Origin
Carmel, IN
Morning in Carmel on Friday
Local time
7:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carmel, IN to Clear Creek, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 36m
Distance
79.3 mi
128 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 29m
★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carmel, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Clear Creek, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Carmel, IN to Clear Creek, IN covers 79.3 miles and takes about 1h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 69, I 465, Keystone Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 68.4 miles on I 69. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.29 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.7 miles from Carmel, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 69 | 68.4 mi | 1h 17m |
| I 465 | 4 mi | 4m |
| Keystone Parkway | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| SR 37 | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Church Lane | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Rogers Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Victor Pike | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 68.4 mi, about 1h 17m
Traffic on I-465
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 80 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,714 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~472 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 48 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carmel, IN and Clear Creek, IN.
1
Start on East Main Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Enter roundabout
37 ft
·
2 sec
3
Continue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
4
Merge onto Keystone Parkway
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Keystone Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Enter roundabout
137 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 465: South Keystone Avenue
6
Continue
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 465: South Keystone Avenue
7
Keep slight left at fork
430 ft
·
10 sec
Toward I 465 East: Keystone Avenue South
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 465 East
Use the slight left / right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 465
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 465
10
Merge onto I 69; I 465
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 69; I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 69; I 74; I 465
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
I 69; I 74; I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
48 mi
·
54 min
·
I 69
Exit 5
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 37
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
SR 37
Exit 114
Toward SR 37 South: Bedford
14
Turn left onto South Victor Pike
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
South Victor Pike
15
Turn right onto West Church Lane
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Church Lane
16
Turn left onto Rogers Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Rogers Street
17
Arrive at destination
Rogers Street
Trip Plan
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.7 miles from Carmel, IN, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.4 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.7 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clear Creek, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carmel, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Carmel, IN
This is one driving day of about 79.3 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Carmel, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 69 for about 68.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.7 miles from Carmel, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 69 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.4 miles.
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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 77.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
4.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 465 East: Keystone Avenue South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 465 East: Keystone Avenue South
7
4.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 465 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / right lanes.
Toward I 465 East
8
28.9 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 South: Evansville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
6
77.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
|
SR 37
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 37 toward SR 37 South: Bedford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 114
Toward SR 37 South: Bedford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.29 one way
$24.59 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $13.48 | $26.96 |
| premium | $4.93 | $15.39 | $30.77 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $17.48 | $34.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.33 | $3.81 |
| Efficient EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.94 | $3.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.7 | 0 | $11.10 | $5.08 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Clear Creek, IN
Morning in Clear Creek on Friday
Local time
7:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
91°F
Hendricks, IN
40 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
23 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 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.
What kind of drive is this?
79.3 mi in 1h 36m, mostly highway — 68.4 mi of that is on I 69.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.4 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and I 465. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.
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 79.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
875 ft
590 ft
Total Climb
760 ft
Total Descent
957 ft
Highest Point
875 ft
~17 mi in
Elevation Range
286 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Carmel, IN
Full guide →Founded 1874
Carmel is a city of just over 100,000 people (2021) in the Nine-County Region of Indiana north of Indianapolis.
Arriving in Clear Creek, IN
Full guide →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 36m. Total distance: 79.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68.4 miles on I 69. 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 Clear Creek, 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 0.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clear Creek, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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