If you are looking to travel from Alaska, IN to Patoka, IN, prepare for a 119.8-mile journey through the heart of the Midwest. This trip typically takes about 2 hours and 36 minutes, making it a manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel to cover the distance. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate sprint, plan for a more engaged driving experience. The route functions perfectly as a straightforward excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for a split itinerary.
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
59.9 miles from Alaska, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 41
69.7 mi
1h 23m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
29 mi
31m
SR 46
5.7 mi
6m
State Road 42
5.5 mi
9m
South Main Street
2.2 mi
4m
North Bowman Road
1.3 mi
4m
County Road 500 N
1.2 mi
2m
Lewisville Road
1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 41
— 69.7 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alaska, IN and Patoka, IN.
1
Start on Lewisville Road
1.0 mi·3 min·Lewisville Road
2
Turn right onto North Bowman Road
1.3 mi·4 min·North Bowman Road
3
Continue on County Road 1250 West
1.0 mi·3 min·County Road 1250 West
4
Turn left onto SR 42
1.2 mi·2 min·County Road 500 N
5
Continue on SR 42
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Patrick Road
6
Turn right onto SR 42
5.5 mi·9 min·State Road 42
7
Turn right onto US 231
0.3 mi·28 sec·S Main St
8
Continue on US 231
2.2 mi·4 min·South Main Street
9
Turn left
0.3 mi·36 sec
10
Merge onto I 70
29 mi·31 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 11A-BToward US 40 East, SR 641 South, SR 46
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·38 sec
Exit 11BToward US 40 East, SR 46 West
13
Turn straight onto US 40; SR 46
479 ft·16 sec·US 40; SR 46
14
Continue on US 40; SR 46
0.3 mi·38 sec·US 40; SR 46
Use the left lane.
15
Turn straight onto SR 46; SR 641
5.7 mi·6 min·SR 46; SR 641
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
17
Merge onto US 41; US 150
48 mi·59 min·US 41; US 150
18
Take the exit onto US 41; US 150
0.2 mi·28 sec·US 41; US 150
19
Merge onto US 41; US 50; US 150
0.9 mi·1 min·US 41; US 50; US 150
20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 41
20 mi·22 min·US 41
21
Turn left onto Main Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·Main Street
22
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, it is best to depart during daylight hours to ensure you have clear visibility on the smaller county roads. Plan for at least one stop along the 119.8-mile path to stretch your legs and refresh, as the constant maneuvering can be more taxing than a standard highway cruise. Given the modest $18 fuel estimate, it is a budget-friendly route, but always check your fuel gauge before leaving Alaska, IN to avoid searching for stations on unfamiliar local roads. A key tip for this specific journey is to keep a reliable GPS handy, as the reliance on local roads like County Road 500 N involves frequent turns where missed exits can easily add time to your trip.
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 59.9 miles from Alaska, IN, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.7 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 26 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.9 miles or 1h 24m 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 Patoka, 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 119.8 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 US 41 for about 69.7 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 3.3 and 42.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3.3 mi into trip|~12m in|SR 42 / County Road 500 N
Turn left onto SR 42 / County Road 500 N
Navigation decision point
4
4.7 mi into trip|~15m in|SR 42 / State Road 42
Turn right onto SR 42 / State Road 42
Navigation decision point
6
42 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward US 40 East, SR 641 South, SR 46
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 11A-B
Toward US 40 East, SR 641 South, SR 46
7
42.2 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 40 East, SR 46 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 11B
Toward US 40 East, SR 46 West
5
42.8 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|US 40; SR 46
Continue onto US 40; SR 46
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.73 one way
$37.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.56
$41.13
premium
$4.89
$23.05
$46.11
diesel
$5.61
$26.45
$52.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.9
0
$12.58
$5.75
Efficient EV
30
0
$10.48
$4.79
EV Truck/SUV
47.9
0
$16.77
$7.67
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 15, 2026
Origin
Alaska, IN
Late night
in Alaska on Sunday
Local time
3:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Patoka, IN
Late night
in Patoka on Sunday
Local time
2:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
2 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 36m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The British flag would not be raised above Fort Sackville Feb. 25, 1779. At 10 A.M., the garrison surrendered to American Colonel George Rogers Clark. His American army, aided by French residents of t...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a dedicated local driving experience, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will navigate primarily via North Bowman Road, County Road 1250 West, and County Road 500 N, which keep you off the major interstates and on smaller, winding paths. The personality of this drive is inherently technical, demanding your full attention as you navigate constant turns through the rural landscape. Since there are no long, monotonous stretches of highway, the road remains varied and requires active steering throughout the entire 2-hour and 36-minute duration. It is a true local transit that favors patience over speed.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.7 mi on US 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 41 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 3.3 miles in near SR 42 / County Road 500 N.
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 119.8 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 3.3 miles (SR 42 / County Road 500 N): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (SR 42 / State Road 42): Navigation decision point; at 42 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 36m. Total distance: 119.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.7 miles on US 41. 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 Patoka, 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 3.3 miles (SR 42 / County Road 500 N): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (SR 42 / State Road 42): Navigation decision point; at 42 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Patoka, IN before heading back.
