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Trip from Carmel, IN to Prairie Creek, IN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 12m

Distance

108.7 mi

175 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Good

5 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 4m ★
6 AM
2h 13m
8 AM
2h 32m
10 AM
2h 19m
12 PM
2h 18m
3 PM
2h 20m
5 PM
2h 31m
8 PM
2h 7m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Hamilton County, Indiana, United States

Carmel, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Prairie Creek, IN, IN

Prairie Creek, IN

Mahesh Mohan

Trip Overview

The drive from Carmel, IN to Prairie Creek, IN covers 108.7 miles and takes about 2h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, I 465, US 41 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 58.3 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.99 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

54.3 miles from Carmel, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway 58.3 mi 1h 2m
I 465 22.7 mi 26m
US 41 6.3 mi 8m
SR 246 5.8 mi 10m
SR 46 5.7 mi 6m
Keystone Parkway 3.3 mi 5m
US 40 0.4 mi <1m
East Main Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Dwight D Eisenhower Highway — 58.3 mi, about 1h 2m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Carmel, IN and Prairie 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 right at fork

380 ft · 9 sec
Toward I 465 West Use the slight right lane.
8

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 55 sec · this road
9

Merge onto I 465

7.4 mi · 8 min · I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 465

15 mi · 18 min · I 465
Toward I 465 South
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Exit 9A-B Toward I 70: Saint Louis, Indianapolis International Airport, Indianapolis Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight right at fork

2.6 mi · 5 min
Exit 9B Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis, Indianapolis International Airport Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis Use the slight left lane.
14

Merge onto I 70

58 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 25 sec
Exit 11A-B Toward US 40 East, SR 641 South, SR 46
16

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 38 sec
Exit 11B Toward US 40 East, SR 46 West
17

Turn straight onto US 40; SR 46

479 ft · 16 sec · US 40; SR 46
18

Continue on US 40; SR 46

0.3 mi · 38 sec · US 40; SR 46
Use the left lane.
19

Turn straight onto SR 46; SR 641

5.7 mi · 6 min · SR 46; SR 641
20

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
21

Merge onto US 41; US 150

6.3 mi · 8 min · US 41; US 150
22

Turn right onto SR 246

5.8 mi · 10 min · SR 246
23

Turn right

316 ft · 8 sec
24

Turn right onto West 158th Drive

177 ft · 7 sec · West 158th Drive
25

Arrive at destination

West 158th Drive

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 54.3 miles from Carmel, IN, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.3 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 24 miles or 30m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 54.3 miles or 1h 6m 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 44m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Prairie 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.

+

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 Carmel, IN

This is one driving day of about 108.7 miles and 2h 12m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Carmel, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 58.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

person who operates a mill

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Miller, IN

54 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

Speedway, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Alaska, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 54.3 miles from Carmel, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Family Table Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Brazil, Indiana

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 77.6

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+18124430323

Visit website

Pad Thai Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carmel, Indiana

0.6 mi

DE ORO Mexican Grill

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Carmel, Indiana

0.5 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Founders Grounds Coffee Company

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Speedway, Indiana

Early in the drive, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 23.3

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+13179815358

Visit website

Capstone Cafe & Bookstore

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carmel, Indiana

2.3 mi

Loose Goose Coffee Company

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Terre Haute, Indiana

2.9 mi

Family Table Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 77.6

Brazil, Indiana

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+18124430323

Visit website

Pad Thai Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Carmel, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+13178188272

Visit website

DE ORO Mexican Grill

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Carmel, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+13175800333

Visit website

Somos Familia Mexican Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 7.8

Indianapolis, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+13176692057

Visit website

3 in 1 Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 7.8

Indianapolis, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+13179855091

Visit website

Kona Grill - Carmel

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately

Carmel, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+13175661400

Visit website

Freeland’s Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $100 or ab

Carmel, Indiana

Hours: 5–9 pm

+13173169875

Visit website

Flight Burger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Carmel, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+13176692256

Visit website

Founders Grounds Coffee Company

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 23.3

Speedway, Indiana

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+13179815358

Visit website

Capstone Cafe & Bookstore

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Carmel, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+13175669132

Visit website

Loose Goose Coffee Company

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 93.1

Terre Haute, Indiana

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+18129173863

Visit website

Nissan Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 93.1

Terre Haute, Indiana

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+33172676914

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 93.1

Terre Haute, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 93.1

Terre Haute, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Ionna Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 93.1

Terre Haute, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18334662474

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 93.1

Terre Haute, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

TA

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

ONE9 Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Plainfield Rest Area (Wesbound)

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.2 mi from route

Cloverdale Travel Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Petro Stopping Centers

0.3 mi from route

The Bouncin Barn

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 93.1

Terre Haute, Indiana

Hours: Closed

+18122995867

Visit website

Indy with Kids

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 23.3

Indianapolis, IN

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13174555289

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.1 and 89.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
4.1 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 465 West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 465 West
8
27.3 mi into trip | ~34m in

Take the exit toward I 70: Saint Louis, Indianapolis International Airport, Indianapolis

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 9A-B Toward I 70: Saint Louis, Indianapolis Internat...
9
27.6 mi into trip | ~35m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 West: Saint Louis, Indianapolis International Airport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 9B Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis, Indianapolis Int...
7
30.2 mi into trip | ~40m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
7
89.1 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 40 East, SR 46 West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 11B Toward US 40 East, SR 46 West

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.99 one way

$33.99 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 38 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $18.66 $37.32
premium $4.89 $20.92 $41.84
diesel $5.61 $24.00 $48.00

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 38 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 32.6 0 $11.41 $5.22
Efficient EV 27.2 0 $9.51 $4.35
EV Truck/SUV 43.5 0 $15.22 $6.96

Gas CO2

38 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (66% 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 19, 2026

Origin

Carmel, IN

Afternoon in Carmel on Sunday

Local time

2:14 PM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Areas Of Frost then Isolated Rain Showers

WSW 6 to 17 mph 19% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 19 at 4:30AM EDT by NWS Louisville KY

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 1:52AM CDT until April 20 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Destination

Prairie Creek, IN

Afternoon in Prairie Creek on Sunday

Local time

2:14 PM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

11 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

2h 12m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

108.7 mi in 2h 12m — 41% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.

41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.3 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 108.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Carmel, IN and Prairie Creek, IN, road signs point toward Indianapolis International Airport and Indianapolis.

Indianapolis International Airport

27.3 mi in | ~34m

Indianapolis

27.3 mi in | ~34m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 12m. Total distance: 108.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (41%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 58.3 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 11 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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 Prairie Creek, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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

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