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lawrence, IN and Evansville, IN.
1
Start on this road
122 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto McCoy Street
492 ft·16 sec·McCoy Street
3
Turn right onto US 36; SR 67
0.7 mi·1 min·Pendleton Pike
4
Turn left onto US 36; SR 67
0.3 mi·36 sec·US 36; SR 67
Toward I 465 South, US 36 West, SR 67 SouthUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 69; I 465
7.3 mi·8 min·I 69; I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 69; I 74; I 465
8.7 mi·10 min·I 69; I 74; I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
48 mi·54 min·I 69
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
104 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 69
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·39 sec
Exit 10Toward Lynch Road
10
Turn slight right
153 ft·4 sec
11
Turn straight onto Lynch Road
498 ft·15 sec·Lynch Road
12
Turn left onto North Burkhardt Road
2.5 mi·4 min·North Burkhardt Road
13
Turn right onto SR 66
3.9 mi·4 min·East Lloyd Expressway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward US 41 South
15
Merge onto US 41; SR 66
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 41; SR 66
16
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Walnut Street
17
Turn right
332 ft·25 sec
18
At end of road, turn right
123 ft·9 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour, 20-minute drive, leaving in the morning is a good idea to allow for flexibility. Since it's a single-day trip, you won't need to split the drive, and you can take advantage of that by stopping for a brief break if needed, though the route is short enough that it might not be necessary. Watch for the transition off I 69 as you near Evansville; the final 1.3 miles will be on surface streets. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially since the estimated cost is around $28, and it's wise to fill up before you get too low, as rest areas can be spaced out on interstates.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 89 miles from Lawrence, IN, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 168.7 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 39 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89 miles or 1h 40m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evansville, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lawrence, 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 Lawrence, IN
This is one driving day of about 178 miles and 3h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Lawrence, 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 69 for about 168.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 65.6 — 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|McCoy Street
Turn right onto McCoy Street
Navigation decision point
7
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|US 36; SR 67
Turn left onto US 36; SR 67 toward I 465 South, US 36 West, SR 67 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 465 South, US 36 West, SR 67 South
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|I 69; I 465
Merge onto I 69; I 465
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
17.1 mi into trip|~21m in|I 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 South: Evansville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
5
65.6 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|I 69
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 South: Evansville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.83 one way
$55.66 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.55
$61.11
premium
$4.89
$34.25
$68.51
diesel
$5.61
$39.30
$78.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.4
0
$18.69
$8.54
Efficient EV
44.5
0
$15.58
$7.12
EV Truck/SUV
71.2
0
$24.92
$11.39
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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
Lawrence, IN
Afternoon
in Lawrence on Saturday
Local time
4:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Evansville, IN
Afternoon
in Evansville on Saturday
Local time
3:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Bloomington, IN
89 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
3h 20m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With 97% of this 178-mile route on highways, you'll spend most of your time on I 69. The longest stretch without a significant road change is 168.7 miles on I 69. You can expect a long period of consistent highway cruising before transitioning to surface roads for the final portion into Evansville. The approach to Evansville involves roads like East Lloyd Expressway and North Burkhardt Road, indicating a shift to a more developed area with more frequent exits and intersections.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 168.7 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and East Lloyd Expressway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near McCoy Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 178 miles you will encounter 14 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 (McCoy Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 36; SR 67): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles (I 69; I 465): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 20m. Total distance: 178 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 168.7 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Evansville, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (McCoy Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 36; SR 67): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles (I 69; I 465): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Evansville, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
