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Trip from Howard, IN to South Bend, IN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 5m

Distance

168.5 mi

271 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 52m ★
6 AM
4h 5m
8 AM
4h 31m
10 AM
4h 14m
12 PM
4h 12m
3 PM
4h 16m
5 PM
4h 30m
8 PM
3h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Howard, IN, IN

Howard, IN

Max W

city and county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States of America

South Bend, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 168.5-mile journey from Howard, Indiana, to South Bend, Indiana, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 4 hours and 5 minutes. Primarily utilizing SR 25 and US 31, with a segment on Michigan Avenue, this drive offers a highway-focused experience. With a projected fuel cost of around $26, it's an economical trip. The route is well-suited for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You'll be traveling within the Midwest region, experiencing a straightforward drive through Indiana.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

84.2 miles from Howard, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
SR 25 51.5 mi 1h 7m
US 31 43 mi 53m
Michigan Avenue 21.6 mi 31m
County Road 100 East 10.7 mi 15m
I 74 8.8 mi 9m
West State Street 4.7 mi 8m
North State Road 25 4.3 mi 5m
Old US Highway 231 2.7 mi 4m
Longest stretch: SR 25 — 51.5 mi, about 1h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Howard, IN and South Bend, IN.

1

Start on County Road 1025N

421 ft · 23 sec · County Road 1025N
2

Turn left

0.2 mi · 38 sec
3

Continue on County Road 700W

2.5 mi · 9 min · County Road 700W
4

Continue on South 600 West

0.5 mi · 1 min · South 600 West
5

Turn right onto SR 234

4.7 mi · 8 min · West State Street
6

Continue on SR 234

1.1 mi · 2 min · West Main Street
7

Continue on SR 234

1.5 mi · 2 min · County Road 1100 South
8

Turn left onto US 41

11 mi · 15 min · County Road 100 East
9

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 74 East
10

Merge onto I 74

8.8 mi · 9 min · I 74
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Exit 25 Toward SR 25: Waynetown, Wingate
12

Turn left onto SR 25

4.3 mi · 5 min · North State Road 25
13

Continue on SR 25

0.4 mi · 43 sec · Garfield Street
14

At end of road, turn right onto SR 25

117 ft · 8 sec · West Wabash Street
15

Turn left onto SR 25

0.4 mi · 1 min · South Vine Street
16

At end of road, turn left onto SR 25

107 ft · 4 sec · East Bascom Street
17

Turn right onto SR 25

20 mi · 28 min · SR 25
18

Continue on US 52

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 52
Use the left lane.
19

Turn left onto US 52

2.7 mi · 4 min · Old US Highway 231
20

Turn left onto Sagamore Parkway South

1.5 mi · 2 min · Sagamore Parkway South
21

Continue on Sagamore Parkway North

2.1 mi · 3 min · Sagamore Parkway North
22

Turn sharp right onto Schuyler Avenue

1.3 mi · 2 min · Schuyler Avenue
23

Continue on SR 25

0.4 mi · 39 sec · Hoosier Heartland Highway
24

Enter roundabout onto SR 25

9 ft · 0 sec · SR 25
25

Continue on SR 25

31 mi · 39 min · SR 25
26

Turn right onto Old State Road 25

2.7 mi · 4 min · Old State Road 25
27

Continue on South Cicott Street

0.5 mi · 55 sec · South Cicott Street
28

Turn right onto BUS US 24

0.5 mi · 54 sec · West Market Street
29

Turn left onto South 2nd Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · South 2nd Street
30

Turn right onto Eel River Avenue

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Eel River Avenue
31

Continue on High Street

0.3 mi · 34 sec · High Street
32

Turn left onto SR 25

0.1 mi · 27 sec · North 6th Street
33

Turn right onto SR 25

22 mi · 31 min · Michigan Avenue
34

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward South Bend
35

Merge onto US 31

43 mi · 53 min · US 31
36

Enter roundabout onto BUS US 31

128 ft · 6 sec · South Michigan Street
37

Continue on BUS US 31

2.5 mi · 6 min · South Michigan Street
38

Continue on South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

0.7 mi · 2 min · South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
39

Enter roundabout onto SR 933

124 ft · 7 sec · North Michigan Street
40

Continue on SR 933

454 ft · 17 sec · North Michigan Street
41

Turn right onto East Navarre Street

131 ft · 4 sec · East Navarre Street
42

Arrive at destination

East Navarre Street

Trip Plan

Given the manageable 4-hour duration, you can comfortably depart Howard, Indiana, at any time of day and still reach South Bend with ample daylight. The single recommended stop is noted, but with the longest stretch being just over 50 miles, you can easily extend or shorten your breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 51.5-mile segment on SR 25, as services might be more spaced out. This flexibility means you can truly set your own pace for this relatively short trip.

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 84.2 miles from Howard, IN, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.5 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 37 miles or 1h 1m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 84.2 miles or 2h 7m 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 22m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Bend, IN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Howard, 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 Howard, IN

This is one driving day of about 168.5 miles and 4h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Howard, 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 SR 25 for about 51.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in Carroll County, Indiana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Flora, IN

84 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.

Popular next leg

Flora, IN to South Bend, IN

72.2 mi · 1h 36m

Pacing Suggestions

Shadeland, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mulberry, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 84.2 miles from Howard, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · early in the drive

Sonic Drive-In

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lafayette, Indiana

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch · 1h 28m in 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+17654477700

Visit website

The Skillet Restaurant and Catering

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

South Bend, Indiana

1.8 mi

RedSeven Kitchen + Cocktail

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lafayette, Indiana

2.1 mi

Sonic Drive-In

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Lafayette, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+17654477700

Visit website

The Skillet Restaurant and Catering

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

South Bend, Indiana

Hours: 3–7 pm

+15742346069

Visit website

RedSeven Kitchen + Cocktail

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30

Lafayette, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+17657427337

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Rochester, Indiana

+18668167584

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Veedersburg, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Red E Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Rochester, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

InCharge Energy Charging Station

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Rochester, Indiana

+18333994638

Visit website

Unity Gardens Inc.

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

South Bend, Indiana

Hours: 9 am–7 pm

+15742222266

Visit website

Generations Adventureplex

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Mishawaka, Indiana

Hours: 3–9 pm

+15748551095

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 24

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 168.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

6
30.3 mi into trip | ~51m in

Take the exit toward SR 25: Waynetown, Wingate

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 25 Toward SR 25: Waynetown, Wingate
5
100.1 mi into trip | ~2h 29m in | SR 25 / North 6th Street

Turn left onto SR 25 / North 6th Street

Navigation decision point

5
121.9 mi into trip | ~3h 1m in

Take the ramp toward South Bend

Navigation decision point

Toward South Bend
5
168.4 mi into trip | ~4h 5m in | East Navarre Street

Turn right onto East Navarre Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.34 one way

$52.69 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 59 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $28.92 $57.85
premium $4.89 $32.43 $64.85
diesel $5.61 $37.20 $74.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 59 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 50.6 0 $17.69 $8.09
Efficient EV 42.1 0 $14.74 $6.74
EV Truck/SUV 67.4 0 $23.59 $10.78

Gas CO2

59 kg

EV CO2

20 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 21, 2026

Origin

Howard, IN

Late night in Howard on Tuesday

Local time

5:11 AM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South Bend, IN

Late night in South Bend on Tuesday

Local time

5:11 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live 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

4 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

4h 5m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 drive for this route, with 66% of the journey on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 51.5 miles on SR 25, offering a good period of consistent travel. While much of the drive will be on main arteries like SR 25 and US 31, you'll also navigate some local roads, particularly as you approach South Bend. The character is less about winding country lanes and more about efficient movement between points.

66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.5 mi on SR 25.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on SR 25 and US 31. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 5m drive. You will face about 24 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 30.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.1 miles (SR 25 / North 6th Street): Navigation decision point.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Howard, IN and South Bend, IN, road signs point toward Wingate and Bend.

Wingate

30.3 mi in | ~51m

Bend

121.9 mi in | ~3h 1m

About the Cities

Arriving in South Bend, IN

Full guide →

South Bend is in Northern Indiana. The city's name is drawn from the fact that it's situated on the southernmost bend in the St. Joseph River. Together with neighboring Mishawaka they form a continuous urban area of about 325,000 (2020). South Bend is the home of the University of Notre Dame, but is also the former home of many large companies such as Studebaker, Oliver Chilled Plow, and Singer. The area is now home to Crowe-Chizek, AM General (which makes military vehicles.), Bosch, Honeywell, and Woodwind & Brasswind. The city hopes to grow with the undertaking of a new nano-technology campus near the city, which has already brought new contracts for factories and businesses around the city of Southbend.

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 4h 5m. Total distance: 168.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (66%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 51.5 miles on SR 25. 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.

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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 30.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.1 miles (SR 25 / North 6th Street): Navigation decision point.

Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at South Bend, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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