Connecting Fort Wayne to the vibrant neighborhood of Broad Ripple, this 118.5-mile journey is a straightforward trek across the Indiana landscape. You can expect to spend approximately 2 hours and 16 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of about $18, the trip is quite economical for a solo traveler or a small group. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. It is a practical, efficient route that gets you from the heart of Fort Wayne to the northern side of Indianapolis with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.2 miles from Fort Wayne, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
109.4 mi
1h 58m
Binford Boulevard
3.5 mi
5m
East 62nd Street
2 mi
5m
East Washington Center Road
1.6 mi
2m
Broad Ripple Avenue
1 mi
2m
Winthrop Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Dartmouth Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Lima Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 109.4 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Wayne, IN and Broad Ripple, IN.
1
Start on Dartmouth Drive
0.2 mi·45 sec·Dartmouth Drive
2
Turn left onto East Washington Center Road
1.6 mi·2 min·East Washington Center Road
3
Turn left onto SR 3
378 ft·14 sec·Lima Road
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 69 South, US 24 West, US 30 West: Indianapolis
5
Merge onto I 69; US 24; US 30
8.4 mi·9 min·I 69; US 24; US 30
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on I 69; US 33
76 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 69; US 33
7
Continue on I 69; SR 9; SR 67
24 mi·26 min·I 69; SR 9; SR 67
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·13 sec
9
Merge onto I 69
0.3 mi·23 sec·I 69
10
Continue on Binford Boulevard
3.5 mi·5 min·Binford Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto East 62nd Street
2.0 mi·5 min·East 62nd Street
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on Broad Ripple Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·Broad Ripple Avenue
13
Turn left onto Winthrop Avenue
0.2 mi·48 sec·Winthrop Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
Winthrop Avenue
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule without worrying about mid-trip fatigue. You should aim to complete the drive in one sitting, as there are no mandatory stops required to reach your destination within the 2-hour and 16-minute window. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Fort Wayne to ensure you stay within your $18 budget, as prices can fluctuate once you approach the Indianapolis metro area. A helpful tip for this specific route is to prepare for the transition from the high-speed flow of I-69 to the increased traffic signals on Binford Boulevard. Staying alert during this final transition will ensure a smooth arrival in Broad Ripple.
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 59.2 miles from Fort Wayne, IN, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.4 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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.2 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Broad Ripple, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Wayne, 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 Fort Wayne, IN
This is one driving day of about 118.5 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Fort Wayne, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 69 for about 109.4 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 118.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward I 69 South, US 24 West, US 30 West: Indianapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 69 South, US 24 West, US 30 West: Indi...
5
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in|I 69; US 24; US 30
Merge onto I 69; US 24; US 30
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
111.2 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
115.2 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|East 62nd Street
Turn right onto East 62nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
118.3 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|Winthrop Avenue
Turn left onto Winthrop Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.53 one way
$37.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.34
$40.68
premium
$4.89
$22.80
$45.61
diesel
$5.61
$26.16
$52.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.5 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
35.6
0
$12.44
$5.69
Efficient EV
29.6
0
$10.37
$4.74
EV Truck/SUV
47.4
0
$16.59
$7.58
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 16, 2026
Origin
Fort Wayne, IN
Late night
in Fort Wayne on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Broad Ripple, IN
Late night
in Broad Ripple on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Daleville, IN
59 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 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 16m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 route is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of your travel taking place on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-69, which accounts for a 109.4-mile stretch of the trip, offering a consistent and predictable pace. As you transition off the interstate, the final leg of the journey utilizes Binford Boulevard and East 62nd Street to guide you into Broad Ripple. While it serves as a reliable interstate grind, the shift from high-speed highway lanes to local roads provides a clear signal that you are nearing your destination. Expect a steady, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding backroads.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.4 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and Binford Boulevard. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.
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 16m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (I 69; US 24; US 30): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Fort Wayne is a city in the northeastern part of Indiana, a state of the United States of America. It is 30 minutes from the western Ohio border and 70 minutes from the southern border of Michigan. With a population of around 260,000 in the city and 615,000 in the metropolitan area, it's Indiana's second largest city.
Fort Wayne is a metropolitan city with a small community feel. It provides the rush of urban activity while never losing an intimate personal connection with those who live or visit here. Fort Wayne is the second largest city in the state of Indiana, located in Allen County, the largest county in the state by geography. It is the regional commerce and industry center for Northeast Indiana and also impacts the economies of Southwestern Michigan and Western Ohio. Fort Wayne has been and is a breeding ground for entrepreneurs and high tech industries.
The longest stretch is about 109.4 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: at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (I 69; US 24; US 30): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Broad Ripple, IN before heading back.
