Alaska, IN to Clarksville, IN is 144 miles and takes about 2h 54m via I 65 and I 74, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, making it a straightforward trip between two points in Indiana. With 82% of the route on highways, expect a relatively quick transit. Considering the short duration and minimal mileage, this trip is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure time or the addition of impromptu stops along the way.
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
72 miles from Alaska, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
103.1 mi
1h 51m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
17.2 mi
18m
I 74
8 mi
9m
SR 42
4.2 mi
7m
Kentucky Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
Ameriplex Parkway
1.7 mi
3m
West Belle Union Road
1.2 mi
2m
North Craver Road
1.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 103.1 mi, about 1h 51m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 96 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,745 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,455
Quietest
1 AM
~405 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 99 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alaska, IN and Clarksville, IN.
1
Start on Lewisville Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Lewisville Road
2
Turn left onto North Wilson Road
1.0 mi·3 min·North Wilson Road
3
Turn left onto Awbrey Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Awbrey Road
4
Continue on North Craver Road
1.1 mi·4 min·North Craver Road
5
Continue on SR 42
3.0 mi·5 min·SR 42
6
Continue on SR 42
1.2 mi·2 min·SR 42
7
Continue on SR 42
1.2 mi·2 min·West Belle Union Road
8
Turn left onto North Little Point Road
0.3 mi·46 sec·North Little Point Road
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
10
Merge onto I 70
17 mi·18 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Indianapolis International Airport, Ronald Reagan Parkway, Ameriplex Parkway
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward South Ameriplex ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto Ameriplex Parkway
1.7 mi·3 min·Ameriplex Parkway
14
At end of road, turn left onto SR 67
2.6 mi·4 min·Kentucky Avenue
15
Take the ramp onto SR 67
0.3 mi·40 sec·SR 67
Toward I 74 East, I 465 East, SR 67 NorthUse the right lane.
16
Merge onto I 74; I 465
8.0 mi·9 min·I 74; I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·45 sec
Exit 53BToward I 65 South: LouisvilleUse the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto I 65
103 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 65
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Eastern Boulevard
20
Turn straight onto US 31
0.3 mi·27 sec·US 31
21
Turn right onto Eastern Boulevard
0.2 mi·34 sec·Eastern Boulevard
22
Turn left onto East Brooks Avenue
32 ft·1 sec·East Brooks Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
East Brooks Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 2-hour 54-minute drive time, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Departing in the morning or early afternoon will give you plenty of daylight. The longest continuous stretch on I 65 is over 100 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you get too far into that segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $23, it's a budget-friendly trip. Since it's a short, mostly highway drive, you have the flexibility to leave when convenient and add a brief stop if needed.
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 72 miles from Alaska, IN, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.1 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 32 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72 miles or 1h 35m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksville, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alaska, 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 Alaska, IN
This is one driving day of about 144 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Alaska, 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 65 for about 103.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 26.2 and 144 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
26.2 mi into trip|~41m in
Take the exit toward Indianapolis International Airport, Ronald Reagan Parkway, Ameriplex Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Indianapolis International Airport, Rona...
7
26.4 mi into trip|~41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward South Ameriplex Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward South Ameriplex Parkway
6
31.5 mi into trip|~50m in|SR 67
Take the ramp onto SR 67 toward I 74 East, I 465 East, SR 67 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 74 East, I 465 East, SR 67 North
7
39.8 mi into trip|~1h in
Take the exit toward I 65 South: Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53B
Toward I 65 South: Louisville
6
144 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|East Brooks Avenue
Turn left onto East Brooks Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.33 one way
$44.65 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$24.48
$48.96
premium
$4.93
$27.94
$55.88
diesel
$5.60
$31.74
$63.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.2
0
$15.12
$6.91
Efficient EV
36
0
$12.60
$5.76
EV Truck/SUV
57.6
0
$20.16
$9.22
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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 Aug 30, 2026
Origin
Alaska, IN
Late night
in Alaska on Friday
Local time
5:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 3 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 9:10AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Clarksville, IN
Late night
in Clarksville on Friday
Local time
5:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 1 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 9:10AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
67°F
Columbus, IN
72 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 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
2h 54m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 82% of the 144 miles covered on major interstates like I 65 and I 74. You'll encounter a substantial stretch of 103.1 miles on I 65, which offers a consistent cruising speed. As you approach your destination, the highway portion will eventually give way to surface roads, likely with a higher density of exits and local traffic as you enter the Clarksville area.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.1 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.2 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 144 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 26.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.5 miles (SR 67): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
807 ft455 ft
Total Climb
138 ft
Total Descent
470 ft
Highest Point
807 ft
~41.2 mi in
Elevation Range
352 ft
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 Alaska, IN to Clarksville, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Indianapolis International Airport along the way.
Alaska is by far the largest state of the United States by land area. Nicknamed "the last frontier", Alaska is sparsely populated with a harsh climate but incredible scenery. Separated from the "lower 48" by Canada, Alaska can be a challenging destination; most of the state is in the Arctic. Besides vast forests and frozen tundra, Alaska contains the ten highest mountain peaks in the United States, including Denali, the highest in all of North America.
Clarksville is a city in Clark County in Southern Indiana, directly across the Ohio River from Louisville. It is the oldest town in the Indiana Territory with a population of 21,000. The city is served by an overlay complex of two area codes: 812 and 930.
Top landmarks
•Old Clarksville Site — archaeological site in Clarksville, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 144 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.1 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Clarksville, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 26.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.5 miles (SR 67): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clarksville, IN before heading back.
