Evansville, IN to Smithville-Sanders, IN is 117.6 miles and takes about 2h 15m via I 69 and East Lloyd Expressway, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Indiana. Expect a straightforward, highway-focused experience for most of the journey, making it a convenient option for a single-day drive. Given the relatively short duration and predictable route, it's a solid choice if you're looking for efficiency and minimal fuss getting from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.8 miles from Evansville, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
104.6 mi
1h 52m
East Lloyd Expressway
4.2 mi
4m
SR 37
2.9 mi
3m
East Smithville Road
1.6 mi
3m
North Burkhardt Road
1.3 mi
2m
South Strain Ridge Road
0.9 mi
2m
Morgan Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
South Garvin Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 104.6 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evansville, IN and Smithville-Sanders, 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
105 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 69
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 114Toward SR 37 South: Bedford
13
Continue on SR 37
2.9 mi·3 min·SR 37
14
Turn left onto East Smithville Road
1.6 mi·3 min·East Smithville Road
15
Turn right onto South Strain Ridge Road
0.9 mi·2 min·South Strain Ridge Road
16
Turn right
0.2 mi·1 min
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over two hours, this route offers plenty of flexibility. You can depart anytime that suits your schedule, but leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight and allow for an early arrival. Since the longest stretch without a major turn is over 100 miles, plan your fuel stops accordingly, though with a $18 estimated fuel cost, it’s unlikely you’ll need to fill up multiple times. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 100-mile mark on I 69, as services might be less frequent in some sections.
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 58.8 miles from Evansville, IN, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.6 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 26 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.8 miles or 1h 6m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smithville-Sanders, 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 117.6 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Evansville, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 69 for about 104.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 111.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Walnut Street
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South Garvin Street
Turn right onto South Garvin Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|John Street
Turn right onto John Street
Navigation decision point
5
111.7 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward SR 37 South: Bedford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 114
Toward SR 37 South: Bedford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.39 one way
$36.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.19
$40.37
premium
$4.89
$22.63
$45.26
diesel
$5.61
$25.96
$51.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.3
0
$12.35
$5.64
Efficient EV
29.4
0
$10.29
$4.70
EV Truck/SUV
47
0
$16.46
$7.53
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 Sunday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 5 to 14 mph88% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Smithville-Sanders, IN
Morning
in Smithville-Sanders on Sunday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
6 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 15m 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...
19 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 52.7
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 28.4
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 drive, with 95% of the journey taking place on major roadways like I 69 and East Lloyd Expressway. You'll experience a nearly uninterrupted stretch of 104.6 miles on I 69, allowing for consistent speed and minimal distractions. The profile is clearly highway-focused, meaning you can anticipate a smooth and direct path for the vast majority of your trip. While SR 37 is part of the mix, the overall character remains that of an efficient interstate transit.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.6 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and East Lloyd Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 15m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Garvin Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 117.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 104.6 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Garvin Street): Navigation decision point.
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 Smithville-Sanders, IN before heading back.
