Evansville to Fairfield is 231 miles and takes about 5h via I 69, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Indiana. Given its relatively short duration and the substantial highway portion, it's a straightforward trip, ideal for a single day. You'll find the bulk of your travel is on well-maintained interstate, making it a practical option for getting from point A to point B without much fuss. It’s a solid choice if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground.
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
115.5 miles from Evansville, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
130.3 mi
2h 20m
East Broadway Street
19.2 mi
28m
State Road 44
18.5 mi
28m
State Street
16.4 mi
24m
East 5th Street
11.5 mi
17m
SR 44
9.6 mi
14m
Indiana Highway 101
6.4 mi
11m
East Lloyd Expressway
4.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 130.3 mi, about 2h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evansville, IN and Fairfield, IN.
1
Start on this road
123 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn left
332 ft·26 sec
3
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
127 ft·6 sec·East Walnut Street
4
Turn right onto South Garvin Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·South Garvin Street
5
Turn right onto John Street
243 ft·4 sec·John Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
7
Merge onto SR 62
4.2 mi·4 min·East Lloyd Expressway
8
Turn left onto North Burkhardt Road
1.3 mi·2 min·North Burkhardt Road
9
Turn right onto SR 62
0.6 mi·1 min·Morgan Avenue
10
Turn left
0.4 mi·52 sec
11
Merge onto I 69
130 mi·2 hr 20 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 140Toward SR 44, SR 252Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn slight right onto SR 252
26 ft·0 sec·SR 252
14
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 252
116 ft·1 sec·SR 252
15
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 69 North, SR 44 East: Indianapolis
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward SR 44 East
17
Turn right onto SR 44
18 mi·28 min·State Road 44
18
Enter roundabout onto West Jefferson Street
16 ft·0 sec·West Jefferson Street
19
Continue on West Jefferson Street
2.1 mi·3 min·West Jefferson Street
20
Turn left onto North Forsythe Street
491 ft·10 sec·North Forsythe Street
21
Turn right onto East King Street
0.6 mi·52 sec·East King Street
22
Enter roundabout onto East King Street
134 ft·2 sec·East King Street
23
Continue on East King Street
3.1 mi·4 min·East King Street
24
Continue on SR 44
9.6 mi·14 min·SR 44
25
Turn left onto SR 44
1.2 mi·1 min·South Miller Avenue
26
Turn right onto SR 44
0.6 mi·1 min·Colescott Street
27
At end of road, turn left onto SR 9; SR 44
0.4 mi·36 sec·South Harrison Street
28
Turn right onto SR 44
19 mi·28 min·East Broadway Street
29
Turn left onto SR 44 Truck
226 ft·5 sec·North Perkins Street
30
Turn right onto SR 44
16 mi·24 min·State Street
31
Turn left onto SR 44
0.2 mi·18 sec·North Eastern Avenue
32
Turn right onto SR 1; SR 44
12 mi·17 min·East 5th Street
33
Turn right onto US 27; SR 44
0.4 mi·39 sec·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
34
Continue on SR 101
6.4 mi·11 min·Indiana Highway 101
35
Turn right
2.0 mi·7 min
36
Continue on Old State Road 101
0.5 mi·1 min·Old State Road 101
37
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to ensure a relaxed pace and arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 130.3 miles, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer interstate segment; the $36 fuel cost is an estimate, so topping off before you leave Evansville is a good idea. The transition from I 69 to surface streets like East Broadway Street and State Road 44 will be your main point of focus for navigation as you get closer to Fairfield.
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 115.5 miles from Evansville, IN, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.3 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 51 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.5 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairfield, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Evansville, 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 Evansville, IN
This is one driving day of about 231 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Evansville, 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 I 69 for about 130.3 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 28
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 137.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Walnut Street
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|John Street
Turn right onto John Street
Navigation decision point
5
7.1 mi into trip|~11m in|I 69
Merge onto I 69
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
137.3 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward SR 44, SR 252
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 140
Toward SR 44, SR 252
5
137.6 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|SR 252
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 252
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.11 one way
$72.23 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$39.65
$79.30
premium
$4.89
$44.45
$88.91
diesel
$5.61
$51.00
$102.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.3
0
$24.26
$11.09
Efficient EV
57.8
0
$20.21
$9.24
EV Truck/SUV
92.4
1
$32.34
$14.78
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 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 19, 2026
Origin
Evansville, IN
Late night
in Evansville on Tuesday
Local time
4:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 9:53PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 9:53PM EDT until April 24 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Fairfield, IN
Late night
in Fairfield on Tuesday
Local time
5:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Patchy Frost
NW 2 to 6 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 9:53PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 9:53PM EDT until April 24 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 47.8
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 23.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 65% of the 231 miles on expressways like I 69. You’ll experience a longest stretch of 130.3 miles on I 69 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a change in pace as you move from the interstate to East Broadway Street and State Road 44, likely noticing a denser pattern of exits and local traffic as you approach your destination. The initial part of the trip is defined by steady, high-speed cruising.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 130.3 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and East Broadway Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Walnut Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 231 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 0.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (John Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.1 miles (I 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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. Total distance: 231 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 130.3 miles on I 69. 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.
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 Fairfield, 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 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 0.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (John Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.1 miles (I 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — George Rogers Clark National Historical Park and Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fairfield, IN before the return drive.
