If you are planning to head from Indianapolis to New Pekin, expect a straightforward journey covering 108.3 miles. You can comfortably complete this trip in about 2 hours and 14 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your travel budget should account for roughly $16 in fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Navigating this route primarily involves I-65, followed by transitions onto State Road 56 and State Road 60. Because both locations are situated within the Midwest, the drive offers a consistent regional feel as you transition from the state capital toward the southern part of Indiana.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.1 miles from Indianapolis, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
81.3 mi
1h 29m
State Road 56
15.5 mi
23m
State Road 60
6.6 mi
11m
Salem Bypass
2.1 mi
3m
West McClain Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
East Market Street
0.5 mi
1m
East Washington Street
0.2 mi
<1m
West Mount Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 81.3 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indianapolis, IN and New Pekin, 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
81 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 65
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 29BToward SR 56 West: Salem
12
Turn straight onto SR 56
0.9 mi·1 min·West McClain Avenue
13
Continue on SR 56
0.2 mi·15 sec·West Mount Drive
14
Continue on SR 56
16 mi·23 min·State Road 56
15
Turn left onto SR 60; SR 135
2.1 mi·3 min·Salem Bypass
16
Enter roundabout onto SR 60
226 ft·3 sec·State Road 60
17
Continue on SR 60
6.6 mi·11 min·State Road 60
18
Arrive at destination
SR 60
Trip Plan
Since this 108.3-mile drive is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to ensure your time on I-65 remains smooth and uninterrupted. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily manage the 2 hour and 14 minute duration in one go without the need for extensive planning. However, keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving the interstate, as your transition to State Road 56 and State Road 60 marks the end of the long highway segments. A smart move is to ensure your tank is topped off near the end of your I-65 stretch to avoid any last-minute fuel concerns as you head into New Pekin.
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 54.1 miles from Indianapolis, IN, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.3 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 24 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.1 miles or 1h 2m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Pekin, 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.
+
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 Indianapolis, IN
This is one driving day of about 108.3 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Indianapolis, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 81.3 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 1.8 — 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
5
1 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 65 South, I 70 West: Louisville, Saint Louis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 65 South, I 70 West: Louisville, Saint...
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.93 one way
$33.86 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.59
$37.18
premium
$4.89
$20.84
$41.68
diesel
$5.61
$23.91
$47.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.5
0
$11.37
$5.20
Efficient EV
27.1
0
$9.48
$4.33
EV Truck/SUV
43.3
0
$15.16
$6.93
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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 15, 2026
Origin
Indianapolis, IN
Late night
in Indianapolis on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New Pekin, IN
Late night
in New Pekin on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°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
2 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 14m 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?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with about 75% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will begin with a significant 81.3-mile stretch on I-65, which serves as the backbone of your journey and allows for steady, efficient progress. As you exit the interstate, the character of the drive shifts as you transition to State Road 56 and State Road 60 for the final leg. These local roads provide a distinct change of pace compared to the high-speed interstate environment. Expect a blend of fast-moving highway miles followed by a more localized driving experience as you reach your destination.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.3 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and State Road 56. You will hit about 12 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 Effort5/10
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 108.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 108.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81.3 miles on I 65. 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 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 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New Pekin, IN before heading back.
