The drive from Terre Haute, IN to Franklin, IN covers 137.6 miles and takes about 2h 58m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, I 70, East 300 North Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 75.3 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.51 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
68.8 miles from Terre Haute, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 137.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Terre Haute, IN to Franklin, IN covers 137.6 miles and takes about 2h 58m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 75.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 150 / Cherry Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 58m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 150 / Cherry Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (I 70; US 40 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 150 / Cherry Street
Turn left onto US 150 / Cherry Street
Navigation decision point
6
3 mi into trip|~6m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.3 mi into trip|~6m in|I 70; US 40 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 70; US 40 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
78.6 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|I 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
118.9 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward SR 3: New Castle, Spiceland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 123
Toward SR 3: New Castle, Spiceland
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 Terre Haute, IN to Franklin, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Spiceland along the way.
Spiceland
118.9 mi in|~2h 18m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
75.3 mi
1h 25m
I 70
40.3 mi
46m
East 300 North Road
6.7 mi
16m
SR 3
6.1 mi
9m
Hillsboro Road
2 mi
4m
North 16th Street
1.6 mi
2m
1st Street
1.3 mi
2m
South 3rd Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 75.3 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Terre Haute, IN and Franklin, IN.
1
Start on US 41; US 150
295 ft·15 sec·North 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto US 150
0.1 mi·18 sec·Cherry Street
3
Turn left onto 1st Street
1.3 mi·2 min·1st Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto Hulman Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·Hulman Street
5
Turn right onto US 41; US 150
1.3 mi·2 min·South 3rd Street
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·25 sec
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 70; US 40
75 mi·1 hr 25 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
40 mi·46 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 123Toward SR 3: New Castle, Spiceland
10
Turn left onto SR 3
6.1 mi·9 min·SR 3
11
Turn right onto SR 38
0.9 mi·1 min·Broad Street
12
Turn left onto SR 103
1.6 mi·2 min·North 16th Street
13
Turn right onto East 150 N
0.6 mi·2 min·East 150 N
14
Turn left onto Hillsboro Road
1.4 mi·3 min·Hillsboro Road
15
Continue on Hillsboro Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Hillsboro Road
16
Continue on East 300 North Road
6.7 mi·16 min·East 300 North Road
17
Continue on Nobblett Road
0.5 mi·2 min·Nobblett Road
18
Arrive at destination
Nobblett Road
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.8 miles from Terre Haute, IN, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.3 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 30 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.8 miles or 1h 20m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Franklin, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Terre Haute, 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 Terre Haute, IN
This is one driving day of about 137.6 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Terre Haute, 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 Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 75.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68.8 mi from Terre Haute, IN
· 1h 20m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.3
0
$14.45
$6.60
Efficient EV
34.4
0
$12.04
$5.50
EV Truck/SUV
55
0
$19.26
$8.81
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Terre Haute, IN
Morning
in Terre Haute on Friday
Local time
11:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Franklin, IN
Morning
in Franklin on Friday
Local time
11:57 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
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 58m 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 Terre Haute, IN to Franklin, IN covers 137.6 miles and takes about 2h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, I 70, East 300 North Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68.8 miles from Terre Haute, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.51 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.
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 2h 58m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 150 / Cherry Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (I 70; US 40 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Terre Haute, IN to Franklin, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Spiceland along the way.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
