This 157.2-mile drive from Cannelton, Indiana, to Indianapolis, Indiana, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 28 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-69 and SR 37, with about 58% of the journey on highways. Budget around $28 for fuel for this Midwest to Midwest excursion. The route offers a mixed driving profile, making it suitable for a single day's travel without needing an overnight stop. It’s a straightforward journey that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
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
78.6 miles from Cannelton, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
47.3 mi
52m
North Gospel Street
41.5 mi
51m
SR 37
27.3 mi
37m
SR 145
16.2 mi
24m
State Road 56
8.9 mi
12m
Indiana State Road 237
5 mi
7m
South Harding Street
4.2 mi
7m
North Main Street
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 47.3 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cannelton, IN and Indianapolis, IN.
1
Start on Washington Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·Washington Street
2
Turn right onto SR 66
0.4 mi·1 min·State Road 66
3
Turn left onto SR 237
5.0 mi·7 min·Indiana State Road 237
4
Turn right onto SR 37
27 mi·37 min·SR 37
5
Turn straight onto SR 64
1.1 mi·1 min·SR 64
6
Continue on SR 145
16 mi·24 min·SR 145
7
Turn right onto SR 56
1.7 mi·2 min·North Main Street
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on SR 56
8.9 mi·12 min·State Road 56
9
Continue on US 150; SR 37; SR 56
259 ft·4 sec·West Main Street
10
Enter roundabout onto SR 37
0.1 mi·8 sec·North Gospel Street
11
Continue on SR 37
41 mi·51 min·North Gospel Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 69
47 mi·52 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 162Toward Epler Avenue to Harding StreetUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto West Epler Avenue
0.2 mi·28 sec·West Epler Avenue
15
Continue on Old State Road 37
0.4 mi·52 sec·Old State Road 37
16
Continue on South Harding Street
4.2 mi·7 min·South Harding Street
17
Turn right onto West Morris Street
0.4 mi·38 sec·West Morris Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto Kentucky Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·Kentucky Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on West South Street
500 ft·24 sec·West South Street
20
Turn left onto South Missouri Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·South Missouri Street
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on South West Street
475 ft·20 sec·South West Street
22
Turn right onto West Maryland Street
0.4 mi·1 min·West Maryland Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto South Illinois Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·South Illinois Street
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto West Market Street
351 ft·16 sec·West Market Street
25
At end of road, turn right
257 ft·28 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given its 3-hour and 28-minute duration, leaving Cannelton in the morning is ideal for arriving in Indianapolis with plenty of the day ahead. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of approximately $28, you have flexibility in pacing. Pay attention to the transitions from highway to local roads, especially as you approach Indianapolis. The longest stretch without needing to navigate a turn is 47.3 miles on I-69, so plan your restroom or snack break before or after this segment for maximum convenience.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 78.6 miles from Cannelton, IN, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.3 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 35 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.6 miles or 1h 49m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indianapolis, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cannelton, 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 Cannelton, IN
This is one driving day of about 157.2 miles and 3h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Cannelton, 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 69 for about 47.3 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 50.1 and 156.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
50.1 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|SR 56 / North Main Street
Turn right onto SR 56 / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
60.8 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|SR 37 / North Gospel Street
Enter roundabout onto SR 37 / North Gospel Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
149.6 mi into trip|~3h 12m in
Take the exit toward Epler Avenue to Harding Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 162
Toward Epler Avenue to Harding Street
7
156.2 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|South Missouri Street
Turn left onto South Missouri Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
156.5 mi into trip|~3h 25m in|West Maryland Street
Turn right onto West Maryland Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.58 one way
$49.15 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.98
$53.97
premium
$4.89
$30.25
$60.50
diesel
$5.61
$34.71
$69.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.2
0
$16.51
$7.55
Efficient EV
39.3
0
$13.75
$6.29
EV Truck/SUV
62.9
0
$22.01
$10.06
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 17, 2026
Origin
Cannelton, IN
Night
in Cannelton on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Indianapolis, IN
Night
in Indianapolis on Saturday
Local time
10:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 12 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 11:48AM CDT until April 18 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 11:04AM CDT until April 23 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
77°F
Bedford, IN
79 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
6 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
3h 28m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
National Memorial
Abraham Lincoln grew from youth to manhood on this southern Indiana soil. Many character and moral traits of one of the world's most respected leaders was formed and nurtured here. Explore Lincoln's b...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 5.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is predominantly highway, with 58% of the 157.2 miles being on faster roads like I-69. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 47.3 miles on I-69, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While much of the drive is on these main arteries, expect some transitions as you enter and exit towns, indicated by the 'Mixed drive' profile. This means you'll experience both the efficiency of interstate travel and the nuances of local road navigation.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.3 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 50.1 miles in near SR 56 / North Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 28m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 50.1 miles (SR 56 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 60.8 miles (SR 37 / North Gospel Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 149.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana and also the state’s largest city. Efforts to beautify and modernize the city have brought Indianapolis into the 21st century as a world-class destination for everything from business meetings and trade conventions to backpackers making their way across the States.
Indianapolis is widely hailed as the "Racing Capital of the World" because of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500 and Brickyard 400 at the Brickyard, and as the "Amateur Sports Capital of America" for hosting the NCAA Hall of Champions. The city has several attractions outside of sports, including museums, a large zoo, over 100 ethnic restaurants, several arts and historic districts, and a revitalized downtown. Although Indy has been mocked with the epithet "India-noplace", visitors will encounter a mix of a large metropolitan city and a simple Midwestern community.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.3 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 50.1 miles (SR 56 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 60.8 miles (SR 37 / North Gospel Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 149.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Indianapolis, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
