Indiana, IA to Monticello, IA is 164.6 miles and takes about 3h 27m via I 80 and State Highway 14, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest. With 92% of the drive on highways, you'll experience mostly high-speed cruising. Plan for a single-day trip, as the duration is quite manageable.
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
82.3 miles from Indiana, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
81.4 mi
1h 27m
State Highway 14
23.3 mi
34m
State Highway 1
15.5 mi
21m
US 151
13.1 mi
15m
Highway 1 Northeast
10.7 mi
14m
IA 5
7.6 mi
11m
South Lincoln Street
2.2 mi
3m
County Highway G76
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 81.4 mi, about 1h 27m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,008 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,415
Quietest
2 AM
~146 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indiana, IA and Monticello, 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
81 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 80
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
13
Turn left onto IA 1
0.7 mi·1 min·North Dodge Street
14
Continue on IA 1
7.5 mi·10 min·Highway 1 Northeast
15
Continue on IA 1
1.4 mi·2 min·South Market Street
16
Continue on IA 1
3.2 mi·4 min·Highway 1 Northeast
17
Continue on IA 1
5.3 mi·7 min·State Highway 1
18
Enter roundabout onto IA 1
132 ft·5 sec·State Highway 1
19
Continue on IA 1
0.1 mi·18 sec·State Highway 1
20
Continue on IA 1
1.5 mi·2 min·1st Avenue South
21
Continue on IA 1
10 mi·13 min·State Highway 1
22
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
23
Merge onto US 151
13 mi·15 min·US 151
24
Take the exit onto US 151 Business
0.3 mi·48 sec·US 151 Business
25
Turn left onto US 151 Business
0.4 mi·40 sec·Amber Road
26
Continue on US 151 Business
1.9 mi·3 min·South Main Street
27
Turn left onto IA 38
0.2 mi·16 sec·East 1st Street
28
Turn right onto North Maple Street
73 ft·3 sec·North Maple Street
29
Arrive at destination
North Maple Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a shorter, single-day trip of just over 3 hours, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning allows you to complete the drive with plenty of daylight to spare. The longest stretch without a major exit is 81.4 miles on I 80, so ensure you have adequate fuel before starting that segment. Given the manageable distance, you won't need to split this drive, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge as the $26 estimate is based on average prices.
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 82.3 miles from Indiana, IA, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.4 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 36 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.3 miles or 1h 44m 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 Monticello, 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 164.6 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 I 80 for about 81.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
$1 to $10
Coralville, Iowa
Hours: 10 am–9 pm
+13196255568
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 164.6 — 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
4
118.3 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Take the exit toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
5
136.7 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|IA 1 / State Highway 1
Enter roundabout onto IA 1 / State Highway 1
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
164.6 mi into trip|~3h 27m in|North Maple Street
Turn right onto North Maple Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.37 one way
$54.73 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$29.81
$59.62
premium
$5.18
$33.59
$67.17
diesel
$5.35
$34.67
$69.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.4
0
$17.28
$7.90
Efficient EV
41.2
0
$14.40
$6.58
EV Truck/SUV
65.8
0
$23.04
$10.53
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Forecast as of May 11, 2026
Origin
Indiana, IA
Afternoon
in Indiana on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Partly Cloudy
N 5 to 8 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Monticello, IA
Afternoon
in Monticello on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Williamsburg, IA
82 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
45 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
3h 27m 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 spend the vast majority of your time on the interstate, with 92% of the 164.6 miles being highway driving. The longest continuous stretch on I 80 measures 81.4 miles. Expect to transition from this fast-paced highway driving to surface roads for the final portion of the trip as you approach Monticello.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.4 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and State Highway 14. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near IA 5.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 27m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 118.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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
The longest stretch is about 81.4 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 8.1 miles (IA 5): Navigation decision point; at 118.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Monticello, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
