Greenwood, IN to Wakarusa, IN is 155.4 miles and takes about 3h 25m via North Meridian Street and I-69, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Indiana, making it a straightforward drive. Expect a route that primarily uses surface roads for much of the way, offering a more grounded perspective of the landscape. It's a solid choice for a single-day excursion, offering a manageable distance and duration.
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
77.7 miles from Greenwood, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Meridian Street
105 mi
2h 10m
I 69
14 mi
16m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
10.6 mi
14m
Keystone Parkway
5 mi
7m
South Emerson Avenue
4.5 mi
7m
I 465
2.9 mi
3m
Plymouth Goshen Trail
2.4 mi
4m
County Road 3
2.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
North Meridian Street
— 105 mi, about 2h 10m
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 Greenwood, IN and Wakarusa, IN.
1
Start on Main Street West
95 ft·7 sec·Main Street West
2
Turn left onto South Meridian Street
1.5 mi·2 min·South Meridian Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto East County Line Road South
1.3 mi·1 min·East County Line Road South
4
Turn left onto South Emerson Avenue
4.5 mi·7 min·South Emerson Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
6
Merge onto I 69; I 74; I 465
2.3 mi·2 min·I 69; I 74; I 465
7
Continue on I 69; I 465
12 mi·13 min·I 69; I 465
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 465
0.3 mi·19 sec·I 465
9
Continue on I-465 WB
0.8 mi·56 sec·I-465 WB
10
Continue on I 465
2.6 mi·3 min·I 465
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 33Toward Keystone AvenueUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn right
172 ft·6 sec
Toward North Keystone Parkway, West 96th Street, West 98th Street, East 96th StreetUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto North Keystone Avenue
0.3 mi·44 sec·North Keystone Avenue
Use the right lane.
14
Enter roundabout
113 ft·6 sec
Toward North Keystone Parkway, East 98th Street
15
Continue
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward North Keystone Parkway, East 98th Street
16
Keep slight left at fork
436 ft·11 sec
Toward Keystone Parkway
17
Merge onto Keystone Parkway
5.0 mi·7 min·Keystone Parkway
18
Merge onto US 31
105 mi·2 hr 10 min·North Meridian Street
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 6: Walkerton, Bremen
20
Turn right onto US 6
11 mi·14 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
21
Turn left onto Plymouth Goshen Trail
2.4 mi·4 min·Plymouth Goshen Trail
22
Continue on CR 146
2.3 mi·3 min·County Road 146
23
At end of road, turn right onto CR 46
0.2 mi·41 sec·County Road 46
24
Turn left onto CR 3
1.9 mi·4 min·County Road 3
25
At end of road, turn right onto CR 42
195 ft·13 sec·County Road 42
26
Turn left onto CR 3
0.4 mi·1 min·County Road 3
27
Continue on CR 3
0.6 mi·1 min·South Elkhart Street
28
Turn right onto CR 40
41 ft·0 sec·East Waterford Street
29
Arrive at destination
CR 40
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 25m estimated drive time, leaving Greenwood in the morning should allow you to reach Wakarusa with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $24, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Take advantage of the flexibility this shorter drive offers to make spontaneous stops if you see something interesting along North Meridian Street. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a significant road change is over 100 miles.
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 77.7 miles from Greenwood, IN, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 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 34 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.7 miles or 1h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wakarusa, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Greenwood, 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 Greenwood, IN
This is one driving day of about 155.4 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Greenwood, 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 North Meridian Street for about 105 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 25.6 and 26.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
25.6 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the exit toward Keystone Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 33
Toward Keystone Avenue
7
26 mi into trip|~34m in
Turn right toward North Keystone Parkway, West 96th Street, West 98th Street, East 96th Street
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward North Keystone Parkway, West 96th Street...
7
26 mi into trip|~34m in|North Keystone Avenue
Merge onto North Keystone Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
26.3 mi into trip|~35m in
Enter roundabout toward North Keystone Parkway, East 98th Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward North Keystone Parkway, East 98th Street
6
26.5 mi into trip|~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Keystone Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Keystone Parkway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.09 one way
$48.19 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$26.42
$52.84
premium
$4.93
$30.15
$60.30
diesel
$5.60
$34.26
$68.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
EV Charging Along Route
29 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Indianapolis, IN - East 86th Street - Tesla Supercharger
Indianapolis, IN
Tesla
16 DCFC
Menards Greenwood 3169 (Greenwood, IN)
Greenwood, IN
Electrify America
12 DCFC
Indianapolis, IN - East Southport Road - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.6
0
$16.32
$7.46
Efficient EV
38.9
0
$13.60
$6.22
EV Truck/SUV
62.2
0
$21.76
$9.95
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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 Aug 7, 2026
Origin
Greenwood, IN
Late night
in Greenwood on Sunday
Local time
12:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 3 mph31% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Wakarusa, IN
Late night
in Wakarusa on Sunday
Local time
12:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
S 5 mph16% chanceLive 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
3 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
3h 25m 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 drive is mostly surface roads, with only about 15% of the total distance on highways. You'll experience a 105-mile stretch on North Meridian Street before transitioning to other roads. Be prepared for frequent intersections and changes in speed limits as you navigate through towns and rural areas. The majority of your time will be spent on surface streets rather than high-speed interstates.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105 mi on North Meridian Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 25.6 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 155.4 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 25.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26 miles (North Keystone Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
907 ft729 ft
Total Climb
290 ft
Total Descent
250 ft
Highest Point
907 ft
~44.4 mi in
Elevation Range
178 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Greenwood, IN to Wakarusa, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Bremen along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 25m. Total distance: 155.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105 miles on North Meridian Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Wakarusa, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 25.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26 miles (North Keystone Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Wakarusa, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
