Origin
Columbus, IN
Late night in Columbus on Tuesday
Local time
4:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbus, IN to Indianapolis, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
46 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbus, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transit through the Midwest, the 46-mile journey from Columbus to Indianapolis is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 56 minutes. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-65, making this an ideal one-day excursion that requires no overnight stops. With a fuel budget of roughly $7, it is an economical route for commuters or weekend travelers alike. Because both cities are located within Indiana, the drive remains entirely within the same regional landscape. This efficiency makes it a practical choice if you need to reach the state capital quickly without the hassle of a long-haul trek.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 41.5 mi | 46m |
| Jonathan Moore Pike | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| 3rd Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Meridian Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Madison Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Dwight D Eisenhower Highway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Monument Circle | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 41.5 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, IN and Indianapolis, IN.
1
Start on SR 46
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Street
2
Continue on Jonathan Moore Pike
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Jonathan Moore Pike
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 65 North: Indianapolis
4
Merge onto I 65
42 mi
·
46 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 110B
Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
6
Merge onto I 70
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 79B
Toward Meridian Street
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on Madison Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Avenue
9
Continue on South Meridian Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Meridian Street
10
Turn left onto Monument Circle
365 ft
·
42 sec
·
Monument Circle
11
Turn right
76 ft
·
6 sec
12
At end of road, turn right
257 ft
·
28 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23 miles from Columbus, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 45.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
43.9 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 110B
Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
7
44.7 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward Meridian Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 79B
Toward Meridian Street
5
45.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
45.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
At end of road, turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.19 one way
$14.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.90 | $15.79 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.85 | $17.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.16 | $20.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.44 | $2.94 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Late night in Indianapolis on Tuesday
Local time
4:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Beech Grove, IN
23 mi in
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
56m 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?
Expect a focused, highway-heavy experience as you navigate this 46-mile corridor. With 90% of the trip spent on major highways, you will quickly find yourself on the main thoroughfare of I-65. The longest stretch of the drive covers 41.5 miles of uninterrupted interstate travel, allowing for a consistent pace. You will transition onto I-65 via Jonathan Moore Pike and 3rd Street before settling into the highway grind. It is a utilitarian route designed for speed rather than winding backroads, keeping your focus strictly on the road ahead.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.5 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Jonathan Moore Pike. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near I 65.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 46 miles you will encounter 8 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 2.4 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Indianapolis, IN
Full guide →Founded 1821
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.
Top landmarks
- • The Children's Museum of Indianapolis — museum
- • Indiana Statehouse — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Indiana
- • Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument — monument in Indianapolis
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 56m. Total distance: 46 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.5 miles on I 65. 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 Indianapolis, 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 2.4 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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