Origin
Highland, IN
Morning in Highland on Sunday
Local time
6:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Highland, IN to Indianapolis, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 50m
Distance
69.3 mi
112 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 42m
★
6 AM
1h 50m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 54m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highland, IN
Eclipse Chasers
Trip Overview
This 69.3-mile drive from Highland to Indianapolis, Indiana, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 50 minutes. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $11, it's an economical option for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The route primarily utilizes US 36 and Rockville Road, with some sections on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, offering a 70% highway experience. Given its manageable distance and duration, this trip is well-suited for those looking for a direct connection between two points within the Midwest region without significant detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.7 miles from Highland, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 36 | 48.3 mi | 1h 12m |
| Rockville Road | 15.1 mi | 24m |
| Dwight D Eisenhower Highway | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| South Holt Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Meridian Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South Illinois Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South County Road 360 East | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| West South Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 36
— 48.3 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland, IN and Indianapolis, IN.
1
Start on this road
18 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto East County Road 600 South
88 ft
·
5 sec
·
East County Road 600 South
3
Turn right onto South County Road 360 East
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South County Road 360 East
4
Turn left onto US 36
48 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
US 36
5
Continue on US 36
15 mi
·
24 min
·
Rockville Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto South Holt Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Holt Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 70 East
8
Merge onto I 70
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 79B
Toward Illinois Street, Meridian Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward Illinois Street
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Continue on South Illinois Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
South Illinois Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn right onto West South Street
511 ft
·
25 sec
·
West South Street
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto South Meridian Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Meridian Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto Monument Circle
365 ft
·
42 sec
·
Monument Circle
15
Turn right
76 ft
·
6 sec
16
At end of road, turn right
257 ft
·
28 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 69.3-mile trip, flexibility is key. You can depart at your convenience, but consider leaving early to avoid potential traffic as you get closer to Indianapolis. With an estimated fuel cost of $11 and a duration of under two hours, you won't need extensive planning for fuel or rest stops; however, it's always wise to top off your tank before leaving Highland. The longest stretch without a major change is 48.3 miles on US 36, so plan any brief pauses before or after this segment if you prefer.
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 34.7 miles from Highland, IN, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.3 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 15 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.7 miles or 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 1h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indianapolis, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Highland, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Highland, IN
This is one driving day of about 69.3 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Highland, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 36 for about 48.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.7 miles from Highland, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 64.8 and 68.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
64.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
|
I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
67.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward Illinois Street, Meridian Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 79B
Toward Illinois Street, Meridian Street
8
68 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Illinois Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Illinois Street
6
68.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
West South Street
Turn right onto West South Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
68.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
South Meridian Street
Turn left onto South Meridian Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.83 one way
$21.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.90 | $23.79 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.34 | $26.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.30 | $30.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.28 | $3.33 |
| Efficient EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.06 | $2.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.7 | 0 | $9.70 | $4.44 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Indianapolis, IN
Morning in Indianapolis on Sunday
Local time
6:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Danville, IN
35 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
1 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
1h 50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that is predominantly highway-oriented, with 70% of the route utilizing faster roads. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 48.3 miles on US 36, providing a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. While the profile is 'highway-focused,' be prepared for transitions as you move between the main thoroughfares like US 36 and Rockville Road, and potentially Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. This blend means you'll spend most of your time on efficient routes, but there will be moments of shifting road types as you approach your destination.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.3 mi on US 36.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 36 and Rockville Road. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 64.8 miles in near I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 69.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 64.8 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Indianapolis, IN
Full guide →Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana and also the state’s largest city. Efforts to beautify and modernize the city have brought Indianapolis into the 21st century as a world-class destination for everything from business meetings and trade conventions to backpackers making their way across the States. Indianapolis is widely hailed as the "Racing Capital of the World" because of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500 and Brickyard 400 at the Brickyard, and as the "Amateur Sports Capital of America" for hosting the NCAA Hall of Champions. The city has several attractions outside of sports, including museums, a large zoo, over 100 ethnic restaurants, several arts and historic districts, and a revitalized downtown. Although Indy has been mocked with the epithet "India-noplace", visitors will encounter a mix of a large metropolitan city and a simple Midwestern community.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 69.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.3 miles on US 36. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Indianapolis, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 64.8 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Indianapolis, IN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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