Origin
Indianapolis, IN
Late night in Indianapolis on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Indianapolis, IN to Lowell, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
40.8 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lowell, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Indianapolis to Lowell is 40.8 miles and takes about 51m via I 65 and US 31, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Indiana, connecting two points in the Midwest region. It's a straightforward trip, primarily on highways, making it a convenient option for a quick commute or a short excursion. The route is short enough that you won't need extensive planning, offering flexibility for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 35.1 mi | 39m |
| US 31 | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| East Market Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Shady Lane | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Monument Circle | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Park Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 35.1 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indianapolis, IN and Lowell, 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
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Washington Street
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 65 South, I 70 West: Louisville, Saint Louis
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 65 South, I 70 West: Louisville, Saint Louis, East Street
9
Merge onto I 65; I 70
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 65; I 70
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
35 mi
·
39 min
·
I 65
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 76A
Toward US 31 South: Taylorsville, Columbus
12
Turn straight onto US 31
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
US 31
13
Turn right onto Shady Lane
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
Shady Lane
14
Arrive at destination
Shady Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.4 miles from Indianapolis, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 36.5 — 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
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
East Washington Street
At end of road, turn left onto East Washington Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
1.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 South, I 70 West: Louisville, Saint Louis, East Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 65 South, I 70 West: Louisville, Saint...
6
1.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 65
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
36.5 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward US 31 South: Taylorsville, Columbus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 76A
Toward US 31 South: Taylorsville, Columbus
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.38 one way
$12.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.00 | $14.01 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.85 | $15.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.01 | $18.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.57 | $1.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Lowell, IN
Late night in Lowell on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Beech Grove, IN
20 mi in
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
17 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
51m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive with 95% of the route on major roads. You'll spend most of your time on I 65, with a continuous stretch of 35.1 miles. After leaving I 65, the route transitions to US 31 and eventually East Market Street, which will feel like a more local road with more frequent intersections. Expect a steady pace for the majority of the trip.
95% 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: 35.1 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and US 31. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Monument Circle.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 40.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 miles (Monument Circle): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (East Washington Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Lowell, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Columbus along the way.
Columbus
36.5 mi in
|
~44m
About the Cities
Starting in Indianapolis, IN
Full guide →Founded 1821
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
Arriving in Lowell, IN
Full guide →Lake County is the northwesternmost county of Indiana, which also comprises the southeastern portion of the Chicagoland region.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 40.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.1 miles on I 65. 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 Lowell, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lowell, IN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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