Origin
Coal Creek, IN
Morning in Coal Creek on Sunday
Local time
8:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Coal Creek, IN to Indianapolis, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 43m
Distance
79.6 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 36m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Coal Creek, IN
Ken Cheatham
Trip Overview
This straightforward 79.6-mile drive from Coal Creek, Indiana, to Indianapolis, Indiana, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 43 minutes. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 84% of it on major roads, making it an efficient journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this drive through the Midwest region of Indiana offers a practical and budget-friendly option for reaching the state capital. It's a convenient way to cover the distance without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.8 miles from Coal Creek, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 74 | 66.5 mi | 1h 12m |
| South Stringtown Road | 5.5 mi | 13m |
| Michigan Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| West 10th Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| West New York Street | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Cossell Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West Ohio Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 66.5 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Coal Creek, IN and Indianapolis, IN.
1
Start on West Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Street
2
Continue on South Stringtown Road
5.5 mi
·
13 min
·
South Stringtown Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 74 East
4
Merge onto I 74
66 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
I 74
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 14
Toward 10th Street
Use the slight right lane.
6
Turn left onto West 10th Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West 10th Street
7
Turn right onto Cossell Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cossell Road
8
Continue on Michigan Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Michigan Street
9
Turn right onto North White River Parkway West Drive
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
North White River Parkway West Drive
10
Turn left onto West New York Street
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West New York Street
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto North West Street
508 ft
·
24 sec
·
North West Street
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto West Ohio Street
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Ohio Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto North Capitol Avenue
509 ft
·
24 sec
·
North Capitol Avenue
14
Turn left onto West Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Market Street
Use the left lane.
15
At end of road, turn right
257 ft
·
28 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of about 1 hour and 43 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart Coal Creek at a time that suits you, whether it's early morning to beat potential traffic into Indianapolis or later in the day. Since there are no designated stops in the data, consider a brief rest break around the halfway point if needed, though at just under two hours, it may not be necessary. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading out, as the estimated fuel cost is $12, and planning for an uninterrupted drive on I-74 is key.
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 39.8 miles from Coal Creek, IN, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.5 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 18 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.8 miles or 51m 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 21m
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 Coal Creek, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Coal Creek, IN
This is one driving day of about 79.6 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Coal Creek, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 74 for about 66.5 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.8 miles from Coal Creek, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 74 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.5 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 72.6 and 79.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
72.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward 10th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 14
Toward 10th Street
5
77.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
|
West New York Street
Turn left onto West New York Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
78.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
North West Street
Turn right onto North West Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
79 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
West Ohio Street
Turn left onto West Ohio Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
79.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
|
West Market Street
Turn left onto West Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.44 one way
$24.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.66 | $27.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.32 | $30.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.57 | $35.15 |
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: 27.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.36 | $3.82 |
| Efficient EV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.96 | $3.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.14 | $5.09 |
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
Indianapolis, IN
Morning in Indianapolis on Sunday
Local time
8:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Clear
S 2 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 1:55AM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 16 at 9:34PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
52°F
Clermont, 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 43m 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?
Expect a highway-centric experience for the majority of this 79.6-mile trip. With 84% of the drive on highways, you'll be spending most of your time on the interstate. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 66.5 miles on I-74, indicating a consistent pace for a substantial portion of your journey. You'll primarily navigate I-74, South Stringtown Road, and Michigan Street, with the latter two likely serving as your entry and exit points into and out of Indianapolis. This profile suggests a driving experience that is largely about covering ground efficiently.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.5 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and South Stringtown Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 72.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 43m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 72.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.8 miles (West New York Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 78.9 miles (North West Street): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Indianapolis, IN
Full guide →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.
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 43m. Total distance: 79.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.5 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 72.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.8 miles (West New York Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 78.9 miles (North West Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Indianapolis, 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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