Origin
Hope, IN
Morning in Hope on Sunday
Local time
11:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hope, 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 1m
Distance
44.1 mi
71 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hope, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 44.1-mile drive from Hope, Indiana, to Indianapolis, Indiana, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 1 minute, making it an excellent candidate for a day trip. With a modest fuel cost of around $7, it’s an economical option for getting to the state capital. The route is primarily focused on highway travel, offering a direct path through the heart of the Midwest. You won't need to worry about overnight stays for this short journey; instead, you can enjoy the flexibility of a quick trip. The overall feel is practical and efficient, designed to get you from point A to point B without unnecessary detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 74 | 18.6 mi | 19m |
| SR 9 | 15.7 mi | 23m |
| Southeastern Avenue | 5 mi | 7m |
| North Riley Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| East Washington Street | 1 mi | 3m |
| North Harrison Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Illinois Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 18.6 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hope, IN and Indianapolis, IN.
1
Start on Jackson Street
36 ft
·
3 sec
·
Jackson Street
2
Turn right onto SR 9
16 mi
·
23 min
·
SR 9
3
Enter roundabout onto SR 9
400 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Harrison Street
4
Continue on SR 9
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Harrison Street
5
Continue on North Riley Highway
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
North Riley Highway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto North Riley Highway
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
North Riley Highway
7
Turn slight right onto SR 9
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Riley Highway
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
9
Merge onto I 74; US 421
19 mi
·
19 min
·
I 74; US 421
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on this road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 94
Toward Southeastern Avenue
11
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Southeastern Avenue
12
Enter roundabout onto Southeastern Avenue
106 ft
·
5 sec
·
Southeastern Avenue
13
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeastern Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto East Washington Street
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East Washington Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
15
Turn right onto North Illinois Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Illinois Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto West Market Street
351 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Market Street
17
At end of road, turn right
257 ft
·
28 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.1 miles from Hope, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 17.8 and 44 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
17.8 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the ramp toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
5
18 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
I 74; US 421
Merge onto I 74; US 421
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
42.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
43.9 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
North Illinois Street
Turn right onto North Illinois Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
44 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
West Market Street
Turn right onto West Market Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.89 one way
$13.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.57 | $15.14 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.49 | $16.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.74 | $19.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.63 | $2.12 |
| Efficient EV | 11 | 0 | $3.86 | $1.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.17 | $2.82 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
11:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Shelbyville, IN
22 mi in
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
20 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
1h 1m 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 highway-focused experience on this 44.1-mile journey, with 78% of the drive taking place on major roads like I-74 and SR 9. You'll encounter an uninterrupted stretch of 18.6 miles on I-74, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. Southeastern Avenue will guide you into Indianapolis, marking a transition from open highway to more urban driving conditions. While not a scenic tour, the road provides a consistent and predictable driving environment, perfect for those who prefer efficiency over winding backroads.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.6 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and SR 9. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 44.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 17.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18 miles (I 74; US 421): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.9 miles (East Washington Street): 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 1m. Total distance: 44.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.6 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 17.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18 miles (I 74; US 421): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.9 miles (East Washington Street): 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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