This 86.5-mile drive from Indianapolis, IN to Guilford, IN is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 44 minutes. It's a perfect day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost is around $14, making it an economical option for a short getaway. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with a highway share of 91%, so expect a consistent pace for most of the journey. This route stays within the Midwest, offering a familiar landscape as you travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.2 miles from Indianapolis, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
69.7 mi
1h 14m
SR 1
9.1 mi
15m
Southeastern Avenue
6.1 mi
8m
East Market Street
0.5 mi
1m
East Washington Street
0.4 mi
1m
Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Monument Circle
0.1 mi
<1m
North Park Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 69.7 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indianapolis, IN and Guilford, IN.
1
Start on this road
257 ft·32 sec·this road
2
Turn left
37 ft·9 sec
3
Turn left onto Monument Circle
0.1 mi·23 sec·Monument Circle
4
Turn right onto East Market Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Market Street
5
Turn right onto North Park Avenue
512 ft·23 sec·North Park Avenue
6
At end of road, turn left onto East Washington Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East Washington Street
7
Turn right onto Southeastern Avenue
1.4 mi·2 min·Southeastern Avenue
Use the right lane.
8
Enter roundabout onto Southeastern Avenue
130 ft·7 sec·Southeastern Avenue
9
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
4.7 mi·6 min·Southeastern Avenue
10
Continue on I 74; US 421
70 mi·1 hr 14 min·I 74; US 421
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 164Toward SR 1: Saint Leon, Lawrenceburg
12
Turn right onto SR 1
9.1 mi·15 min·SR 1
13
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi·50 sec·Main Street
14
Turn left
140 ft·6 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 44 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart at your convenience without feeling rushed, and since there are no designated stops, you can easily pull over if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a change in major road is nearly 70 miles on I-74. The modest fuel cost of $14 means you won't need to budget heavily for gas. Consider a mid-morning departure to avoid peak traffic and enjoy a relaxed drive.
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 43.2 miles from Indianapolis, IN, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.7 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.2 miles or 51m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Guilford, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Indianapolis, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Indianapolis, IN
This is one driving day of about 86.5 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Indianapolis, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 74 for about 69.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 86.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Monument Circle
Turn left onto Monument Circle
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip|~3m in|East Washington Street
At end of road, turn left onto East Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip|~4m in|Southeastern Avenue
Turn right onto Southeastern Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
76.9 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward SR 1: Saint Leon, Lawrenceburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 164
Toward SR 1: Saint Leon, Lawrenceburg
5
86.4 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.52 one way
$27.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.85
$29.70
premium
$4.89
$16.65
$33.29
diesel
$5.61
$19.10
$38.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26
0
$9.08
$4.15
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.57
$3.46
EV Truck/SUV
34.6
0
$12.11
$5.54
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Indianapolis, IN
Morning
in Indianapolis on Tuesday
Local time
6:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
WSW 13 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 16 at 12:24PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:54AM EDT until April 21 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Guilford, IN
Morning
in Guilford on Tuesday
Local time
6:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph45% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 16 at 12:24PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:54AM EDT until April 21 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
69°F
Greensburg, IN
43 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
1 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
1h 44m 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?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the journey taking place on interstates and major roads. You'll experience a consistent pace for the majority of the trip, especially during the longest stretch of 69.7 miles on I-74. While the bulk of the drive is on high-speed roads, there are moments where you transition to SR 1 and Southeastern Avenue, offering a slight change in scenery and speed. Overall, expect a smooth and efficient journey with minimal interruptions.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.7 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and SR 1. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Monument Circle.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 44m drive. You will face about 11 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 (Monument Circle): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (East Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (Southeastern Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Indianapolis, IN to Guilford, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Lawrenceburg along the way.
Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana and also the state’s largest city. Efforts to beautify and modernize the city have brought Indianapolis into the 21st century as a world-class destination for everything from business meetings and trade conventions to backpackers making their way across the States.
Indianapolis is widely hailed as the "Racing Capital of the World" because of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500 and Brickyard 400 at the Brickyard, and as the "Amateur Sports Capital of America" for hosting the NCAA Hall of Champions. The city has several attractions outside of sports, including museums, a large zoo, over 100 ethnic restaurants, several arts and historic districts, and a revitalized downtown. Although Indy has been mocked with the epithet "India-noplace", visitors will encounter a mix of a large metropolitan city and a simple Midwestern community.
Top landmarks
•The Children's Museum of Indianapolis — museum
•Indiana Statehouse — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Indiana
•Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument — monument in Indianapolis
The longest stretch is about 69.7 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Monument Circle): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (East Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (Southeastern Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Guilford, IN before heading back.
