Trip from Walnut, IN to Evansville, IN

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

5h 30m

Distance

278.7 mi

449 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 17m ★

6 AM

5h 30m

8 AM

5h 57m

10 AM

5h 40m

12 PM

5h 37m

3 PM

5h 41m

5 PM

5h 56m

8 PM

5h 22m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

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Walnut, IN

Neva

county seat of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, United States

Evansville, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 278.7-mile drive from Walnut, Indiana, to Evansville, Indiana, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can comfortably be completed in about 5 hours and 30 minutes. With 97% of the route on highways, it's designed for efficient travel, making it an ideal one-day trip. You'll primarily be on I-69, US-31, and I-465, all major thoroughfares that keep you moving. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $44, which is quite reasonable for a journey of this length. Both your origin and destination are within the Midwest region, so you'll be experiencing consistent Midwestern landscapes throughout.

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

139.4 miles from Walnut, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 55m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 97% of your travel occurring on major roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 151.7 miles on I-69, offering a chance to settle in and make good time. This segment is characterized by its efficiency, allowing for consistent speeds and minimal interruptions. While the profile suggests a highway drive, be aware that transitions between these main roads might involve brief changes in road type as you navigate the network.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 69 is the longest continuous segment at about 151.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and US 31. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 79.4 miles in near US 31.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 278.7 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 79.4 miles (US 31): Lane positioning matters here; at 92.4 miles (US 31): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

79.4 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in | US 31

Turn right onto US 31

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

92.4 mi into trip | ~1h 59m 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

93.1 mi into trip | ~2h 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

93.7 mi into trip | ~2h 1m in | I 465

Merge onto I 465

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

118.1 mi into trip | ~2h 30m 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

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 69	151.7 mi	2h 45m
US 31	91 mi	1h 54m
I 465	24.4 mi	28m
East Lloyd Expressway	3.9 mi	4m
North Burkhardt Road	2.5 mi	4m
State Road 110	1.1 mi	1m
East Walnut Street	0.7 mi	1m
20 C Road	0.4 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 69 — 151.7 mi, about 2h 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Walnut, IN and Evansville, IN.

Start on 20 C Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · 20 C Road

At end of road, turn left onto South Iris Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · South Iris Road

Turn right onto SR 110

1.1 mi · 1 min · State Road 110

Turn left onto US 31

77 mi · 1 hr 35 min · US 31

Turn right onto East 226th Street

270 ft · 10 sec · East 226th Street

Turn left

320 ft · 50 sec

Continue on this road

320 ft · 25 sec · this road

Turn right onto East 226th Street

270 ft · 9 sec · East 226th Street

Turn right onto US 31

13 mi · 17 min · US 31

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 31

0.6 mi · 55 sec · US 31

Exit 123 Toward I 465, US 31 South Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 465 West Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 465

4.8 mi · 5 min · I 465

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 465

20 mi · 23 min · I 465

Toward I 465 South

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 5 Toward I 69 South: Evansville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 69

47 mi · 53 min · I 69

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69

104 mi · 1 hr 51 min · I 69

Toward I 69 South: Evansville

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 39 sec

Exit 10 Toward Lynch Road

Turn slight right

153 ft · 4 sec

Turn straight onto Lynch Road

498 ft · 15 sec · Lynch Road

Turn left onto North Burkhardt Road

2.5 mi · 4 min · North Burkhardt Road

Turn right onto SR 66

3.9 mi · 4 min · East Lloyd Expressway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 36 sec

Toward US 41 South

Merge onto US 41; SR 66

0.3 mi · 33 sec · US 41; SR 66

Turn right onto East Walnut Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Walnut Street

Turn right

332 ft · 25 sec

At end of road, turn right

123 ft · 9 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

For this 5-hour, 30-minute drive, starting early is your best bet to maximize daylight and arrive with ample time to spare. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility in scheduling your stops. Plan for one main stop, perhaps midway through the 151.7-mile stretch on I-69, to refuel and stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $44 estimated cost suggests it's a manageable expense, but it's always wise to top off before embarking on longer highway segments. This route is efficient, so focus on enjoying the journey without feeling rushed.

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 139.4 miles from Walnut, IN, or about 2h 55m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.7 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 80 miles or 1h 42m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 139.4 miles or 2h 55m 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 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evansville, IN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Walnut, 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 Walnut, IN

This is one driving day of about 278.7 miles and 5h 30m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Walnut, 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 I 69 for about 151.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 139.4 mi from Walnut, IN · 2h 55m into the drive

city in Ohio, United States; county seat of Hamilton County

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cincinnati, OH

139 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

Cincinnati, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cincinnati, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 139.4 miles from Walnut, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 69 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 151.7 miles.

Arriving in Evansville, IN

The final approach into Evansville, 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 Evansville, IN.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.57 one way

$87.14 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 98 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$47.84	$95.68
premium	$4.89	$53.63	$107.27
diesel	$5.61	$61.53	$123.07

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 97.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	83.6	1	$29.26	$13.38
Efficient EV	69.7	0	$24.39	$11.15
EV Truck/SUV	111.5	1	$39.02	$17.84

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 data refreshed 14 hours ago

Origin

Walnut, IN

Morning in Walnut on Wednesday

Local time

6:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Evansville, IN

Late night in Evansville on Wednesday

Local time

5:27 AM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Sunny

SSW 14 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 14 at 1:19PM EDT until April 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 10:47AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

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 earlier

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

38 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 30m 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 Walnut, IN to Evansville, IN covers 278.7 miles and takes about 5h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 69, US 31, I 465. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 139.4 miles from Walnut, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.57 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.