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Trip from Broad Ripple, IN to Lafayette, IN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 16m

Distance

61.7 mi

99 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 11m ★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m

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

one of six areas designated as cultural districts in Indianapolis, Indiana

Broad Ripple, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Lafayette, IN, IN

Lafayette, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Broad Ripple to Lafayette, you can expect a straightforward trip covering 61.7 miles. This journey typically takes about 1 hour and 16 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate a path involving I-465, I-865, and I-65 as you move through the heart of the Midwest. With a fuel budget of approximately $9, this is an efficient and cost-effective drive. Since the entire route takes place within Indiana, the transition between these two points is seamless and well-suited for travelers who prefer a direct, no-fuss commute.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 65 42.2 mi 45m
I 865 5 mi 5m
I 465 4.8 mi 5m
North Meridian Street 3.3 mi 5m
South Street 2.7 mi 5m
North College Avenue 0.9 mi 2m
East 71st Street 0.6 mi 1m
US 52 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 65 — 42.2 mi, about 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Broad Ripple, IN and Lafayette, IN.

1

Start on Winthrop Avenue

0.2 mi · 55 sec · Winthrop Avenue
2

Turn left onto Broad Ripple Avenue

0.2 mi · 47 sec · Broad Ripple Avenue
3

Turn right onto North College Avenue

0.9 mi · 2 min · North College Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Turn left onto East 71st Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East 71st Street
Use the left lane.
5

Turn right onto North Meridian Street

3.0 mi · 5 min · North Meridian Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Continue on North Meridian Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · North Meridian Street
7

Take the ramp

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward I 465 West, US 52, US 421
8

Merge onto I 465

4.8 mi · 5 min · I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 865

5.0 mi · 5 min · I 865
Exit 25 Toward I 865 West: Chicago
10

Merge onto I 65; US 52

12 mi · 13 min · I 65; US 52
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit onto US 52

0.2 mi · 15 sec · US 52
Exit 141 Toward US 52 West
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 9 sec
13

Merge onto I 65

30 mi · 32 min · I 65
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 172 Toward SR 26: Lafayette, Rossville
15

Turn left onto SR 26

0.2 mi · 23 sec · SR 26
16

Continue on South Street

2.7 mi · 5 min · South Street
17

Turn slight left onto Jackson Street

0.1 mi · 30 sec · Jackson Street
18

Turn right

178 ft · 13 sec
19

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Zionsville, IN, IN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Zionsville, IN

31 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.

Popular next leg

Zionsville, IN to Lafayette, IN

50 mi · 1h 1m

Pacing Suggestions

Zionsville, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pike, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.8 miles from Broad Ripple, IN, 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 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 58.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Broad Ripple Avenue

Turn left onto Broad Ripple Avenue

Navigation decision point

6
1.4 mi into trip | ~3m in | East 71st Street

Turn left onto East 71st Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
2 mi into trip | ~5m in | North Meridian Street

Turn right onto North Meridian Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
10.9 mi into trip | ~17m in | I 865

Keep slight left at fork onto I 865 toward I 865 West: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 25 Toward I 865 West: Chicago
6
58.4 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in

Take the exit toward SR 26: Lafayette, Rossville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 172 Toward SR 26: Lafayette, Rossville

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.65 one way

$19.29 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $10.59 $21.18
premium $4.89 $11.87 $23.75
diesel $5.61 $13.62 $27.25

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.5 0 $6.48 $2.96
Efficient EV 15.4 0 $5.40 $2.47
EV Truck/SUV 24.7 0 $8.64 $3.95

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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 20, 2026

Origin

Broad Ripple, IN

Morning in Broad Ripple on Tuesday

Local time

6:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lafayette, IN

Morning in Lafayette on Tuesday

Local time

6:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

67°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

6 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 16m 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 focused interstate experience, as 85% of your drive consists of highway travel. The route transitions from the suburban surroundings of Broad Ripple onto the interstates, eventually settling into a long, consistent pace. You will spend a significant portion of your time on I-65, which features a 42.2-mile stretch that serves as the backbone of your journey. Because this is a highway-focused drive, the character of the road is steady and predictable rather than winding or technical. You can settle in for a high-speed, efficient ride that prioritizes speed and direct connectivity over scenic detours.

85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.2 mi on I 65.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 865. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Broad Ripple Avenue.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.7 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 0.2 miles (Broad Ripple Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (East 71st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (North Meridian Street): Lane positioning matters here.

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 Broad Ripple, IN to Lafayette, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Rossville along the way.

Rossville

58.4 mi in | ~1h 9m

About the Cities

Arriving in Lafayette, IN

Full guide →

Lafayette is the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Central Indiana. It is located 2 hours southeast of Chicago and 1 hour northwest of Indianapolis. The Greater Lafayette metropolitan area consists of the cities of Lafayette and West Lafayette. The combined population is 97,000. Neighboring West Lafayette is home to Purdue University, a large, prestigious public university.

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 1h 16m. Total distance: 61.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 42.2 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 Lafayette, 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: at 0.2 miles (Broad Ripple Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (East 71st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (North Meridian Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lafayette, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Broad Ripple, IN or browse trips ending in Lafayette, IN.

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