Fairmount, IN to Evansville, IN is 230.4 miles and takes about 4h 26m via I 69 and SR 37, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Indiana, traversing the Midwest from a more northern starting point to a southern destination. The majority of the drive is on major highways, making it a straightforward trip. You'll likely find it a practical option for moving between these two cities without much fuss.
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
115.2 miles from Fairmount, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
178.6 mi
3h 17m
Strawtown Pike
25.9 mi
30m
SR 37
12.9 mi
17m
East Lloyd Expressway
3.9 mi
4m
West County Road 900 South
3.4 mi
4m
North Burkhardt Road
2.5 mi
4m
East 950 S
0.7 mi
1m
East Walnut Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 178.6 mi, about 3h 17m
Traffic on I-465
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 80 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,714 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~472 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 48 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 Fairmount, IN and Evansville, IN.
1
Start on South Main Street
114 ft·12 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn left onto West Washington Street
0.4 mi·1 min·West Washington Street
3
Continue on East 950 S
0.7 mi·1 min·East 950 S
4
Turn right onto SR 9
0.5 mi·49 sec·South East 00 West
5
Turn left onto SR 26
3.4 mi·4 min·West County Road 900 South
6
Turn left onto SR 37
26 mi·30 min·Strawtown Pike
7
Enter roundabout onto SR 37
105 ft·1 sec·SR 37
8
Continue on SR 37
13 mi·17 min·SR 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 69
3.1 mi·3 min·I 69
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
1.0 mi·1 min·I 69
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 69
22 mi·25 min·I 69
Exit 200Toward I 465 South, I 69 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
48 mi·54 min·I 69
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
104 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 69
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·39 sec
Exit 10Toward Lynch Road
15
Turn slight right
153 ft·4 sec
16
Turn straight onto Lynch Road
498 ft·15 sec·Lynch Road
17
Turn left onto North Burkhardt Road
2.5 mi·4 min·North Burkhardt Road
18
Turn right onto SR 66
3.9 mi·4 min·East Lloyd Expressway
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward US 41 South
20
Merge onto US 41; SR 66
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 41; SR 66
21
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Walnut Street
22
Turn right
332 ft·25 sec
23
At end of road, turn right
123 ft·9 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 26m estimated drive time, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to leave in the morning to give yourself plenty of daylight and flexibility. With only one recommended stop, you can plan for a brief break or power through if you prefer. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the long 178.6-mile stretch on I 69, as services can be spaced out. The fuel cost is estimated at $41, so factor that into your budget.
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 115.2 miles from Fairmount, IN, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 178.6 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 51 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.2 miles or 2h 17m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evansville, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairmount, 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 Fairmount, IN
This is one driving day of about 230.4 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Fairmount, 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 178.6 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 46.8 and 222.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
46.8 mi into trip|~59m in|I 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
47.8 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|I 69
Continue onto I 69 toward I 465 South, I 69 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 200
Toward I 465 South, I 69 South
8
69.6 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|I 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 South: Evansville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
5
118.1 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|I 69
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 South: Evansville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
5
222.3 mi into trip|~4h 13m in
Take the exit toward Lynch Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 10
Toward Lynch Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.29 one way
$62.59 round trip
$3.45/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.85
$34.92
$69.85
premium
$4.15
$37.64
$75.29
diesel
$3.75
$34.02
$68.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.6 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.1
0
$24.19
$11.06
Efficient EV
57.6
0
$20.16
$9.22
EV Truck/SUV
92.2
1
$32.26
$14.75
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Fairmount, IN
Late night
in Fairmount on Monday
Local time
4:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Evansville, IN
Late night
in Evansville on Monday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
ESE 1 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 4:25AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 2:57AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH
72°F
Beech Grove, IN
115 mi 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 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
4h 26m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 182.7
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 206.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 85% of the 230.4 miles on high-speed roads. You'll have a solid stretch of 178.6 miles on I 69 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to see a lot of exits and merging traffic during the highway portions, typical for interstates of this length. The final leg will involve Strawtown Pike and SR 37, offering a change of pace from the interstate cruising.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 178.6 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and Strawtown Pike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 46.8 miles in near I 69.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 230.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 46.8 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.8 miles (I 69): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.6 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 26m. Total distance: 230.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 178.6 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Evansville, 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 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 46.8 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.8 miles (I 69): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.6 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Evansville, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
