Earlham, IA to Indiana, IA is 76.5 miles and takes about 1h 34m via IA 5 and I 80, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically crossing the state of Iowa. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, making it an easy option for a single day. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, so it's a practical choice if you're looking for a quick transit between these two points. Consider this route for its efficiency and ease of navigation.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.3 miles from Earlham, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IA 5
36 mi
44m
I 80
18.5 mi
19m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
12.9 mi
14m
I 35
3.8 mi
4m
County Highway G76
2 mi
3m
I Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
North Chestnut Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
Ramp 72 H
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
IA 5
— 36 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Earlham, IA and Indiana, IA.
1
Start on Northwest Locust Avenue
240 ft·12 sec·Northwest Locust Avenue
2
Turn right onto Northwest 2nd Street
388 ft·22 sec·Northwest 2nd Street
3
Turn left onto North Chestnut Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·North Chestnut Avenue
4
Continue on CR P57
0.3 mi·31 sec·County Road P57
5
Continue on CR P57
0.9 mi·1 min·I Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I-80 east: Des Moines
7
Merge onto I 80; US 6
18 mi·19 min·I 80; US 6
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
0.3 mi·18 sec·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 H
0.4 mi·51 sec·Ramp 72 H
Exit 123BToward I 35 South: Kansas City
10
Merge onto I 35
3.8 mi·4 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 68Toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, NorwalkUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on IA 5
13 mi·14 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto IA 5
19 mi·22 min·IA 5
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
14
Turn left onto IA 5; IA 92
11 mi·11 min·IA 5; IA 92
15
Take the exit onto IA 5
0.5 mi·1 min·IA 5
16
Turn right onto IA 5
5.8 mi·8 min·IA 5
17
Turn sharp right onto CR G76
0.2 mi·24 sec·County Highway G76
18
Continue on CR G76
1.9 mi·3 min·County Highway G76
19
Arrive at destination
CR G76
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 34 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You could easily depart mid-morning and still arrive with plenty of daylight. With 76.5 miles and a fuel cost estimated at $12, you likely won't need to worry about frequent fuel stops, but it's always wise to keep an eye on your gauge, especially since the longest stretch without a major exit is 36 miles on IA 5. Plan for a single-day journey, and you can adjust your departure time based on your schedule without feeling rushed.
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 38.3 miles from Earlham, IA, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36 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 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.3 miles or 45m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indiana, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Earlham, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Earlham, IA
This is one driving day of about 76.5 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Earlham, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IA 5 for about 36 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 20.3 and 74.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
20.3 mi into trip|~24m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
5
20.6 mi into trip|~24m in|Ramp 72 H
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 H toward I 35 South: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 123B
Toward I 35 South: Kansas City
5
21 mi into trip|~25m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
24.8 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, Norwalk
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 68
Toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport,...
5
74.5 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|CR G76 / County Highway G76
Turn sharp right onto CR G76 / County Highway G76
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.96 one way
$23.92 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.13
$26.26
premium
$4.89
$14.72
$29.44
diesel
$5.61
$16.89
$33.78
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: 26.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23
0
$8.03
$3.67
Efficient EV
19.1
0
$6.69
$3.06
EV Truck/SUV
30.6
0
$10.71
$4.90
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Earlham, IA
Late night
in Earlham on Sunday
Local time
2:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Indiana, IA
Late night
in Indiana on Sunday
Local time
2:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
20 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
1h 34m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 76% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll primarily travel on IA 5 and I 80, also known as the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 36 miles on IA 5. Expect a consistent driving experience, with ample opportunity to maintain speed and cover ground efficiently. The road character remains largely consistent, offering a predictable and smooth ride throughout the 76.5-mile distance.
76% 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: 36 mi on IA 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 5 and I 80. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20.3 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 20.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.6 miles (Ramp 72 H): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 21 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Earlham, IA and Indiana, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City, Des Moines and Norwalk.
Minneapolis
20.3 mi in|~24m|via I 80
Kansas City
20.3 mi in|~24m|via I 80
Des Moines
24.8 mi in|~30m
Norwalk
24.8 mi in|~30m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 76.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36 miles on IA 5. 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 Indiana, IA 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 20.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.6 miles (Ramp 72 H): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 21 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Indiana, IA before heading back.
