Connecting Evansville to Madison, this 158.8-mile journey across Indiana takes approximately 3 hours and 11 minutes of driving time. Because the route is compact, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $24 on fuel for the trek, making it an affordable excursion within the Midwest. Navigating primarily via I-64, I-69, and SR 62, the trip offers a reliable path between these two Indiana cities. It is a practical choice if you are looking for an efficient transit option that keeps you mostly on major thoroughfares. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, the predictable nature of this drive makes it easy to fit into a single day's schedule.
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
79.4 miles from Evansville, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
91.7 mi
1h 39m
SR 62
29.8 mi
42m
I 69
11.3 mi
12m
SR 56
9 mi
13m
I 265
6.4 mi
7m
East Lloyd Expressway
4.2 mi
4m
SR 265
2.8 mi
3m
North Burkhardt Road
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 91.7 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evansville, IN and Madison, 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
11 mi·12 min·I 69
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·58 sec
Exit 21AToward I 64 East: Louisville
13
Merge onto I 64
92 mi·1 hr 39 min·I 64
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 265; SR 62
6.4 mi·7 min·I 265; SR 62
Exit 121Toward I 265 East, SR 62 East
15
Continue on SR 265; SR 62
2.8 mi·3 min·SR 265; SR 62
16
Take the exit onto SR 62
0.3 mi·25 sec·SR 62
Exit 10Toward SR 62: Jeffersonville, Charlestown
17
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 62
323 ft·6 sec·SR 62
18
Turn slight right onto SR 62
29 mi·42 min·SR 62
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on SR 56; SR 62
9.0 mi·13 min·SR 56; SR 62
20
Turn right onto West Street
184 ft·9 sec·West Street
21
Turn left
71 ft·5 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since the total duration is just over three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your own preference. You will likely only need one dedicated stop to stretch your legs or grab a snack, keeping the trip efficient from start to finish. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge when transitioning off the main interstate corridors, as gas prices and station availability can fluctuate once you move onto SR 62. To make the most of your travel, aim to head out mid-morning to avoid the heaviest regional traffic near the start of your journey. Because this is a relatively short haul, you can easily manage the entire distance in one go, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy your arrival in Madison.
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 79.4 miles from Evansville, IN, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.7 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 35 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.4 miles or 1h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Madison, 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 158.8 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 64 for about 91.7 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 119.9 — 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
18.4 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward I 64 East: Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 21A
Toward I 64 East: Louisville
7
110.7 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|I 265; SR 62
Keep slight left at fork onto I 265; SR 62 toward I 265 East, SR 62 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 121
Toward I 265 East, SR 62 East
6
119.9 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|SR 62
Take the exit onto SR 62 toward SR 62: Jeffersonville, Charlestown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 10
Toward SR 62: Jeffersonville, Charlestown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.83 one way
$49.65 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.26
$54.52
premium
$4.89
$30.56
$61.12
diesel
$5.61
$35.06
$70.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.6
0
$16.67
$7.62
Efficient EV
39.7
0
$13.90
$6.35
EV Truck/SUV
63.5
0
$22.23
$10.16
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Evansville, IN
Late night
in Evansville on Tuesday
Local time
3:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 9 to 14 mph76% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Madison, IN
Late night
in Madison on Tuesday
Local time
4:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
3h 11m 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.
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 43.8
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 experience, as 98% of this route consists of high-speed road travel. You will spend a significant portion of your time on I-64, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 91.7 miles. The transition between these major interstates and the state roads keeps the drive moving quickly, though the character of the road shifts as you navigate from the wider interstate lanes to the more localized SR 62. Behind the wheel, you will find a consistent, efficient pace that favors steady cruising over technical maneuvering. While the drive is dominated by highway miles, the varied infrastructure ensures you remain engaged as you cross the regional landscape.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.7 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and SR 62. You will hit about 17 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 158.8 miles you will encounter 17 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 18.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Evansville, IN to Madison, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Charlestown along the way.
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.
Madison is a city along the Ohio River in Southern Indiana. Madison is surrounded by scenic limestone bluffs. The hills are tree-covered and the farmlands are fertile. Many of the grand homes and historic commercial buildings are still in use. The past co-exists with the present in perfect harmony.
Jefferson County is home to one of Indiana’s most beautiful state parks, Clifty Falls. This lush 1200-acre park offers scenic vista, four waterfalls and many hiking trails. Southern Indiana is also a nationally recognized wine region and three award-winning wineries are located within Jefferson County. Madison is also known as an antique mecca in the Midwest. Numerous specialty shops, unique restaurants and quaint B&Bs complement the historic downtown.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 158.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 91.7 miles on I 64. 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 Madison, 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 18.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Madison, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
