El Ranchero
Later in the drive, right off the route
Spencer, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18128292106
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 44m
Distance
107.7 mi
173 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nebraska, IN
Sam McCool
Middlebury, IN
Jay Brand
The drive from Nebraska, IN to Middlebury, IN covers 107.7 miles and takes about 2h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on SR 46, Van Buren Street, SR 7 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.7 miles on SR 46. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.84 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
53.9 miles from Nebraska, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 107.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Straightforward navigation.
The drive from Nebraska, IN to Middlebury, IN covers 107.7 miles and takes about 2h 44m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
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 US 50.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 44m drive. You will face about 14 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 (US 50): Navigation decision point; at 8.6 miles (US 50): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 12.6 miles (SR 7): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto US 50
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto US 50
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Turn right onto SR 7
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto SR 59; SR 246 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto SR 59; SR 246 / West 8th Street
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| SR 46 | 17.7 mi | 28m |
| Van Buren Street | 16.6 mi | 19m |
| SR 7 | 14.9 mi | 22m |
| State Road 246 | 14.6 mi | 26m |
| US 50 | 12.6 mi | 18m |
| Jonathan Moore Pike | 8.4 mi | 12m |
| State Road 46 | 7.8 mi | 11m |
| West State Road 46 | 5.6 mi | 8m |
Step-by-step road directions between Nebraska, IN and Middlebury, IN.
Start on East County Road 540 North
Turn right onto US 50
Enter roundabout onto US 50
Continue on US 50
Turn right onto SR 7
Continue on SR 46
Continue on SR 46
Continue on Jonathan Moore Pike
Continue on SR 46
Turn left onto SR 46
Turn right onto SR 46
Turn slight right onto SR 46
Merge onto SR 46
Continue on SR 46
Continue on SR 46
Turn right onto SR 46
Turn left onto SR 246
Continue on SR 246
Turn left onto SR 59; SR 246
Turn right onto SR 59; SR 246
At end of road, turn left onto SR 59; SR 246
At end of road, turn right onto SR 59; SR 246
Turn left onto West Martz Market Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 24 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.9 miles or 1h 18m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Middlebury, IN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Nebraska, 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 Nebraska, IN
This is one driving day of about 107.7 miles and 2h 44m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.9 mi from Nebraska, IN · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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.
A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 53.9 miles from Nebraska, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Middlebury, 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 Middlebury, IN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Spencer, Indiana
Later in the drive, right off the route
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18128292106
Chambers Restaurant (Chambers Smorgasbord)
Spencer, Indiana
Guatemex Restaurant
Columbus, Indiana
Later in the drive, right off the route
Spencer, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18128292106
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Spencer, Indiana
Hours: 6 am–2:30 pm
+18128293022
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, right off the route
Columbus, Indiana
Hours: 10 am–8 pm
+18123900502
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Columbus, Indiana
Hours: 4–9 pm
+18123750686
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Columbus, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+18123726576
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Columbus, Indiana
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+18129005551
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Columbus, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+18123766888
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Columbus, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18129006888
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Bloomington, Indiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Bloomington, Indiana
+18665212658
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Bloomington, Indiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Bloomington, Indiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Regular Gas
$16.84 one way
$33.68 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.49 | $36.97 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.73 | $41.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.78 | $47.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.31 | $5.17 |
| Efficient EV | 26.9 | 0 | $9.42 | $4.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.1 | 0 | $15.08 | $6.89 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Nebraska on Saturday
Local time
7:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in Middlebury on Saturday
Local time
7:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
74°F
Bloomington, IN
54 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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