Evansville to Hamilton is 327 miles and takes about 6 hours 9 minutes via I 69, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This all-Indiana route stays within the Midwest region, taking you from one part of the state to another. With nearly all of the driving on highways, it's a straightforward trip that prioritizes efficiency. It's a good option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two Indiana cities without a lot of 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
163.5 miles from Evansville, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
308.6 mi
5h 38m
SR 427
8 mi
14m
East Lloyd Expressway
4.2 mi
4m
US 6
1.8 mi
3m
North Burkhardt Road
1.3 mi
2m
North Wayne Street
1.2 mi
2m
Morgan Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
South Garvin Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 308.6 mi, about 5h 38m
Traffic on I-69
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 152 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,688 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,198
Quietest
2 AM
~205 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evansville, IN and Hamilton, 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
162 mi·2 hr 57 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on I 69; I 465
12 mi·13 min·I 69; I 465
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
4.2 mi·5 min·I 69
Exit 37Toward I 69 North: Fort Wayne
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
111 mi·2 hr·I 69
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
19 mi·20 min·I 69
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·30 sec
Exit 334Toward US 6: Waterloo, Kendallville
17
Turn right onto US 6
1.8 mi·3 min·US 6
18
Turn left onto SR 427
1.2 mi·2 min·North Wayne Street
19
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 427
8.0 mi·14 min·SR 427
20
Arrive at destination
SR 1; SR 427
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration, leaving Evansville in the morning should allow you to reach Hamilton with plenty of daylight to spare. You'll likely only need one planned stop for fuel or a break, especially since the longest continuous stretch is over 300 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you near the end of the long highway section on I 69, as services might become less frequent before you transition to surface roads. This is a manageable one-day drive, so you can be flexible with your departure time.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 163.5 miles from Evansville, IN, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 308.6 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 72 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 163.5 miles or 3h 2m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hamilton, 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 327 miles and 6h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 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 308.6 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 315.7 — 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
6
181.3 mi into trip|~3h 22m in|I 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 North: Fort Wayne
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 37
Toward I 69 North: Fort Wayne
6
185.5 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|I 69
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
315.7 mi into trip|~5h 49m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Waterloo, Kendallville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 334
Toward US 6: Waterloo, Kendallville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.55 one way
$109.09 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg114 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$59.52
$119.03
premium
$5.25
$67.63
$135.25
diesel
$6.28
$80.80
$161.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.1
1
$34.34
$15.70
Efficient EV
81.8
0
$28.61
$13.08
EV Truck/SUV
130.8
1
$45.78
$20.93
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Evansville, IN
Late night
in Evansville on Thursday
Local time
4:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hamilton, IN
Late night
in Hamilton on Thursday
Local time
5:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive 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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
6h 9m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 56.4
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 33.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with 99% of the 327 miles on interstates. You'll experience a consistent stretch of 308.6 miles on I 69, meaning minimal changes in road type for the vast majority of the trip. Expect numerous exits and entrances along I 69 as you traverse the state. The transition to surface roads, SR 427 and East Lloyd Expressway, will occur in the final miles.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 308.6 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and SR 427. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Walnut Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 327 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (John Street): Navigation decision point; at 181.3 miles (I 69): 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.
Top landmarks
•University of Evansville — private university in Evansville, Indiana, United States
•USS LST-325 — 1942 LST-1-class tank landing ship, later converted to a museum ship
•Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden — United States zoo
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 9m. Total distance: 327 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 9m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 308.6 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Hamilton, 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. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 181.3 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hamilton, IN before the return drive.
