Origin
Middlebury, IN
Evening in Middlebury on Sunday
Local time
7:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Middlebury, IN to Indianapolis, IN
Drive Time
3h 4m
Distance
173.5 mi
279 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 53m
★
6 AM
3h 5m
8 AM
3h 28m
10 AM
3h 13m
12 PM
3h 11m
3 PM
3h 14m
5 PM
3h 27m
8 PM
2h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Middlebury, IN
Sawyer Sutton
Trip Overview
Traveling from Middlebury to Indianapolis covers 173.5 miles through the heart of the Midwest. Expect the journey to take approximately 3 hours and 4 minutes of pure drive time. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than an interstate haul, it is best suited as a comfortable single-day trip. Budget roughly $24 for fuel to complete the trek. Since the entire route stays within Indiana, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition from the northern part of the state down to the capital. It is a straightforward transit that avoids highway congestion, making it a reliable choice if you prefer local roads over high-speed traffic.
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
86.7 miles from Middlebury, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Forget the monotony of the interstate; this route is defined by a turn-heavy, local character that keeps you actively engaged behind the wheel. You will navigate via South Benton Street, State Road 13, and County Road 50, with a highway share of 0%. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on South Benton Street, you should anticipate frequent turns and a slower, more deliberate pace. This path offers a genuine look at the Indiana landscape rather than a blurred view from a high-speed lane. Staying attentive is essential as you transition through these secondary roads, providing a driving experience that feels far more hands-on than a standard highway commute.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Benton Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Middlebury, IN to Indianapolis, IN is easy. At 3h 4m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Middlebury, IN to Indianapolis, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Benton Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Road 13 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road 50 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road 43 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grand Army of the Republic Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lincolnway South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Baseline Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South Benton Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Middlebury, IN and Indianapolis, IN.
1
Start on Main Street
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Main Street
2
At the end of the road, turn left
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
3
Turn right
6.9 mi
·
10 min
4
Continue on South Benton Street
243 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Benton Street
5
Continue on State Road 13
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
State Road 13
6
At the end of the road, turn left onto County Road 50
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
County Road 50
7
Turn right onto County Road 43
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 43
8
Turn left onto Grand Army of the Republic Highway
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
9
Turn right onto Lincolnway South
15 mi
·
21 min
·
Lincolnway South
10
Turn right onto North Baseline Road
9.1 mi
·
13 min
·
North Baseline Road
11
Continue on North Main Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
12
Turn slight right onto River Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
River Street
13
Continue on South State Road 9
17 mi
·
25 min
·
South State Road 9
14
Take the ramp right
31 mi
·
38 min
15
Turn slight right onto South Strawtown Pike
33 mi
·
38 min
·
South Strawtown Pike
16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
105 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
17
Exit the roundabout
13 mi
·
17 min
18
Merge slight left
3.1 mi
·
3 min
19
Keep slight left
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
20
Merge slight left
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
21
Continue on Binford Boulevard
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Binford Boulevard
22
Continue on East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive
23
Continue on East Fall Creek Parkway, North Drive
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Fall Creek Parkway, North Drive
24
Turn left onto North Meridian Street
2.4 mi
·
6 min
·
North Meridian Street
25
Turn right onto Monument Circle
367 ft
·
47 sec
·
Monument Circle
26
Turn left
75 ft
·
7 sec
27
At the end of the road, turn right
256 ft
·
28 sec
28
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. While the route is short enough to drive in one go, building in at least one planned stop will help you stay refreshed given the technical nature of the local roads. Keep a close eye on your navigation, as the reliance on County Road 50 and State Road 13 means you will be making more turns than you would on a major expressway. Since fuel costs for the trip are estimated at $24, filling up before you leave Middlebury is a smart way to simplify your journey. Use your one designated stop as a chance to stretch your legs, as the continuous turning on these local routes can be more physically demanding than typical highway driving.
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 86.7 miles from Middlebury, IN, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
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 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.7 miles or 1h 32m 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 31m
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 Middlebury, 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 Middlebury, IN
This is one driving day of about 173.5 miles and 3h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Middlebury, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.7 mi from Middlebury, IN · 1h 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 86.7 miles from Middlebury, 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
$26.35 one way
$52.71 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $29.05 | $58.10 |
| premium | $4.80 | $32.75 | $65.51 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $38.55 | $77.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.1 | 0 | $18.22 | $8.33 |
| Efficient EV | 43.4 | 0 | $15.18 | $6.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.4 | 0 | $24.29 | $11.10 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Evening in Indianapolis on Sunday
Local time
7:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°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
8 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 4m 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 Middlebury, IN to Indianapolis, IN covers 173.5 miles and takes about 3h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Benton Street, State Road 13, County Road 50. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.7 miles from Middlebury, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.35 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.
The drive from Middlebury, IN to Indianapolis, IN is easy. At 3h 4m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Middlebury, IN to Indianapolis, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Middlebury, IN to Indianapolis, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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