Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
Near the start, short detour
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+12604891855
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 58m
Distance
206.8 mi
333 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Wayne, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Shawswick, IN
Max W
Fort Wayne to Shawswick is 206.8 miles and takes about 3h 58m via I 69 and SR 37, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Indiana, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward trip that mostly uses major highways, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points. Plan for a relatively quick travel time, making it ideal for a single-day excursion.
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
103.4 miles from Fort Wayne, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 69 | 180.3 mi | 3h 19m |
| SR 37 | 18.1 mi | 23m |
| Heltonville Road West | 4 mi | 6m |
| 5th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| East Washington Center Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Dartmouth Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Lima Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| SR 58 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 136 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,672 veh/hr typical · worst 3,174
Quietest
2 AM
~208 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Wayne, IN and Shawswick, IN.
Start on Dartmouth Drive
Turn left onto East Washington Center Road
Turn left onto SR 3
Take the exit
Merge onto I 69; US 24; US 30
Continue on I 69; US 33
Continue on I 69; SR 9; SR 67
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
Continue on I 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 37
Turn left onto SR 58
Continue on SR 58
Arrive at destination
Given the 3h 58m estimated drive time, leaving Fort Wayne in the morning allows ample time to reach Shawswick well before evening. Since this is a relatively short, single-day trip, you have flexibility with your departure time. The longest stretch on I 69 is 180.3 miles, so consider a fuel stop before you hit that segment, as it's a significant portion of the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you get closer to Shawswick, as there's only one planned stop indicated.
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.
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 45 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.4 miles or 1h 53m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shawswick, IN than in the middle of the route.
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 206.8 miles and 3h 58m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 103.4 miles from Fort Wayne, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 69 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 180.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Near the start, short detour
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+12604891855
Mama Duck's Kitchen
Van Buren, Indiana
Food Court
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Best coffee break
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Near the start, right off the route
Hours: 9:30 am–6 pm
+12604982988
A Divine Encounter Café
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Loving Cafe
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Near the start, short detour
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+12604891855
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Van Buren, Indiana
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+17656181326
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
Near the end, short detour
Bloomington, Indiana
Hours: 5 am–3 pm
+18123341077
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Indianapolis, Indiana
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+13178971042
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Anderson, Indiana
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+17656426424
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Indianapolis, Indiana
+13177449622
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Indianapolis, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+13174059395
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Hours: 9:30 am–6 pm
+12604982988
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Hours: 8 am–2 pm
+12604832233
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–7 pm
+12604898686
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm
+12603730505
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+18887627837
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Hours: 6:30 am–5:30 pm
+12602409911
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Hours: 7 am–6 pm
+12602034103
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Markle, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+12607589011
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Bloomington, Indiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Fort Wayne, Indiana
+18333994638
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Bloomington, Indiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Bloomington, Indiana
+18665212658
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Bloomington, Indiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 182.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Merge onto I 69; US 24; US 30
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 South: Evansville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 37 toward SR 37 South: Bedford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$32.06 one way
$64.12 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $35.16 | $70.31 |
| premium | $4.93 | $40.12 | $80.24 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $45.59 | $91.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62 | 0 | $21.71 | $9.93 |
| Efficient EV | 51.7 | 0 | $18.10 | $8.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.7 | 1 | $28.95 | $13.24 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Fort Wayne on Friday
Local time
5:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Shawswick on Friday
Local time
5:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
90°F
Beech Grove, IN
103 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
You'll spend about 96% of this 206.8-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on I 69 covers 180.3 miles, meaning you'll be on high-speed, limited-access roads for the vast majority of your trip. Expect to transition to surface roads, like Heltonville Road West, as you approach your destination. The initial miles on I 69 will likely feature a higher density of exits and traffic merging.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and SR 37. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.
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 206.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 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 (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
384 ft
Total Descent
604 ft
Highest Point
915 ft
~73.9 mi in
Elevation Range
328 ft
“City Of Churches” · Founded 1794
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.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 58m. Total distance: 206.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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