Ellettsville to Evansville is 123 miles and takes about 2 hours 20 minutes via I 69 and State Road 46, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Indiana, connecting two points in the Midwest. Expect a focused, highway-centric journey for the majority of the trip, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. Given the relatively short duration, you'll likely find it a convenient way to travel between these two locations without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.4 miles from Ellettsville, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
104.3 mi
1h 51m
State Road 46
3.9 mi
7m
East Lloyd Expressway
3.9 mi
4m
North Burkhardt Road
2.5 mi
4m
East Walnut Street
0.7 mi
1m
West Temperance Street
0.7 mi
1m
US 41
0.3 mi
<1m
Lynch Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 104.3 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ellettsville, IN and Evansville, IN.
1
Start on SR 46
0.7 mi·1 min·West Temperance Street
2
Continue on SR 46
3.9 mi·7 min·State Road 46
3
Take the exit
6.0 mi·7 min
Use the straight lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
104 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 69
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·39 sec
Exit 10Toward Lynch Road
6
Turn slight right
153 ft·4 sec
7
Turn straight onto Lynch Road
498 ft·15 sec·Lynch Road
8
Turn left onto North Burkhardt Road
2.5 mi·4 min·North Burkhardt Road
9
Turn right onto SR 66
3.9 mi·4 min·East Lloyd Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward US 41 South
11
Merge onto US 41; SR 66
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 41; SR 66
12
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Walnut Street
13
Turn right
332 ft·25 sec
14
At end of road, turn right
123 ft·9 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this trip is just 2 hours and 20 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving mid-morning allows you to avoid the earliest rush and still have plenty of daylight. The longest stretch on I 69 is over 100 miles, so plan for a fuel stop before you begin if your tank is low, as options might be more spread out during that segment. With a fuel cost estimated around $19, it's a budget-friendly trip, so you can allocate more of your funds to a nice meal upon arrival in Evansville.
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 61.4 miles from Ellettsville, IN, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.3 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 27 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.4 miles or 1h 10m 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 52m
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 Ellettsville, 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 Ellettsville, IN
This is one driving day of about 122.9 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Ellettsville, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 69 for about 104.3 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 4.5 and 122.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.5 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
10.5 mi into trip|~15m in|I 69
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 South: Evansville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
5
114.8 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward Lynch Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 10
Toward Lynch Road
4
115.3 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|North Burkhardt Road
Turn left onto North Burkhardt Road
Navigation decision point
5
122.8 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
At end of road, turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.21 one way
$38.43 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.10
$42.19
premium
$4.89
$23.65
$47.30
diesel
$5.61
$27.13
$54.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.9
0
$12.90
$5.90
Efficient EV
30.7
0
$10.75
$4.92
EV Truck/SUV
49.2
0
$17.21
$7.87
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Ellettsville, IN
Morning
in Ellettsville on Sunday
Local time
6:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Evansville, IN
Late night
in Evansville on Sunday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
2 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
2h 20m 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.
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...
Abraham Lincoln grew from youth to manhood on this southern Indiana soil. Many character and moral traits of one of the world's most respected leaders was formed and nurtured here. Explore Lincoln's b...
25 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 97.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 88% of the journey taking place on major roadways like I 69 and East Lloyd Expressway. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch for 104.3 miles on I 69, indicating significant periods of consistent driving. While State Road 46 offers a change of pace, the overall character is one of efficient travel on well-maintained roads. Expect a smooth ride with minimal detours, allowing for steady progress toward your destination.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.3 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and State Road 46. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 20m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 114.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 122.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 104.3 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 114.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — George Rogers Clark National Historical Park and Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Evansville, IN before heading back.
