The drive from South Bend, IN to Ferdinand, IN covers 279.8 miles and takes about 5h 48m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 31, I 69, South Michigan Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.1 miles on US 31.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.74 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
139.9 miles from South Bend, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 48m. Total distance: 279.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 48m highway drive covering 279.8 miles, with most of the trip on US 31 and I 69. The longest continuous stretch is about 99.1 miles on US 31.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 31 is the longest continuous segment at about 99.1 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
899 ft496 ft
Total Climb
435 ft
Total Descent
630 ft
Highest Point
899 ft
~99.9 mi in
Elevation Range
403 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 31 and I 69. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 114.8 miles in near US 31.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 279.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 114.8 miles (US 31): Lane positioning matters here; at 127.8 miles (US 31): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
114.8 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|US 31
Turn right onto US 31
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
127.8 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|US 31
Take the exit onto US 31 toward I 465, US 31 South
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 123
Toward I 465, US 31 South
7
128.4 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 465 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 465 West
7
153.5 mi into trip|~3h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 69 South: Evansville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
6
228.7 mi into trip|~4h 40m in
Take the exit toward US 231: Bloomfield, Crane
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 87
Toward US 231: Bloomfield, Crane
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from South Bend, IN to Ferdinand, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Crane along the way.
Crane
228.7 mi in|~4h 40m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 31
99.1 mi
2h 4m
I 69
74.4 mi
1h 22m
South Michigan Street
28.2 mi
38m
I 465
24.4 mi
28m
US 231
23.3 mi
30m
Mill Street
14.3 mi
16m
SR 162
10.3 mi
15m
3rd Avenue
2.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 31
— 99.1 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Bend, IN and Ferdinand, IN.
1
Start on East Navarre Street
131 ft·12 sec·East Navarre Street
2
Turn left onto SR 933; BUS US 31
444 ft·12 sec·North Michigan Street
3
Enter roundabout onto North Michigan Street
125 ft·7 sec·North Michigan Street
4
Continue on North Michigan Street
196 ft·6 sec·North Michigan Street
5
Continue on North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
0.6 mi·2 min·North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
6
Continue on South Michigan Street
2.5 mi·6 min·South Michigan Street
7
Enter roundabout onto BUS US 31
125 ft·7 sec·South Michigan Street
8
Continue on BUS US 31
0.6 mi·1 min·South Michigan Street
9
Continue on BUS US 31
25 mi·29 min·South Michigan Street
10
Merge onto US 31
0.9 mi·1 min·US 31
11
Turn slight right
512 ft·6 sec
12
Continue on US 31
85 mi·1 hr 44 min·US 31
13
Turn right onto East 226th Street
270 ft·10 sec·East 226th Street
14
Turn left
320 ft·50 sec
15
Continue on this road
320 ft·25 sec·this road
16
Turn right onto East 226th Street
270 ft·9 sec·East 226th Street
17
Turn right onto US 31
13 mi·17 min·US 31
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit onto US 31
0.6 mi·55 sec·US 31
Exit 123Toward I 465, US 31 SouthUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 465 WestUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto I 465
4.8 mi·5 min·I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 465
20 mi·23 min·I 465
Toward I 465 South
22
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 69
47 mi·53 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
27 mi·28 min·I 69
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Exit 87Toward US 231: Bloomfield, Crane
26
Keep slight left at fork
106 ft·2 sec
27
Turn left onto US 231
17 mi·23 min·US 231
28
Turn right onto US 50; US 150; US 231
0.2 mi·11 sec·West Broadway Street
Use the right lane.
29
Continue on US 50; US 150; US 231
14 mi·16 min·Mill Street
30
Continue on US 231; SR 56
6.2 mi·7 min·US 231; SR 56
31
Turn left onto SR 164
0.1 mi·12 sec·West 3rd Street
32
Turn straight onto SR 164
2.6 mi·3 min·3rd Avenue
33
Continue on SR 162
10 mi·15 min·SR 162
34
Arrive at destination
SR 162
Trip Plan
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 139.9 miles from South Bend, IN, or about 3h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.1 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 62 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.9 miles or 3h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ferdinand, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Bend, 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 South Bend, IN
This is one driving day of about 279.8 miles and 5h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from South Bend, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 31 for about 99.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 139.9 mi from South Bend, IN
· 3h into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
National Memorial
Abraham Lincoln grew from youth to manhood on this southern Indiana soil. Many character and moral traits of one of the world's most respected leaders was formed and nurtured here. Explore Lincoln's b...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 279.8
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.9
1
$29.38
$13.43
Efficient EV
70
0
$24.48
$11.19
EV Truck/SUV
111.9
1
$39.17
$17.91
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
South Bend, IN
Morning
in South Bend on Friday
Local time
11:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ferdinand, IN
Morning
in Ferdinand on Friday
Local time
11:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°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
2 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
5h 48m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from South Bend, IN to Ferdinand, IN covers 279.8 miles and takes about 5h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 31, I 69, South Michigan Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 139.9 miles from South Bend, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.74 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 279.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 114.8 miles (US 31): Lane positioning matters here; at 127.8 miles (US 31): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from South Bend, IN to Ferdinand, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Crane along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 496 ft to 899 ft elevation with about 435 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
