This 117.6-mile drive from Indiana, IA to Villisca, IA is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 56 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on Highway G76 and Highway 14, with a portion on North 7th Street. The route stays within the Midwest, offering a consistent regional feel. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, this trip is quite budget-friendly. The drive is characterized by frequent turns, making it a more engaging local experience rather than a high-speed journey. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the drive. This route is well-suited for a single day of 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
58.8 miles from Indiana, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 34
85.4 mi
2h 4m
State Highway 14
15.7 mi
23m
County Highway G76
4.9 mi
8m
260 Street
1.9 mi
3m
260th Street
1.7 mi
2m
Court Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Birch Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
North 7th Street
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 34
— 85.4 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indiana, IA and Villisca, IA.
1
Start on CR G76
4.9 mi·8 min·County Highway G76
2
Continue on CR G76
1.2 mi·2 min·Highway G76
3
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi·23 min·State Highway 14
4
Continue on IA 14
1.3 mi·1 min·North 7th Street
5
Turn right onto US 34 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·Court Avenue
6
Continue on US 34 Business
316 ft·6 sec·Court Avenue
7
Turn right onto US 34
85 mi·2 hr 4 min·US 34
8
Turn left onto Birch Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·Birch Avenue
9
Continue on County Road N26
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road N26
10
Continue on 2nd Street
1.0 mi·1 min·2nd Street
11
Continue on 260th Street
1.7 mi·2 min·260th Street
12
Continue on 260 Street
1.9 mi·3 min·260 Street
13
Continue on East 3rd Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East 3rd Street
14
Arrive at destination
East 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 56-minute duration, this 117.6-mile route is perfectly suited for a single day trip. Aim to depart in the morning to allow ample time for the drive and any brief stops you might want to make. With a fuel cost around $18, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. The 'turn-heavy' nature of this drive means staying focused on navigation is key; keep your GPS or map handy. Consider making your single planned stop in a small town along Highway 14 to stretch your legs and perhaps grab a quick snack.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.8 miles from Indiana, IA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.4 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 26 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.8 miles or 1h 28m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Villisca, 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 117.6 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 34 for about 85.4 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
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 6 and 109.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
6 mi into trip|~10m in|IA 14 / State Highway 14
Turn left onto IA 14 / State Highway 14
Navigation decision point
4
23 mi into trip|~35m in|US 34 Business / Court Avenue
Turn right onto US 34 Business / Court Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
24.5 mi into trip|~38m in|US 34
Turn right onto US 34
Navigation decision point
3
109.9 mi into trip|~2h 42m in|Birch Avenue
Turn left onto Birch Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.39 one way
$36.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.19
$40.37
premium
$4.89
$22.63
$45.26
diesel
$5.61
$25.96
$51.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.3
0
$12.35
$5.64
Efficient EV
29.4
0
$10.29
$4.70
EV Truck/SUV
47
0
$16.46
$7.53
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 20, 2026
Origin
Indiana, IA
Late night
in Indiana on Tuesday
Local time
4:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Villisca, IA
Late night
in Villisca on Tuesday
Local time
4:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°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
14 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 56m 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 117.6-mile journey, as indicated by the 0% highway share. This means you'll be on local roads for the entire trip, with Highway G76 and Highway 14 forming the backbone of your route. The absence of long highway stretches suggests a more intimate connection with the landscape, as you'll be navigating more frequently. The drive profile points to a need for attention due to the numerous turns, so stay alert as you make your way through the Iowa countryside. There isn't a 'longest stretch' noted, reinforcing the idea of continuous navigation.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.4 mi on US 34.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 34 and State Highway 14. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 6 miles in near IA 14 / State Highway 14.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Indiana, IA to Villisca, IA is easy. At 2h 56m with 86% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6 miles (IA 14 / State Highway 14): Navigation decision point; at 23 miles (US 34 Business / Court Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 24.5 miles (US 34): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 56m. Total distance: 117.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 85.4 miles on US 34. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 6 miles (IA 14 / State Highway 14): Navigation decision point; at 23 miles (US 34 Business / Court Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 24.5 miles (US 34): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Villisca, IA before heading back.
