The drive from Ligonier, IN to Alaska, IN covers 176 miles and takes about 4h 3m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Strawtown Pike, SR 9, I 70 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.9 miles on South Strawtown Pike.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.78 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
88 miles from Ligonier, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 3m. Total distance: 176 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Ligonier, IN to Alaska, IN covers 176 miles and takes about 4h 3m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Strawtown Pike is the longest continuous segment at about 32.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 15.7 miles in near SR 9 / North Baseline Road.
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 176 miles you will encounter 19 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: at 15.7 miles (SR 9 / North Baseline Road): Navigation decision point; at 130.6 miles (North Keystone Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 136.9 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
15.7 mi into trip|~24m in|SR 9 / North Baseline Road
Turn right onto SR 9 / North Baseline Road
Navigation decision point
5
130.6 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|North Keystone Avenue
Turn left onto North Keystone Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
136.9 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|I 70
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 toward I 70: St Louis, Indianapolis International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70: St Louis, Indianapolis Internation...
5
166.8 mi into trip|~3h 40m in
Take the exit toward County Road 1100 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 51
Toward County Road 1100 West
5
167.6 mi into trip|~3h 42m in|SR 42
At end of road, turn right onto SR 42
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ligonier, IN and Alaska, IN, road signs point toward Indianapolis International Airport and County Road 1100 West.
Indianapolis International Airport
136.9 mi in|~3h 5m|via I 70
County Road 1100 West
166.8 mi in|~3h 40m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Strawtown Pike
32.9 mi
38m
SR 9
30.9 mi
38m
I 70
29.9 mi
35m
South State Road 9
17.2 mi
25m
Lincolnway South
14.7 mi
21m
SR 37
12.9 mi
17m
North Baseline Road
9.1 mi
13m
Binford Boulevard
6.4 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
South Strawtown Pike
— 32.9 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ligonier, IN and Alaska, IN.
1
Start on Pigeon Street
38 ft·6 sec·Pigeon Street
2
Turn left onto SR 5
0.3 mi·1 min·North Cavin Street
3
Continue on SR 5
0.6 mi·1 min·Lincoln Way South
4
Continue on US 33; SR 5
15 mi·21 min·Lincolnway South
5
Turn right onto SR 9
9.1 mi·13 min·North Baseline Road
6
Continue on SR 9
1.5 mi·2 min·North Main Street
7
Turn slight right onto SR 9; SR 205
0.2 mi·20 sec·River Street
8
Continue on SR 9
17 mi·25 min·South State Road 9
9
Take the ramp onto SR 9
31 mi·38 min·SR 9
10
Turn slight right onto SR 37
33 mi·38 min·South Strawtown Pike
11
Enter roundabout onto SR 37
105 ft·1 sec·SR 37
12
Continue on SR 37
13 mi·17 min·SR 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 69
3.1 mi·3 min·I 69
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·13 sec
15
Merge onto I 69
0.3 mi·23 sec·I 69
16
Continue on Binford Boulevard
6.4 mi·9 min·Binford Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive
0.2 mi·22 sec·East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive
18
Turn left onto North Keystone Avenue
2.5 mi·5 min·North Keystone Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·35 sec
Toward I 70 West
20
Merge onto I 70
3.4 mi·4 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
30 mi·35 min·I 70
Toward I 70: St Louis, Indianapolis International AirportUse the slight right lane.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 51Toward County Road 1100 West
23
Turn left onto North Little Point Road
0.5 mi·1 min·North Little Point Road
24
At end of road, turn right onto SR 42
1.2 mi·2 min·SR 42
25
Turn left onto SR 42
1.2 mi·2 min·SR 42
26
Turn right onto SR 42
3.0 mi·5 min·SR 42
27
Continue on North Craver Road
1.1 mi·4 min·North Craver Road
28
Continue on Awbrey Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Awbrey Road
29
Turn right onto North Wilson Road
1.0 mi·3 min·North Wilson Road
30
Turn right onto Lewisville Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Lewisville Road
31
Arrive at destination
Lewisville Road
Trip Plan
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 88 miles from Ligonier, IN, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.9 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 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alaska, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ligonier, 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 Ligonier, IN
This is one driving day of about 176 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Ligonier, 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 South Strawtown Pike for about 32.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.8
0
$18.48
$8.45
Efficient EV
44
0
$15.40
$7.04
EV Truck/SUV
70.4
0
$24.64
$11.26
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
Ligonier, IN
Morning
in Ligonier on Saturday
Local time
11:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alaska, IN
Morning
in Alaska on Saturday
Local time
11:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Elwood, IN
88 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
22 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
4h 3m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ligonier, IN to Alaska, IN covers 176 miles and takes about 4h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Strawtown Pike, SR 9, I 70. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88 miles from Ligonier, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.52 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 176 miles you will encounter 19 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: at 15.7 miles (SR 9 / North Baseline Road): Navigation decision point; at 130.6 miles (North Keystone Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 136.9 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Ligonier, IN and Alaska, IN, road signs point toward Indianapolis International Airport and County Road 1100 West.
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.
