Origin
Tell City, IN
Afternoon in Tell City on Thursday
Local time
12:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tell City, IN to Lafayette, IN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 55m
Distance
208.6 mi
336 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 43m
★
6 AM
3h 56m
8 AM
4h 21m
10 AM
4h 5m
12 PM
4h 2m
3 PM
4h 6m
5 PM
4h 20m
8 PM
3h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tell City, IN
Steven Van Elk
Lafayette, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Tell City, IN to Lafayette, IN covers 208.6 miles and takes about 3h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Mozart Street, 12th Street, Payne Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.61 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
104.3 miles from Tell City, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 55m. Total distance: 208.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m 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 55m drive with frequent turns across 208.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Mozart 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 55m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tell City, IN to Lafayette, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mozart Street | — | — |
| 12th Street | — | — |
| Payne Street | — | — |
| North Main Street | — | — |
| State Road 56 | — | — |
| West Main Street | — | — |
| North Gospel Street | — | — |
| I 465 West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Mozart Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tell City, IN and Lafayette, IN.
1
Start on the route
243 ft
·
23 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto Mozart Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Mozart Street
3
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
12th Street
4
Turn right onto Payne Street
29 mi
·
41 min
·
Payne Street
5
Turn straight
1.1 mi
·
1 min
6
Continue straight
16 mi
·
24 min
7
Turn right onto North Main Street
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
8
Continue on State Road 56
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
State Road 56
9
Continue on West Main Street
259 ft
·
5 sec
·
West Main Street
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward North Gospel Street
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
North Gospel Street
11
Exit the roundabout onto North Gospel Street
41 mi
·
51 min
·
North Gospel Street
12
Merge slight right
48 mi
·
53 min
13
Take the exit slight left toward I 465 West, I 74 West: Peoria
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
I 465 West, I 74 West: Peoria
14
Merge slight left
9.2 mi
·
10 min
15
Keep slight left
3.9 mi
·
4 min
16
Take the exit slight left toward I 65 North: Chicago
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 65 North: Chicago
17
Merge slight right
18 mi
·
19 min
18
Take the exit slight right toward US 52 West
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 52 West
19
Keep slight left
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
20
Merge slight left
30 mi
·
32 min
21
Take the exit slight right toward SR 26: Lafayette, Rossville
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
SR 26: Lafayette, Rossville
22
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
23
Continue on South Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
South Street
24
Turn slight left onto Jackson Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Jackson Street
25
Turn right
177 ft
·
13 sec
26
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 104.3 miles from Tell City, IN, or about 1h 57m 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 46 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.3 miles or 1h 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 3h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lafayette, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tell City, 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 Tell City, IN
This is one driving day of about 208.6 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Tell City, 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 104.3 mi from Tell City, IN · 1h 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 104.3 miles from Tell City, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lafayette, IN
The final approach into Lafayette, 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 Lafayette, 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
$32.61 one way
$65.22 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $35.81 | $71.61 |
| premium | $4.89 | $40.14 | $80.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.06 | $92.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.6 | 0 | $21.90 | $10.01 |
| Efficient EV | 52.2 | 0 | $18.25 | $8.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.4 | 1 | $29.20 | $13.35 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Lafayette, IN
Afternoon in Lafayette on Thursday
Local time
1:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Bloomington, IN
104 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
19 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 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 Tell City, IN to Lafayette, IN covers 208.6 miles and takes about 3h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mozart Street, 12th Street, Payne Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 104.3 miles from Tell City, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.61 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.
This is a straightforward 3h 55m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tell City, IN to Lafayette, IN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Tell City, IN to Lafayette, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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