Origin
South Bend, IN
Morning in South Bend on Saturday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Bend, IN to Union City, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 30m
Distance
161.7 mi
260 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 18m
★
6 AM
3h 30m
8 AM
3h 55m
10 AM
3h 39m
12 PM
3h 36m
3 PM
3h 40m
5 PM
3h 54m
8 PM
3h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Bend, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Union City, IN
Matt Fitz Gibaud
Trip Overview
The drive from South Bend, IN to Union City, IN covers 161.7 miles and takes about 3h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Michigan Street, North Dr, South Michigan Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.28 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
80.9 miles from South Bend, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 45m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 161.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 30m drive with frequent turns across 161.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Michigan 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from South Bend, IN to Union City, IN is easy. At 3h 30m 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 South Bend, IN to Union City, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Michigan Street | — | — |
| North Dr | — | — |
| South Michigan Street | — | — |
| US 30 East | — | — |
| West Coliseum Boulevard | — | — |
| Lima Road | — | — |
| North Clinton Street | — | — |
| N Clinton Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Michigan Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Bend, IN and Union City, IN.
1
Start on East Navarre Street
131 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Navarre Street
2
Turn left onto North Michigan Street
443 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Michigan Street
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Michigan Street
125 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Michigan Street
4
Exit the roundabout onto North Michigan Street
197 ft
·
7 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 the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Michigan Street
125 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Michigan Street
8
Exit the roundabout onto South Michigan Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Michigan Street
9
Continue on South Michigan Street
21 mi
·
24 min
·
South Michigan Street
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 30 East: Warsaw
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
US 30 East: Warsaw
11
Merge slight left
61 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
12
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
13
Turn left onto West Coliseum Boulevard
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Coliseum Boulevard
14
Keep slight right to continue on Lima Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Lima Road
15
Continue on North Clinton Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Clinton Street
16
Continue on N Clinton Street
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
N Clinton Street
17
Merge slight left onto Lafayette Street
31 mi
·
36 min
·
Lafayette Street
18
Continue on South Harrison Street
26 mi
·
30 min
·
South Harrison Street
19
Turn left
10 mi
·
14 min
20
Turn slight right onto North Columbia Street
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Columbia Street
21
Turn right onto West Division Street
39 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Division Street
22
Arrive at your destination
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 80.9 miles from South Bend, IN, or about 1h 45m 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 36 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.9 miles or 1h 45m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union City, 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 161.7 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 80.9 mi from South Bend, IN · 1h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
81 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80.9 miles from South Bend, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Union City, IN
The final approach into Union City, 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 Union City, 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
$25.28 one way
$50.56 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
57 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $27.76 | $55.51 |
| premium | $4.89 | $31.12 | $62.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.70 | $71.40 |
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: 56.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.5 | 0 | $16.98 | $7.76 |
| Efficient EV | 40.4 | 0 | $14.15 | $6.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.7 | 0 | $22.64 | $10.35 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Union City, IN
Morning in Union City on Saturday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°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
20 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 30m 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 South Bend, IN to Union City, IN covers 161.7 miles and takes about 3h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Michigan Street, North Dr, South Michigan Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80.9 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 $25.28 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 South Bend, IN to Union City, IN is easy. At 3h 30m 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 South Bend, IN to Union City, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from South Bend, IN to Union City, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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