Cedar Lake, IN to Jeffersonville, IN is 255.5 miles and takes about 4h 57m via I 65, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This all-Indiana route winds through the Midwest, offering a mix of highway cruising and surface road travel. Expect a fairly straightforward drive with about half of your time spent on interstates. It's a good option for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay, provided you start with a full tank and plan for a quick stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
127.8 miles from Cedar Lake, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
127.3 mi
2h 23m
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
110.3 mi
1h 58m
Wicker Avenue
5.1 mi
6m
East 181st Avenue
4.6 mi
6m
West Commercial Avenue
2.6 mi
6m
West 141st Avenue
1.5 mi
5m
West 181st Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
US 31
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 127.3 mi, about 2h 23m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 98 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,059 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,696
Quietest
1 AM
~338 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Cedar Lake, IN and Jeffersonville, IN.
1
Start on Lauerman Street
0.1 mi·36 sec·Lauerman Street
2
Turn right onto West 141st Avenue
1.5 mi·5 min·West 141st Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 41
5.1 mi·6 min·Wicker Avenue
4
Turn left onto SR 2
1.5 mi·2 min·West 181st Avenue
5
Continue on SR 2
2.6 mi·6 min·West Commercial Avenue
6
Continue on SR 2
4.6 mi·6 min·East 181st Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
8
Merge onto I 65
110 mi·1 hr 58 min·Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
17 mi·22 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 65
1.9 mi·2 min·I 65
Exit 112AToward I 70 East: Dayton
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
108 mi·1 hr 58 min·I 65
Use the slight left lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 1Toward US 31 South: Jeffersonville, Clarksville
13
Turn straight onto US 31
0.7 mi·1 min·US 31
14
Turn slight right
0.5 mi·1 min
15
Continue on East 10th Street
419 ft·12 sec·East 10th Street
16
Turn right onto Wall Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·Wall Street
17
Turn left onto East 8th Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·East 8th Street
18
Turn right onto Watt Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·Watt Street
19
Arrive at destination
Watt Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 57-minute drive, consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and give yourself flexibility. With only one stop recommended, you can easily make it a single-day trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto the longer 127.3-mile stretch of I 65. While the total fuel cost is estimated at $45, it's always wise to factor in a buffer. The mix of highway and surface roads means you'll encounter different driving conditions, so stay alert as you transition between them.
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 127.8 miles from Cedar Lake, IN, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.3 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 56 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.8 miles or 2h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jeffersonville, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cedar Lake, 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 Cedar Lake, IN
This is one driving day of about 255.5 miles and 4h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Cedar Lake, 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 65 for about 127.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.5 and 253.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
15.5 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the ramp toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
Navigation decision point
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
5
15.7 mi into trip|~28m in|I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
126 mi into trip|~2h 27m in|I 65
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
145 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|I 65
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
253.3 mi into trip|~4h 51m in
Take the exit toward US 31 South: Jeffersonville, Clarksville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1
Toward US 31 South: Jeffersonville, Clarksville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.73 one way
$75.46 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$41.65
$83.31
premium
$4.72
$47.44
$94.88
diesel
$4.80
$48.24
$96.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.7
0
$26.83
$12.26
Efficient EV
63.9
0
$22.36
$10.22
EV Truck/SUV
102.2
1
$35.77
$16.35
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Cedar Lake, IN
Late night
in Cedar Lake on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 5 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:50AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 10:41PM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Jeffersonville, IN
Morning
in Jeffersonville on Sunday
Local time
6:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 2 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:50AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 10:41PM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
82°F
Beech Grove, IN
128 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
2 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
4h 57m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
Lake Michigan's might has influenced Indiana Dunes for millennia. Wind and waves have shaped the land, leaving a rich mosaic of habitats along these 15 miles of Indiana coast. Over 50 miles of trails...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
$20
Park Closure: Partial Closures to Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a roughly 50% highway share. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 65, including a longest stretch of 127.3 miles. After the interstate segments, expect transitions to surface roads like Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway and Wicker Avenue. The latter half of the drive will likely involve more frequent exits and varied speed limits as you approach urban and suburban areas.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 127.3 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 15.5 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 255.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 15.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15.7 miles (I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 126 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Jeffersonville, often called "Jeff" by locals, is the county seat of Clark County in Southern Indiana, on the opposite side of the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky and connected to Louisville by the Kennedy, Lincoln, and Lewis and Clark Bridges. It has a population of 48,000 (2019).
Top landmarks
•George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge — crossing of the Ohio River between Louisville, Kentucky, and Jeffersonville, Ind...
•Spring Street Freight House — constructed in 1925
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 57m. Total distance: 255.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 127.3 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 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.
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 15.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15.7 miles (I 65 / Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 126 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Jeffersonville, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
