Fairfield to Greenwood is 77.5 miles and takes about 2 hours 6 minutes via East 1st Street, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily sticks to local roads, traversing the Midwest region within Indiana. Expect a journey with frequent turns rather than long stretches of highway, making it a more engaging, though potentially slower, trip. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for a relaxed pace without the need for an overnight stay. Budgeting around $12 for fuel makes this an economical option for a short hop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.7 miles from Fairfield, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East 1st Street
16.8 mi
25m
West 3rd Street
16.4 mi
24m
West Union Street
11.5 mi
17m
Indiana Highway 101
6.4 mi
11m
I 74
6 mi
6m
West 400 N
4.5 mi
7m
East 700 N
3.5 mi
6m
East Worthsville Road
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
East 1st Street
— 16.8 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, IN and Greenwood, IN.
1
Start on this road
2.5 mi·9 min·this road
2
Turn left onto SR 101
6.4 mi·11 min·Indiana Highway 101
3
Continue on SR 101
0.4 mi·45 sec·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto SR 44
12 mi·17 min·West Union Street
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto SR 44
0.2 mi·16 sec·North Eastern Avenue
6
Turn right onto SR 44
16 mi·24 min·West 3rd Street
7
Turn left onto SR 44 Truck
226 ft·5 sec·North Perkins Street
8
Turn right onto SR 44 Truck
17 mi·25 min·East 1st Street
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
10
Merge onto I 74; US 421
6.0 mi·6 min·I 74; US 421
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 109Toward Fairland Road
12
Turn left onto W 400 N
1.9 mi·3 min·W 400 N
13
Continue on East Carey Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Carey Street
14
Continue on West 400 N
4.5 mi·7 min·West 400 N
15
Continue on East 700 N
3.5 mi·6 min·East 700 N
16
Turn right onto South Franklin Road
0.2 mi·27 sec·South Franklin Road
17
Turn left onto East Worthsville Road
2.3 mi·4 min·East Worthsville Road
18
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 65 North: Indianapolis
19
Merge onto I 65
1.1 mi·1 min·I 65
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 99Toward Main Street
21
Turn left onto East Main Street
1.8 mi·3 min·East Main Street
Use the straight lane.
22
Arrive at destination
Main Street West
Trip Plan
Since this is a shorter, single-day drive of just over 2 hours, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Greenwood with daylight to spare, and you can easily complete the journey without needing to factor in extensive stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $12 budget is an estimate and local roads can sometimes consume more fuel due to frequent stops and starts. A good tip for this route is to familiarize yourself with the main roads like East 1st Street and West Union Street beforehand, as the 'turn-heavy' nature means paying close attention to navigation is key to a smooth arrival.
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 38.7 miles from Fairfield, IN, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.8 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 17 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.7 miles or 1h 5m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greenwood, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairfield, 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 Fairfield, IN
This is one driving day of about 77.5 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Fairfield, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East 1st Street for about 16.8 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 9.3 and 75.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.3 mi into trip|~21m in|SR 44 / West Union Street
Turn left onto SR 44 / West Union Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
54.2 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the ramp toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
5
60.4 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward Fairland Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 109
Toward Fairland Road
5
75.3 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 99
Toward Main Street
6
75.6 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|East Main Street
Turn left onto East Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.12 one way
$24.23 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.30
$26.61
premium
$4.89
$14.91
$29.83
diesel
$5.61
$17.11
$34.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.3
0
$8.14
$3.72
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.78
$3.10
EV Truck/SUV
31
0
$10.85
$4.96
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Fairfield, IN
Late night
in Fairfield on Sunday
Local time
5:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Patchy Frost
NW 2 to 6 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Greenwood, IN
Late night
in Greenwood on Sunday
Local time
5:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
39 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 6m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 18% of the route utilizing highways. You'll navigate through Fairfield and Greenwood using main roads such as East 1st Street, West 3rd Street, and West Union Street. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 16.8 miles on East 1st Street, meaning you'll be making frequent adjustments to your steering and speed. This road personality suggests a need for active driving, as you'll be constantly reacting to local traffic patterns and intersections rather than settling into a steady highway cruise.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East 1st Street is the longest continuous segment at about 16.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 9.3 miles in near SR 44 / West Union Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 77.5 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 9.3 miles (SR 44 / West Union Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 54.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 77.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (18%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Fairfield, IN to Greenwood, IN covers 77.5 miles and takes about 2h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 1st Street, West 3rd Street, West Union Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.7 miles from Fairfield, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.12 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.3 miles (SR 44 / West Union Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 54.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Fairfield, IN to Greenwood, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
