Embark on a considerable journey from Converse, TX, to Indianapolis, IN, spanning 1159.7 miles and requiring approximately 20 hours and 28 minutes of driving time. This long-distance drive is best split over three recommended days, offering a substantial but manageable experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $175 and five planned stops, you'll navigate primarily via the Purple Heart Trail and I-70. Transitioning from the Great Plains region of Texas to the Midwest in Indiana, this trip offers a glimpse into changing American landscapes. It's a significant undertaking, not suited for a single day trip.
Trip Pace
Best split across 3 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
5 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
579.9 miles from Converse, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 10h 6m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Converse, TX and Indianapolis, IN.
1
Start on Toepperwein Road
99 ft·8 sec·Toepperwein Road
2
Turn right onto FM 1976
1.4 mi·2 min·FM 1976
3
Keep slight left at fork onto East Loop 1604 North
0.7 mi·1 min·East Loop 1604 North
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward Loop 1604 North
5
Merge onto Loop 1604
1.7 mi·1 min·Anderson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 35: San Antonio, AustinUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 North: AustinUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 35
1.6 mi·1 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi·2 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35
48 mi·52 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
96 mi·1 hr 40 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
56 mi·58 min·I 35E
Toward I 35E: DallasUse the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 427AToward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin StreetUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft·5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
19
Keep slight left at fork
385 ft·6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
20
Continue on I 30; US 67
7.5 mi·9 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
174 mi·2 hr 58 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Toward I 30 East: TexarkanaUse the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on I 30
134 mi·2 hr 16 min·Purple Heart Trail
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 440
10 mi·11 min·East Belt Freeway
Toward I 440 East: Little Rock Airport, Little Rock River Port, Memphis
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 40: Memphis, Fort Smith
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East: Memphis
26
Merge onto I 40
117 mi·1 hr 58 min·I 40
27
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 North: Blytheville, Saint Louis
28
Continue on I 55; US 78
131 mi·2 hr 15 min·Blues Highway
29
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 66AToward I 57 North, US 60 East: Chicago
30
Merge onto I 57; US 60
118 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 57; US 60
31
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
32
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
137 mi·2 hr 32 min·I 70
Toward I 70 East: IndianapolisUse the straight / slight left lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 79BToward Illinois Street, Meridian StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward Illinois StreetUse the straight / slight left lanes.
35
Continue on South Illinois Street
0.3 mi·55 sec·South Illinois Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
36
Turn right onto West South Street
511 ft·25 sec·West South Street
Use the right lane.
37
Turn left onto South Meridian Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Meridian Street
Use the left lane.
38
Turn left onto Monument Circle
365 ft·42 sec·Monument Circle
39
Turn right
76 ft·6 sec
40
At end of road, turn right
257 ft·28 sec
41
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To best manage this 1159.7-mile drive, plan for three days of travel. Begin your days early to maximize daylight driving and allow ample time for your five planned stops. With a 20-hour and 28-minute estimated duration, spreading this out will prevent fatigue. Consider breaking the journey into roughly equal driving segments each day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 321.8 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, where services might be more spaced out.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 3-day trip.
Plan roughly 5 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 579.9 miles from Converse, TX, or about 10h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 321.8 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 220 miles or 3h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 579.9 miles or 10h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 386.6 miles or 6h 48m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 19h 18m
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 Converse, TX 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 3-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Converse, TX
Aim for roughly 387 miles and 6.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 387 miles and 6.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Finish the approach into Indianapolis, IN
Aim for roughly 387 miles and 6.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Converse, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 3-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 5 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 321.8 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 30
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 1158.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.9 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I 35: San Antonio, Austin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35: San Antonio, Austin
7
4.2 mi into trip|~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35 North: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35 North: Austin
8
259.5 mi into trip|~4h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
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 427A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Bouleva...
8
1158.2 mi into trip|~20h 23m in
Take the exit toward Illinois Street, Meridian Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 79B
Toward Illinois Street, Meridian Street
8
1158.4 mi into trip|~20h 23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Illinois Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Illinois Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$175.23 one way
$350.47 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg406 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$191.81
$383.61
premium
$4.54
$207.06
$414.11
diesel
$5.61
$256.05
$512.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$175
Hotel (2n)
$160–$280
Meals
$75–$150
Total
$410–$605
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 405.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $122 in charging
· 4 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
347.9
4
$121.77
$55.67
Efficient EV
289.9
3
$101.47
$46.39
EV Truck/SUV
463.9
5
$162.36
$74.22
Gas CO2
406 kg
EV CO2
136 kg (67% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 4 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Converse, TX
Evening
in Converse on Saturday
Local time
8:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Indianapolis, IN
Night
in Indianapolis on Saturday
Local time
9:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 12 mph17% chanceLive 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
7 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
20h 28m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 160
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents a significant highway component, with 60% of the journey on major interstates. You'll encounter a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 321.8 miles on the Purple Heart Trail early in your trip. While much of the route involves consistent interstate travel, expect a gradual shift in scenery as you move from Texas towards Indiana. The character is largely that of a long-distance, efficient drive, prioritizing forward progress over winding backroads.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 321.8 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
At 20h 28m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 30 significant decision points across 1159.7 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 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 259.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Converse, TX and Indianapolis, IN, road signs point toward Fort Worth, Texarkana, Convention Center, Little Rock River Port, Memphis and Fort Smith - among others.
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.
The longest stretch is about 321.8 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 3-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 387 miles on day one.
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.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 5 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 259.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 20.5 hours each way, a round trip means 40.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Indianapolis, IN before the return drive.
