Origin
Madison, IN
Night in Madison on Sunday
Local time
9:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, IN to Saint Joseph, IN
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
46.4 mi
75 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, IN
Guilherme Simão
Saint Joseph, IN
Andrés Oliver Joya Zapata
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through the Indiana Midwest, the 46.4-mile trip from Madison to Saint Joseph is a straightforward choice. Clocking in at approximately 1 hour and 8 minutes, this journey is perfectly suited for a single-day outing. You will navigate a mix of local roads and interstate travel, requiring only about $7 in fuel to make the trek. Because the duration is quite short, there is no need to worry about overnight lodging or complex itineraries. It is a practical, efficient route that gets you from point A to point B without any necessary stops along the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
23.2 miles from Madison, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a varied experience behind the wheel, as this 46.4-mile path is categorized as a mixed drive. You will spend about 53% of your time on highways, transitioning between the smaller scale of Clifty Hollow Road and SR 56 before merging onto I-65. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 14.7-mile segment on Clifty Hollow Road, which provides a nice contrast to the faster pace of the interstate. By combining local infrastructure with major highway arteries, the route offers a balanced feel that shifts from slower, localized driving to more efficient interstate cruising as you progress toward Saint Joseph.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Clifty Hollow Road is the longest continuous segment at about 14.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 8m drive. You will face about 10 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 (West Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.1 miles (SR 3; SR 56): Navigation decision point; at 37.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Street
Turn right onto West Street
Navigation decision point
4
16.1 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
SR 3; SR 56
At end of road, turn left onto SR 3; SR 56
Navigation decision point
5
37.9 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward Memphis Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 16
Toward Memphis Road
5
44.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
SR 60 / State Road 60
At end of road, turn right onto SR 60 / State Road 60
Navigation decision point
4
44.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
State Road 111
Turn left onto State Road 111
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Clifty Hollow Road | 14.7 mi | 22m |
| I 65 | 13.4 mi | 14m |
| SR 56 | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| SR 3 | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| US 31 | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Perry Crossing Road | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| State Road 111 | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| West Main Street | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Clifty Hollow Road
— 14.7 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, IN and Saint Joseph, IN.
1
Start on this road
71 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto West Street
184 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Street
3
Turn left onto SR 56
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
4
Continue on SR 56
15 mi
·
22 min
·
Clifty Hollow Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto SR 3; SR 56
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
SR 3; SR 56
6
Continue on SR 56; SR 203
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
SR 56; SR 203
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
8
Merge onto I 65
13 mi
·
14 min
·
I 65
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 16
Toward Memphis Road
10
Turn left onto Memphis-Blue Lick Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Memphis-Blue Lick Road
11
Turn right onto US 31
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
US 31
12
Turn right onto Perry Crossing Road
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Perry Crossing Road
13
At end of road, turn right onto SR 60
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
State Road 60
14
Turn left onto State Road 111
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
State Road 111
15
Arrive at destination
Grant Line Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time; however, leaving during non-peak hours will help you maintain that 1 hour and 8 minute travel time. You won't need to plan for any formal stops given the short distance, so keep your supplies packed and ready to go before you pull out of Madison. Make sure your gas tank is prepared for the $7 fuel cost to ensure a seamless arrival in Saint Joseph. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay alert during the transition from the local roads onto the I-65 corridor, as the shift in traffic volume is the most significant change you will face during the drive.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 23.2 miles from Madison, IN, or about 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.7 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 46.4 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 23.2 miles or 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Joseph, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Madison, 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 Madison, IN
This is one driving day of about 46.4 miles and 1h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Madison, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Clifty Hollow Road for about 14.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.2 mi from Madison, IN · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 46.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.2 miles from Madison, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Saint Joseph, IN
The final approach into Saint Joseph, 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 Saint Joseph, 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
$7.05 one way
$14.10 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $7.77 | $15.54 |
| premium | $4.80 | $8.76 | $17.52 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.31 | $20.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.06 | $1.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.50 | $2.97 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Saint Joseph, IN
Night in Saint Joseph on Sunday
Local time
9:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
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
18 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
1h 8m 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 Madison, IN to Saint Joseph, IN covers 46.4 miles and takes about 1h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Clifty Hollow Road, I 65, SR 56. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.2 miles from Madison, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.05 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 8m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.1 miles (SR 3; SR 56): Navigation decision point; at 37.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Madison, IN to Saint Joseph, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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