Origin
Elkhart, IN
Late night in Elkhart on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elkhart, IN to Warsaw, 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
59m
Distance
36.7 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elkhart, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Warsaw, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through the Midwest, the 36.7-mile trek from Elkhart to Warsaw is an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. You can expect to spend about 59 minutes behind the wheel, making this a highly efficient route for those who prefer to keep travel time to a minimum. Budgeting around $6 for fuel is sufficient for this short journey, allowing you to focus your resources on your destination. Since the entire drive stays within Indiana, you won't need to worry about adjusting to new regional driving habits or time zones. It is a straightforward trip that fits perfectly into a morning or afternoon window without requiring an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Road 15 | 22.1 mi | 33m |
| County Road 17 | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| South Main Street | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| County Road 38 | 2 mi | 2m |
| US 33 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Benham Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Kercher Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Lusher Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
State Road 15
— 22.1 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elkhart, IN and Warsaw, IN.
1
Start on Pletcher Court
124 ft
·
8 sec
·
Pletcher Court
2
Turn right onto West Marion Street
206 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Marion Street
3
Turn left onto South 5th Street
411 ft
·
23 sec
·
South 5th Street
4
Turn left onto Harrison Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Harrison Street
5
Turn slight right onto Benham Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Benham Avenue
6
Turn left onto West Lusher Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Lusher Avenue
7
Turn right onto South Main Street
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
South Main Street
8
Continue on US 33
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US 33
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto Rieth Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Rieth Boulevard
10
Turn right onto CR 17
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
County Road 17
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto CR 38
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 38
12
Continue on CR 38
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Kercher Road
13
Turn slight right
275 ft
·
10 sec
14
Turn straight onto SR 15
22 mi
·
33 min
·
State Road 15
15
Turn right onto East Center Street
66 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Center Street
16
Arrive at destination
East Center Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Elkhart, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 11.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Marion Street
Turn right onto West Marion Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South 5th Street
Turn left onto South 5th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Harrison Street
Turn left onto Harrison Street
Navigation decision point
5
7.3 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
CR 17 / County Road 17
Turn right onto CR 17 / County Road 17
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
11.6 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
CR 38 / County Road 38
Turn left onto CR 38 / County Road 38
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.74 one way
$11.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.30 | $12.60 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.06 | $14.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.10 | $16.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.85 | $1.76 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.14 | $2.35 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Warsaw, IN
Late night in Warsaw on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
59m 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 turn-heavy, local experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as only about 4% of this route is considered highway. Your journey primarily utilizes State Road 15, County Road 17, and South Main Street to navigate the landscape. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 22.1-mile segment on State Road 15, which provides the most consistent rhythm of the drive. Because the road is characterized by frequent turns and local traffic patterns, you should remain alert behind the wheel. It is a practical, functional drive that favors steady navigation over long-distance highway cruising.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.1 mi on State Road 15.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Marion Street.
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 59m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Marion Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Harrison Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 36.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (4%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.1 miles on State Road 15. 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: near the start (West Marion Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Harrison Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Warsaw, 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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