Origin
Altoona, IA
Morning in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
6:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Altoona, IA to Indiana, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
49.3 mi
79 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Altoona, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Indiana, IA
Kelly
Trip Overview
This straightforward 46.1-mile drive from Altoona, IA to Indiana, IA takes approximately 52 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll navigate local roads like Northeast 72nd Street, Northeast 70th Street, and East University Avenue, with no highway driving involved. The estimated fuel cost for this short journey is around $7. Since it's a quick trip within the Midwest region of Iowa, you won't need an overnight stop. This route offers a practical and easy way to get from one point to another without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IA 5 | 35.4 mi | 42m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 6.1 mi | 7m |
| County Highway G76 | 2 mi | 3m |
| East University Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Northeast 72nd Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Northeast 70th Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| 1st Avenue South | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
IA 5
— 35.4 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, IA and Indiana, IA.
1
Start on 1st Avenue South
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue South
2
Continue on Northeast 72nd Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast 72nd Street
3
Continue on Northeast 70th Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast 70th Street
4
Turn right onto IA 163
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East University Avenue
5
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
6
Merge onto US 65
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
8
Continue on IA 5
19 mi
·
21 min
·
IA 5
9
Turn left onto IA 5; IA 92
11 mi
·
11 min
·
IA 5; IA 92
10
Take the exit onto IA 5
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 5
11
Turn right onto IA 5
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
IA 5
12
Turn sharp right onto CR G76
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
County Highway G76
13
Continue on CR G76
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway G76
14
Arrive at destination
CR G76
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.6 miles from Altoona, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 47.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
3.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
IA 163 / East University Avenue
Turn right onto IA 163 / East University Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
4.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
3
5.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 65 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto US 65 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
11.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
5
47.2 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
CR G76 / County Highway G76
Turn sharp right onto CR G76 / County Highway G76
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.71 one way
$15.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.46 | $16.93 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.49 | $18.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.88 | $21.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.18 | $2.37 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.90 | $3.16 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Indiana, IA
Morning in Indiana on Sunday
Local time
6:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Pleasantville, IA
25 mi in
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
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
1h 3m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, as indicated by its 0% highway share. The experience is characterized by frequent turns and navigating through communities rather than open stretches of highway. While there isn't a 'longest stretch' of uninterrupted driving to note, the local road nature means you'll be constantly engaged with your surroundings and the need to follow directional changes. This drive feels more like a series of connected neighborhood roads than a typical long-distance journey.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.4 mi on IA 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 5 and Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 3.2 miles in near IA 163 / East University Avenue.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Altoona, IA to Indiana, IA is easy. At 1h 3m with 72% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (IA 163 / East University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.1 miles (US 65 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 49.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.4 miles on IA 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (IA 163 / East University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.1 miles (US 65 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Indiana, IA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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