This 247.4-mile drive from DeMotte, Indiana, to Evansville, Indiana, is a solid day trip, estimated to take around 5 hours and 19 minutes. With 93% of the journey on highways, it's a direct route focused on covering ground efficiently. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is $39, making it an economical option for a single-day adventure within the Midwest. You'll spend most of your time on US 41, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 157.9 miles, so plan your stops accordingly. This route is a straightforward option if you're looking to get from point A to point B without extensive detours.
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
123.7 miles from DeMotte, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 41
157.9 mi
3h 23m
SR 63
63.4 mi
1h 20m
State Road 14
9.2 mi
12m
I 65
8.4 mi
9m
West State Road 10
3.5 mi
5m
North State Road 10
2.6 mi
3m
East Walnut Street
0.7 mi
1m
South Halleck Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 41
— 157.9 mi, about 3h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between DeMotte, IN and Evansville, IN.
1
Start on US 231
0.4 mi·1 min·North Halleck Street
2
Continue on South Halleck Street
0.5 mi·48 sec·South Halleck Street
3
Continue on SR 10
2.6 mi·3 min·North State Road 10
4
Continue on SR 10
3.5 mi·5 min·West State Road 10
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
6
Merge onto I 65
8.4 mi·9 min·I 65
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·46 sec
Exit 220Toward SR 14: WinamacUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn right onto SR 14
9.2 mi·12 min·State Road 14
9
Turn left onto US 41
26 mi·32 min·US 41
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
22 mi·26 min·US 41
11
Continue on SR 63
63 mi·1 hr 20 min·SR 63
12
Continue on US 41
58 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 41
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit onto US 41; US 150
0.2 mi·28 sec·US 41; US 150
14
Merge onto US 41; US 50; US 150
0.9 mi·1 min·US 41; US 50; US 150
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 41
52 mi·1 hr 4 min·US 41
16
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Walnut Street
17
Turn right
332 ft·25 sec
18
At end of road, turn right
123 ft·9 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
This 5-hour, 19-minute drive is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Given the 247.4-mile distance and the $39 fuel estimate, plan for one main stop roughly halfway to stretch your legs and refuel, perhaps around the 157.9-mile mark on US 41 where you'll have the most uninterrupted driving. Since the route is highway-focused, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches. Consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic, ensuring a smooth arrival in Evansville.
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 123.7 miles from DeMotte, IN, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 157.9 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 54 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.7 miles or 2h 38m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evansville, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving DeMotte, 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 DeMotte, IN
This is one driving day of about 247.4 miles and 5h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from DeMotte, 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 41 for about 157.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.7 and 247.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
15.7 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the exit toward SR 14: Winamac
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 220
Toward SR 14: Winamac
4
50.9 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|US 41
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
194.7 mi into trip|~4h 13m in|US 41
Keep slight right at fork onto US 41
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
246.7 mi into trip|~5h 18m in|East Walnut Street
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
247.4 mi into trip|~5h 19m in
At end of road, turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.68 one way
$77.36 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$42.47
$84.93
premium
$4.89
$47.61
$95.22
diesel
$5.61
$54.62
$109.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.2
0
$25.98
$11.88
Efficient EV
61.9
0
$21.65
$9.90
EV Truck/SUV
99
1
$34.64
$15.83
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
DeMotte, IN
Late night
in DeMotte on Tuesday
Local time
4:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Evansville, IN
Late night
in Evansville on Tuesday
Local time
4:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live 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.
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
25 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
5h 19m 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.
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The British flag would not be raised above Fort Sackville Feb. 25, 1779. At 10 A.M., the garrison surrendered to American Colonel George Rogers Clark. His American army, aided by French residents of t...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 196.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 247.4-mile journey, with 93% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll primarily navigate via US 41 and SR 63, with a brief segment on State Road 14. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 157.9 miles on US 41, indicating a predominantly high-speed, direct path. This road profile suggests a consistent driving experience, likely with limited opportunities for scenic detours but plenty of efficiency in reaching your destination.
93% 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: 157.9 mi on US 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 41 and SR 63. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 15.7 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 247.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 15.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.9 miles (US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 194.7 miles (US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Evansville is the largest city in Southern Indiana and the third-largest city in the state. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for the Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois tri-state area. In 2010, the city had a population of 117,000. In 2008 the Evansville metropolitan area was home to 350,000 people.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 19m. Total distance: 247.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 157.9 miles on US 41. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.9 miles (US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 194.7 miles (US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Evansville, IN before the return drive.
