The drive from Richmond, IN to Lebanon, IN covers 98.4 miles and takes about 1h 55m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 70, I 465, I 65 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60.8 miles on I 70.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.38 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.
Midpoint
49.2 miles from Richmond, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 98.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 55m highway drive covering 98.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and I 465. The longest continuous stretch is about 60.8 miles on I 70.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 60.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and I 465. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 27; SR 227 / North 9th Street.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 98.4 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (US 27; SR 227 / North 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 64.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 27; SR 227 / North 9th Street
Turn right onto US 27; SR 227 / North 9th Street
Navigation decision point
8
64.1 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 465 South, I 465 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 90
Toward I 465 South, I 465 North
7
64.4 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 465 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 465 North
6
82.9 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|I 865
Keep slight left at fork onto I 865 toward I 865 West: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 25
Toward I 865 West: Chicago
6
97.2 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward SR 39: Lebanon, Lizton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 139
Toward SR 39: Lebanon, Lizton
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
60.8 mi
1h 9m
I 465
11.1 mi
12m
I 65
9.4 mi
10m
I 69
6.1 mi
7m
I 865
5 mi
5m
Chester Boulevard
2.7 mi
3m
South Lebanon Street
0.9 mi
2m
I-465 WB
0.8 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 60.8 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, IN and Lebanon, IN.
1
Start on East Main Street
29 ft·2 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 27; SR 227
0.3 mi·44 sec·North 9th Street
3
Continue on US 27; SR 227
2.7 mi·3 min·Chester Boulevard
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
5
Merge onto I 70; US 35
61 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 70; US 35
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 90Toward I 465 South, I 465 NorthUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·53 sec
Toward I 465 NorthUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 69; I 465
6.1 mi·7 min·I 69; I 465
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 465
0.3 mi·19 sec·I 465
10
Continue on I-465 WB
0.8 mi·56 sec·I-465 WB
11
Continue on I 465
11 mi·12 min·I 465
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 865
5.0 mi·5 min·I 865
Exit 25Toward I 865 West: Chicago
13
Merge onto I 65; US 52
9.4 mi·10 min·I 65; US 52
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 139Toward SR 39: Lebanon, Lizton
15
Turn right onto SR 39
0.9 mi·2 min·South Lebanon Street
Use the right lane.
16
Arrive at destination
SR 39
Trip Plan
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 49.2 miles from Richmond, IN, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.8 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.2 miles or 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lebanon, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Richmond, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Richmond, IN
This is one driving day of about 98.4 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Richmond, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 60.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49.2 mi from Richmond, IN
· 57m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.38 one way
$30.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.89
$33.78
premium
$4.89
$18.94
$37.87
diesel
$5.61
$21.73
$43.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.5
0
$10.33
$4.72
Efficient EV
24.6
0
$8.61
$3.94
EV Truck/SUV
39.4
0
$13.78
$6.30
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (65% 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
Richmond, IN
Late night
in Richmond on Saturday
Local time
1:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lebanon, IN
Late night
in Lebanon on Saturday
Local time
1:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Lawrence, IN
49 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
5 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 55m 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 Richmond, IN to Lebanon, IN covers 98.4 miles and takes about 1h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, I 465, I 65. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.2 miles from Richmond, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.38 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 98.4 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (US 27; SR 227 / North 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 64.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Richmond, IN to Lebanon, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
