This 204.5-mile drive from Evansville, IN to Knightstown, IN is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 50 minutes. The majority of your journey, 84% of it, will be spent on highways, primarily utilizing I-69 and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. With an estimated fuel cost of $32, this route through the Midwest offers a straightforward travel experience. It's a practical option for a single day of driving, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
102.2 miles from Evansville, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
167.3 mi
3h 3m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
25.1 mi
27m
East Lloyd Expressway
4.2 mi
4m
McCullum
3.1 mi
4m
North Burkhardt Road
1.3 mi
2m
Morgan Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
North McCullum Street
0.5 mi
<1m
West Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 167.3 mi, about 3h 3m
Traffic on I-465
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 33 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,704 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~471 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 47 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 Knightstown, 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
4.9 mi·5 min·I 69; I 465
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 44BToward I 70 East: DaytonUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 70
25 mi·27 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Exit 115Toward SR 109: Wilkinson, Knightstown
16
Turn right onto SR 109
3.1 mi·4 min·McCullum
17
Continue on SR 109
0.5 mi·48 sec·North McCullum Street
18
Turn left onto US 40
0.3 mi·35 sec·West Main Street
19
Turn left onto Jefferson Street
72 ft·3 sec·Jefferson Street
20
Arrive at destination
Jefferson Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 50-minute duration, this route is comfortably a day trip from Evansville to Knightstown. Aim to depart in the morning to make the most of your day, keeping in mind the $32 fuel cost. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 167.3 miles on I-69, plan your breaks strategically. Consider stopping around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel if necessary. You'll spend most of your time on I-69, so ensure your vehicle is in good condition for steady highway driving.
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 102.2 miles from Evansville, IN, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 167.3 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 45 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.2 miles or 1h 55m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Knightstown, 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 204.5 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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 167.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 200.2 — 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.
7
174.3 mi into trip|~3h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East: Dayton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44B
Toward I 70 East: Dayton
6
200.2 mi into trip|~3h 43m in
Take the exit toward SR 109: Wilkinson, Knightstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 115
Toward SR 109: Wilkinson, Knightstown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.00 one way
$68.00 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$37.04
$74.07
premium
$5.18
$41.73
$83.46
diesel
$5.35
$43.07
$86.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.4
0
$21.47
$9.82
Efficient EV
51.1
0
$17.89
$8.18
EV Truck/SUV
81.8
1
$28.63
$13.09
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 May 28, 2026
Origin
Evansville, IN
Afternoon
in Evansville on Wednesday
Local time
4:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
N 2 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 27 at 6:58PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 27 at 7:48PM EDT until May 28 at 8:30AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Knightstown, IN
Evening
in Knightstown on Wednesday
Local time
5:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Clear then Areas Of Fog
NE 0 to 3 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 27 at 6:58PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 27 at 7:48PM EDT until May 28 at 8:30AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
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
7 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
3h 50m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 49.4
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 28.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this 204.5-mile journey. You'll be on major roads like I-69 for the most part, making up 84% of the route. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 167.3 miles on I-69, so be prepared for extended periods of highway travel. While primarily interstate, the route does include segments on East Lloyd Expressway, offering a slight variation before you settle into the main highway for the bulk of your trip.
84% 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: 167.3 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Walnut Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 50m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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.
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
•Masonic Temple — Masonic temple in Evansville, Indiana, USA
The longest stretch is about 167.3 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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.
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 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Knightstown, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
