Origin
Ligonier, IN
Morning in Ligonier on Wednesday
Local time
6:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ligonier, IN to Indianapolis, IN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 8m
Distance
136.1 mi
219 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 57m
★
6 AM
3h 8m
8 AM
3h 31m
10 AM
3h 16m
12 PM
3h 14m
3 PM
3h 18m
5 PM
3h 30m
8 PM
3h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ligonier, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ligonier, IN to Indianapolis, IN covers 136.1 miles and takes about 3h 8m 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, South State Road 9 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 $21.28 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
68.1 miles from Ligonier, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Ligonier, IN to Indianapolis, IN covers 136.1 miles and takes about 3h 8m, 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 23 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 12 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.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 136.1 miles you will encounter 12 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 107.5 miles (SR 37): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 107.5 miles (SR 37): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese 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
4
107.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
|
SR 37
Enter roundabout onto SR 37
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
107.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
|
SR 37
Right onto SR 37
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
136.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 7m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
136.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 7m in
At end of road, turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Strawtown Pike | 32.9 mi | 38m |
| SR 9 | 30.9 mi | 38m |
| 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 |
| I 69 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
South Strawtown Pike
— 32.9 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ligonier, IN and Indianapolis, 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
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive
18
Continue on East Fall Creek Parkway, North Drive
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
East Fall Creek Parkway, North Drive
19
Turn left onto North Meridian Street
2.4 mi
·
6 min
·
North Meridian Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto Monument Circle
368 ft
·
46 sec
·
Monument Circle
21
Turn left
76 ft
·
6 sec
22
At end of road, turn right
257 ft
·
28 sec
23
Arrive at destination
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 68.1 miles from Ligonier, IN, or about 1h 36m 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 80 miles or 1h 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.1 miles or 1h 36m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indianapolis, 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 136.1 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68.1 mi from Ligonier, IN · 1h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
68 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 68.1 miles from Ligonier, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Indianapolis, IN
The final approach into Indianapolis, 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 Indianapolis, 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
$21.28 one way
$42.56 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $23.36 | $46.72 |
| premium | $4.89 | $26.19 | $52.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.05 | $60.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.8 | 0 | $14.29 | $6.53 |
| Efficient EV | 34 | 0 | $11.91 | $5.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.4 | 0 | $19.05 | $8.71 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
Indianapolis, IN
Morning in Indianapolis on Wednesday
Local time
6:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny
SSW 14 mph
11% chance
Live forecast
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
31 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 8m 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 Ligonier, IN to Indianapolis, IN covers 136.1 miles and takes about 3h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Strawtown Pike, SR 9, South State Road 9. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68.1 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 $21.28 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 136.1 miles you will encounter 12 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 107.5 miles (SR 37): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 107.5 miles (SR 37): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Ligonier, IN to Indianapolis, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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