If you are planning a journey from Indiana to Guthrie Center, Iowa, expect a modest 107.9-mile trip through the heart of the Midwest. With a driving time of approximately 2 hours and 11 minutes, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You will navigate via a combination of County Highway G76, Highway 5, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. Budgeting around $16 for fuel should cover your transit comfortably. Given the straightforward nature of the distance, you have the flexibility to make this a quick morning departure or a relaxed afternoon drive depending on your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.9 miles from Indiana, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
36.1 mi
38m
State Highway 5
19.2 mi
22m
IA 5
17 mi
21m
State Highway 25
13.3 mi
19m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
12.3 mi
14m
I 35
4.3 mi
5m
County Highway G76
2 mi
3m
Pecan Avenue
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 36.1 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indiana, IA and Guthrie Center, IA.
1
Start on CR G76
1.9 mi·3 min·County Highway G76
2
Continue on CR G76
0.2 mi·26 sec·County Highway G76
3
Turn sharp left onto IA 5
6.1 mi·9 min·IA 5
4
Take the ramp onto IA 5
11 mi·12 min·IA 5
5
Turn right
0.1 mi·7 sec
6
Continue on IA 5
19 mi·22 min·State Highway 5
7
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
12 mi·14 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
9
Merge onto I 35
4.3 mi·5 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 J
0.5 mi·1 min·Ramp 72 J
Exit 72BToward I 80 west: Council BluffsUse the straight / right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 235
0.5 mi·40 sec·John MacVicar Freeway
12
Merge onto I 80
36 mi·38 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward IA 25: Guthrie Center, Greenfield
14
Turn right onto IA 25
0.5 mi·40 sec·State Highway 25
15
Continue on IA 25
1.0 mi·1 min·Pecan Avenue
16
Turn left onto IA 25
1.9 mi·2 min·State Highway 25
17
Continue on IA 25
11 mi·16 min·State Highway 25
18
Continue on IA 25
0.3 mi·35 sec·South 5th Street
19
Turn left onto IA 44
249 ft·4 sec·State Street
20
Arrive at destination
IA 44
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the advantage of total flexibility in your departure time. Aim to hit the road when local traffic is light to ensure the most consistent pace, especially since the route consists entirely of turn-heavy local roads. With no formal stops planned, make sure to fuel up before you leave; your $16 estimate is based on the full distance, so keep an eye on your tank before departing Indiana. Because the entire trip takes just over two hours, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to build in rest intervals. Stay mindful of the frequent turns throughout the journey to keep your navigation smooth and stress-free.
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 53.9 miles from Indiana, IA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.1 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 24 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.9 miles or 1h 6m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Guthrie Center, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Indiana, IA 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 Indiana, IA
This is one driving day of about 107.9 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Indiana, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 36.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 55.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2 mi into trip|~3m in|IA 5
Turn sharp left onto IA 5
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
38.4 mi into trip|~47m in|US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
50.7 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
5
51.6 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
55.9 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|Ramp 72 J
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 J toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 72B
Toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.87 one way
$33.74 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.52
$37.04
premium
$4.89
$20.76
$41.53
diesel
$5.61
$23.82
$47.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.4
0
$11.33
$5.18
Efficient EV
27
0
$9.44
$4.32
EV Truck/SUV
43.2
0
$15.11
$6.91
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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 15, 2026
Origin
Indiana, IA
Late night
in Indiana on Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Guthrie Center, IA
Late night
in Guthrie Center on Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Norwalk, IA
54 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
3 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
2h 11m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this journey relies entirely on local roads, meaning you will experience zero highway miles throughout the 107.9-mile trek. The route favors technical navigation over high-speed cruising, requiring you to stay alert as you transition between County Highway G76 and the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. Because there are no designated stops on this path, you should be prepared for a consistent drive from start to finish. Expect the road to feel intimate and grounded as you navigate the regional landscape of Iowa.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.1 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and State Highway 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near IA 5.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 107.9 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 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 38.4 miles (US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Indiana, IA to Guthrie Center, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Greenfield along the way.
Greenfield
93 mi in|~1h 49m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 11m. Total distance: 107.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.1 miles on I 80. 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 Guthrie Center, IA 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 38.4 miles (US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Guthrie Center, IA before heading back.
