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Trip from Clinton, IN to Fort Wayne, IN

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

Drive Time

3h 28m

Distance

155.6 mi

250 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Sparse

1 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 16m ★
6 AM
3h 28m
8 AM
3h 53m
10 AM
3h 37m
12 PM
3h 34m
3 PM
3h 38m
5 PM
3h 51m
8 PM
3h 21m

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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Downtown Clinton, IN, IN

Clinton, IN

Mohan Nannapaneni

Trip Overview

This 155.6-mile drive from Clinton, Indiana, to Fort Wayne, Indiana, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 28 minutes. The route focuses heavily on highways, with 92% of the journey on these faster roads, making it an efficient trip. You can expect a fuel cost of around $24 for this journey. Given its manageable length and highway-focused profile, it’s a straightforward drive across Indiana's Midwest landscape, perfect for a day trip without the need for an overnight stop. Plan for one primary stop along the way to break up the driving.

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

77.8 miles from Clinton, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 27 104.4 mi 2h 4m
US 52 14.5 mi 24m
Indiana Highway 101 7.5 mi 13m
I 74 7.5 mi 7m
North Meridian Street 6.2 mi 9m
SR 1 6.1 mi 10m
SR 48 2.4 mi 4m
Coldwater Road 1.6 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 27 — 104.4 mi, about 2h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clinton, IN and Fort Wayne, IN.

1

Start on North Spades Road

0.2 mi · 58 sec · North Spades Road
2

Turn left onto SR 48

2.4 mi · 4 min · SR 48
3

Turn left onto SR 101

6.2 mi · 9 min · North Meridian Street
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward I 74 East: Cincinnati
5

Merge onto I 74

7.5 mi · 7 min · I 74
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 164 Toward SR 1: Saint Leon, Lawrenceburg
7

Turn left onto SR 1

6.1 mi · 10 min · SR 1
8

At end of road, turn left onto US 52; SR 1

14 mi · 24 min · US 52; SR 1
9

Continue on SR 101

7.5 mi · 13 min · Indiana Highway 101
10

Continue on SR 101

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Continue on US 27

104 mi · 2 hr 4 min · US 27
12

Keep slight right at fork onto US 27

0.9 mi · 1 min · Lafayette Street
13

Continue on US 27

1.1 mi · 2 min · Spy Run Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
14

Continue on US 27

0.4 mi · 27 sec · North Clinton Street
Use the straight lane.
15

Continue on North Clinton Street

0.5 mi · 41 sec · North Clinton Street
16

Keep slight left at fork onto Coldwater Road

1.6 mi · 2 min · Coldwater Road
Toward Coldwater Road Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17

Turn right onto East Washington Center Road

0.3 mi · 33 sec · East Washington Center Road
18

Turn right onto Dartmouth Drive

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Dartmouth Drive
19

Arrive at destination

Dartmouth Drive

Trip Plan

With a total duration of under 3.5 hours, this drive offers flexibility. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to explore Fort Wayne upon arrival. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 104.4 miles on US 27, so consider timing your fuel stop before embarking on this segment. Given the manageable distance and the $24 estimated fuel cost, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Factor in one planned stop to stretch your legs and perhaps grab a quick bite.

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 77.8 miles from Clinton, IN, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.4 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 34 miles or 53m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 77.8 miles or 1h 52m 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 51m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Wayne, IN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Clinton, 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 Clinton, IN

This is one driving day of about 155.6 miles and 3h 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Clinton, 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 US 27 for about 104.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Indiana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Richmond, IN

78 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

Brookville, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Richmond, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 77.8 miles from Clinton, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 27 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 104.4 miles.

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

Liberty Bell Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Liberty, Indiana

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 44.4

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+17654586115

Visit website

J's Dairy Inn

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Liberty, Indiana

0.7 mi

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Fort Wayne, Indiana

1.7 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Black Forest Cat Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 155.6

Hours: 9:30 am–6 pm

+12604982988

Visit website

Firefly Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fort Wayne, Indiana

1.7 mi

Old Crown Coffee Roasters

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fort Wayne, Indiana

1.7 mi

Liberty Bell Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 44.4

Liberty, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+17654586115

Visit website

J's Dairy Inn

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 44.4

Liberty, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+17654585812

Visit website

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 155.6

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+12604891855

Visit website

Food Court

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 155.6

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

Domino's Pizza

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour Inexpensiv mile 55.6

Richmond, Indiana

Hours: 10:30 am–2 pm

+17659668351

Visit website

China Palace Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 144.4

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+12607470370

Visit website

Pioneer Restaurant & Lounge

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 33.3

Brookville, Indiana

Hours: Closed

+17656477935

Visit website

Black Forest Cat Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 155.6

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 9:30 am–6 pm

+12604982988

Visit website

Firefly Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 155.6

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+12603730505

Visit website

Old Crown Coffee Roasters

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 155.6

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+18887627837

Visit website

Fortezza Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 155.6

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+12602034103

Visit website

The Light House coffee bar

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 155.6

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+12604333710

Visit website

Tall Rabbit Cafe + Community

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 155.6

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+12607459164

Visit website

The Green Bean Coffee Bar

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 155.6

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 6:30 am–12:30 pm

Visit website

Coffee On Main

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10 mile 33.3

Brookville, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

InCharge Energy Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 155.6

Fort Wayne, Indiana

+18333994638

Visit website

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 0.2 and 153.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | SR 48

Turn left onto SR 48

Navigation decision point

4
2.6 mi into trip | ~5m in | SR 101 / North Meridian Street

Turn left onto SR 101 / North Meridian Street

Navigation decision point

5
8.7 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the ramp toward I 74 East: Cincinnati

Navigation decision point

Toward I 74 East: Cincinnati
6
16.4 mi into trip | ~23m in

Take the exit toward SR 1: Saint Leon, Lawrenceburg

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

Exit 164 Toward SR 1: Saint Leon, Lawrenceburg
7
153.5 mi into trip | ~3h 24m in | Coldwater Road

Keep slight left at fork onto Coldwater Road toward Coldwater Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward Coldwater Road

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$24.33 one way

$48.65 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 54 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $26.71 $53.42
premium $4.89 $29.94 $59.89
diesel $5.61 $34.35 $68.71

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 54.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 46.7 0 $16.34 $7.47
Efficient EV 38.9 0 $13.61 $6.22
EV Truck/SUV 62.2 0 $21.78 $9.96

Gas CO2

54 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 15, 2026

Origin

Clinton, IN

Morning in Clinton on Sunday

Local time

6:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fort Wayne, IN

Morning in Fort Wayne on Sunday

Local time

6:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

66°F

Richmond, IN

78 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

19 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

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?

This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the 155.6 miles spent on main roads like US 27 and US 52, as well as Indiana Highway 101. You'll experience a significant stretch of 104.4 miles on US 27, offering a consistent pace. The road character remains predominantly that of a highway, facilitating steady progress toward your destination. Expect a smooth and efficient journey primarily on well-maintained roadways designed for longer distances.

92% 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: 104.4 mi on US 27.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 27 and US 52. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near SR 48.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 155.6 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 0.2 miles (SR 48): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (SR 101 / North Meridian Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.7 miles: Navigation decision point.

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 Clinton, IN to Fort Wayne, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Lawrenceburg along the way.

Lawrenceburg

16.4 mi in | ~23m

About the Cities

Arriving in Fort Wayne, IN

Full guide →

Fort Wayne is a city in the northeastern part of Indiana, a state of the United States of America. It is 30 minutes from the western Ohio border and 70 minutes from the southern border of Michigan. With a population of around 260,000 in the city and 615,000 in the metropolitan area, it's Indiana's second largest city. Fort Wayne is a metropolitan city with a small community feel. It provides the rush of urban activity while never losing an intimate personal connection with those who live or visit here. Fort Wayne is the second largest city in the state of Indiana, located in Allen County, the largest county in the state by geography. It is the regional commerce and industry center for Northeast Indiana and also impacts the economies of Southwestern Michigan and Western Ohio. Fort Wayne has been and is a breeding ground for entrepreneurs and high tech industries.

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 3h 28m. Total distance: 155.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 104.4 miles on US 27. 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 0.2 miles (SR 48): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (SR 101 / North Meridian Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.7 miles: Navigation decision point.

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 Fort Wayne, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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