Indiana, IA to Jesup, IA is 142.4 miles and takes about 3h 21m via US 63, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest. It's a straightforward trip that won't eat up your entire day, making it a good option if you're looking for a manageable drive. You'll spend a bit over half your time on highways, with the rest on surface roads, so expect a mix of cruising and more local travel.
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
71.2 miles from Indiana, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 63
26.3 mi
37m
State Highway 14
23.3 mi
34m
J Avenue
18 mi
26m
I 80
17.7 mi
18m
Avenue of the Saints
10.3 mi
11m
100th Street
8 mi
11m
IA 5
7.6 mi
11m
US 20
7 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 26.3 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indiana, IA and Jesup, 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
1.5 mi·1 min·IA 5
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
6
Turn right onto IA 14
2.2 mi·3 min·South Lincoln Street
7
Continue on IA 14
13 mi·18 min·State Highway 14
8
Continue on IA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·South Monroe Street
9
Continue on IA 14
11 mi·16 min·State Highway 14
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
11
Merge onto I 80
18 mi·18 min·I 80
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward IA 146: Grinnell, New SharonUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto IA 146
447 ft·12 sec·State Highway 146
14
Continue on IA 146
3.3 mi·5 min·West Street South
15
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·4th Avenue
16
Turn left onto Penrose Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Penrose Street
17
Turn right onto US 6
0.6 mi·52 sec·6th Avenue
18
Continue on US 6
5.5 mi·7 min·380th Avenue
19
Turn left onto US 63
8.0 mi·11 min·100th Street
20
Continue on US 63
6.3 mi·9 min·J Avenue
21
Continue on US 63
1.5 mi·2 min·State Street
22
Turn left onto US 63
0.3 mi·24 sec·West 13th Street
23
Turn right onto US 63
0.4 mi·37 sec·Harding Street
24
Continue on US 63
1.8 mi·2 min·South County Road
25
Continue on US 63
12 mi·17 min·J Avenue
26
At end of road, turn right onto US 63
26 mi·37 min·US 63
27
Turn slight right
162 ft·7 sec
Use the right lane.
28
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
29
Merge onto US 20; IA 27
10 mi·11 min·Avenue of the Saints
30
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20
7.0 mi·8 min·US 20
31
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
32
Turn left onto CR V65
1.4 mi·2 min·Benson Shady Grove Avenue
33
At end of road, turn left onto CR D22
0.4 mi·42 sec·South Street
34
Turn right onto 6th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·6th Street
35
Arrive at destination
6th Street
Trip Plan
For this 3h 21m drive, starting in the morning will give you plenty of flexibility. With a total distance of 142.4 miles and a fuel cost estimated at $22, you can easily complete this in one day without needing an overnight stop. The longest stretch without a significant break is 26.3 miles on US 63, so plan for a quick stop before or after that segment if you like to stretch your legs. Keep an eye out for the transition from US 63 to State Highway 14, as that's where the driving environment changes.
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 71.2 miles from Indiana, IA, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.3 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 31 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.2 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jesup, 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 142.4 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Indiana, IA.
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 US 63 for about 26.3 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 95.6 — 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
4
8.1 mi into trip|~12m in|IA 5
Take the ramp onto IA 5
Navigation decision point
7
54.6 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward IA 146: Grinnell, New Sharon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward IA 146: Grinnell, New Sharon
4
58.3 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|4th Avenue
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
95.6 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|US 63
At end of road, turn right onto US 63
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.45 one way
$46.89 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$25.04
$50.08
premium
$5.08
$28.50
$56.99
diesel
$6.07
$34.03
$68.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.7
0
$14.95
$6.84
Efficient EV
35.6
0
$12.46
$5.70
EV Truck/SUV
57
0
$19.94
$9.11
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Indiana, IA
Morning
in Indiana on Saturday
Local time
9:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
NW 16 to 23 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 6:12AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 3:47AM CDT until October 17 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Jesup, IA
Morning
in Jesup on Saturday
Local time
9:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
NW 20 to 30 mph39% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 6:12AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 3:47AM CDT until October 17 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
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
2 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 21m 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?
You'll be on highways for about 58% of this 142.4-mile route. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 26.3 miles on US 63. After that, you'll transition to State Highway 14 and J Avenue, which will feel more like local driving. Expect a mixed driving experience with both highway speeds and slower, more rural road conditions.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.3 mi on US 63.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near IA 5.
Driving Effort6/10
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 142.4 miles you will encounter 21 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 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 8.1 miles (IA 5): Navigation decision point; at 54.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,034 ft807 ft
Total Climb
495 ft
Total Descent
434 ft
Highest Point
1,034 ft
~91.6 mi in
Elevation Range
226 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 Indiana, IA to Jesup, IA, road signs begin pointing toward New Sharon along the way.
Indiana is a state in the heart of the Midwest region of the United States. Indiana is more than a fly-over state with one large metropolitan area, rural farmland, and cozy college towns.
Top landmarks
•Wyandotte Caves — park and its caverns in southern Indiana
•Eskenazi Museum of Art — museum at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana
•Miller House and Garden — historic home in Columbus, Indiana
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 21m. Total distance: 142.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.3 miles on US 63. 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 Jesup, 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. 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 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 8.1 miles (IA 5): Navigation decision point; at 54.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Jesup, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
