Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
Lake Michigan's might has influenced Indiana Dunes for millennia. Wind and waves have shaped the land, leaving a rich mosaic of habitats along these 15 miles of Indiana coast. Over 50 miles of trails...
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 25m
Distance
160.4 mi
258 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
19 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ross, IN
Google DeepMind
Terre Haute, IN
Wikimedia Commons
This 160.4-mile journey from Ross, Indiana, to Terre Haute, Indiana, is a manageable one-day road trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 25 minutes. You'll primarily be on SR 63 and US 41, with a good portion of the drive, around 70%, being on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is about $25, making it an economical choice. This route stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout. It’s a straightforward drive, well-suited for those looking for a direct route without extensive planning.
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
80.2 miles from Ross, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 25m. Total distance: 160.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with about 70% of the route utilizing faster roads. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 63.4 miles on SR 63, which provides a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. The drive generally follows major roadways like SR 63 and US 41, which are known for their efficiency. While primarily highway, keep an eye on the transition between these main roads for the most engaging driving experience.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on SR 63 and US 41. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in near US 30 / West 81st Avenue.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 160.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 4.6 miles (US 30 / West 81st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto US 30 / West 81st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 65: Indianapolis, Chicago
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward SR 14: Winamac
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| SR 63 | 63.4 mi | 1h 20m |
| US 41 | 48.9 mi | 1h 3m |
| Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway | 31.4 mi | 33m |
| State Road 14 | 9.2 mi | 12m |
| Taft Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| West 81st Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Chase Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| West 57th Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ross, IN and Terre Haute, IN.
Start on Chase Street
Turn left onto West 57th Avenue
Turn right onto SR 55
Continue on SR 55
Turn left onto US 30
Continue on US 30
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Turn right onto SR 14
Turn left onto US 41
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
Continue on SR 63
Continue on US 41
Continue on US 41; US 150
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 25 minutes for this 160.4-mile drive, you have a lot of flexibility. Consider departing in the morning to make the most of your day, with an estimated fuel cost of $25. There's only one recommended stop, so you can choose to take it as needed or push through if you prefer. The longest stretch without a significant change in road is 63.4 miles on SR 63, so plan your breaks accordingly to stay comfortable. This route is mostly highway, so be mindful of speed limits and traffic, especially as you approach Terre Haute.
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.
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 35 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.2 miles or 1h 41m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Terre Haute, IN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Ross, 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 Ross, IN
This is one driving day of about 160.4 miles and 3h 25m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 80.2 mi from Ross, IN · 1h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 80.2 miles from Ross, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before SR 63 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.4 miles.
The final approach into Terre Haute, 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 Terre Haute, IN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Park
Lake Michigan's might has influenced Indiana Dunes for millennia. Wind and waves have shaped the land, leaving a rich mosaic of habitats along these 15 miles of Indiana coast. Over 50 miles of trails...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$25.08 one way
$50.15 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $27.53 | $55.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $30.87 | $61.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.41 | $70.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
19 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Meijer - Tesla Supercharger
Terre Haute, IN
23 DCFC
Meijer - Tesla Supercharger
Merrillville, IN
22 DCFC
Fair Oaks Farms - Tesla Supercharger
Fair Oaks, IN
12 DCFC
Fair Oaks Farms (North) - Tesla Supercharger
Fair Oaks, IN
12 DCFC
Terre Haute, IN Rechargery @ Casey's - S 3rd St
Terre Haute, IN
8 DCFC
Fieldhouse Ford Sales
De Motte, IN
4 DCFC
Walmart 4235 (Terre Haute, IN)
Terre Haute, IN
4 DCFC
Muller Acura of Merrillville
Merrillville, IN
2 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.1 | 0 | $16.84 | $7.70 |
| Efficient EV | 40.1 | 0 | $14.04 | $6.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.2 | 0 | $22.46 | $10.27 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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 Ross on Friday
Local time
6:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Terre Haute on Friday
Local time
7:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. EV charging comes from the NREL Alternative Fuels dataset. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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