Origin
Bluffton, IN
Late night in Bluffton on Tuesday
Local time
4:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bluffton, IN to Fort Wayne, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
42m
Distance
29 mi
47 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
7 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bluffton, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion between Bluffton and Fort Wayne, you can expect a straightforward 29-mile journey that typically takes about 42 minutes to complete. Because this is a short trip within Indiana, it is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via South Main Street, Bluffton Road, and Lafayette Street as you move through the Midwest. With fuel costs estimated at $4, this is an incredibly budget-friendly commute that offers great flexibility for your schedule. Whether you are heading north for business or just a change of scenery, this route is uncomplicated and efficient.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Main Street | 12.3 mi | 17m |
| Bluffton Road | 6 mi | 8m |
| Lafayette Street | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Airport Expressway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Coldwater Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Spy Run Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Clinton Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West Paulding Road | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Main Street
— 12.3 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bluffton, IN and Fort Wayne, IN.
1
Start on West Washington Street
46 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Washington Street
2
Turn left onto SR 1; SR 116
12 mi
·
17 min
·
South Main Street
3
Continue on SR 1
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Bluffton Road
4
Turn right onto Airport Expressway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Airport Expressway
5
Continue on West Paulding Road
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
West Paulding Road
6
Turn left onto US 27
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Lafayette Street
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lafayette Street
8
Continue on US 27
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Spy Run Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 27
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Clinton Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on North Clinton Street
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Clinton Street
11
Keep slight left at fork onto Coldwater Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Coldwater Road
Toward Coldwater Road
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto East Washington Center Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Washington Center Road
13
Turn right onto Dartmouth Drive
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Dartmouth Drive
14
Arrive at destination
Dartmouth Drive
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 28.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SR 1; SR 116 / South Main Street
Turn left onto SR 1; SR 116 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
18.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
Airport Expressway
Turn right onto Airport Expressway
Navigation decision point
4
24.1 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
US 27 / Lafayette Street
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27 / Lafayette Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
27 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
Coldwater Road
Keep slight left at fork onto Coldwater Road toward Coldwater Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Coldwater Road
3
28.5 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
East Washington Center Road
Turn right onto East Washington Center Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.53 one way
$9.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.98 | $9.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.58 | $11.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.40 | $12.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
| Efficient EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.54 | $1.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.06 | $1.86 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Fort Wayne, IN
Late night in Fort Wayne on Tuesday
Local time
4:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
42m 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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 29-mile trek. Only 9% of your time will be spent on highways, meaning the vast majority of your experience involves navigating local roads. You will settle into your longest uninterrupted stretch for 12.3 miles while traveling along South Main Street. Because the route relies on local infrastructure, you should be prepared for frequent turns and a slower pace compared to high-speed travel. The road transitions seamlessly through the heart of the region, keeping you engaged with the local landscape from start to finish.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.3 mi on South Main Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 1; SR 116 / South Main Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 29 miles you will encounter 6 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 1; SR 116 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.3 miles (Airport Expressway): Navigation decision point; at 24.1 miles (US 27 / Lafayette Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
837 ft
767 ft
Total Climb
52 ft
Total Descent
71 ft
Highest Point
837 ft
~8.3 mi in
Elevation Range
71 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Fort Wayne, IN
Full guide →“City Of Churches” · Founded 1794
Fort Wayne is a city in the northeastern part of Indiana, a state of the United States of America. It is 30 minutes from the western Ohio border and 70 minutes from the southern border of Michigan. With a population of around 260,000 in the city and 615,000 in the metropolitan area, it's Indiana's second largest city. Fort Wayne is a metropolitan city with a small community feel. It provides the rush of urban activity while never losing an intimate personal connection with those who live or visit here. Fort Wayne is the second largest city in the state of Indiana, located in Allen County, the largest county in the state by geography. It is the regional commerce and industry center for Northeast Indiana and also impacts the economies of Southwestern Michigan and Western Ohio. Fort Wayne has been and is a breeding ground for entrepreneurs and high tech industries.
Top landmarks
- • Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception — Catholic cathedral in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States
- • Smith Field — in Indiana, USA
- • Allen County Courthouse — courthouse in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 42m. Total distance: 29 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.3 miles on South Main Street. 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 Fort Wayne, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: near the start (SR 1; SR 116 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.3 miles (Airport Expressway): Navigation decision point; at 24.1 miles (US 27 / Lafayette Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Wayne, IN 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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