If you are planning a trip from Iowa Falls to Indiana, Iowa, expect a straightforward 104.8-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 33 minutes. This Midwest drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You will primarily utilize a combination of US 65, State Highway 117, and State Highway 14 to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $16 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire trip. Since the route is entirely contained within Iowa, the travel experience remains consistent as you navigate through the heart of the Midwest.
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
52.4 miles from Iowa Falls, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 65
40.4 mi
58m
State Highway 117
15.9 mi
23m
State Highway 14
12.1 mi
18m
Oak Street
11.1 mi
16m
IA 163
8.1 mi
9m
IA 5
7.5 mi
11m
North Lincoln Street
2.3 mi
3m
County Highway G76
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 65
— 40.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa Falls, IA and Indiana, IA.
1
Start on Commercial Street
331 ft·11 sec·Commercial Street
2
Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·East Rocksylvania Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 65
11 mi·16 min·Oak Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 65
2.4 mi·3 min·US 65
5
Turn straight onto US 65
38 mi·54 min·US 65
6
Continue on IA 117
12 mi·17 min·State Highway 117
7
Continue on IA 117
0.4 mi·44 sec·North Walnut Street
8
Turn left onto IA 117; US 6 Hist
0.7 mi·1 min·East State Street
9
Turn right onto IA 117
0.4 mi·36 sec·South League Road
10
Continue on IA 117
4.3 mi·6 min·State Highway 117
11
Continue on North State Street
0.6 mi·55 sec·North State Street
12
Turn left onto State Highway 163 (Bus)
1.8 mi·3 min·State Highway 163 (Bus)
13
At end of road, turn left onto IA 163
8.1 mi·9 min·IA 163
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward IA 14: Monroe, Newton
15
Turn right onto IA 14
12 mi·18 min·State Highway 14
16
Continue on IA 14
2.3 mi·3 min·North Lincoln Street
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
18
Merge onto IA 5; IA 92
1.2 mi·1 min·IA 5; IA 92
19
Take the exit onto IA 5
0.5 mi·1 min·IA 5
20
Turn right onto IA 5
5.8 mi·8 min·IA 5
21
Turn sharp right onto CR G76
0.2 mi·24 sec·County Highway G76
22
Continue on CR G76
1.9 mi·3 min·County Highway G76
23
Arrive at destination
CR G76
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 2.5-hour duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning for at least one stop will make the journey more comfortable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before heading out, as the $16 estimate is a good baseline for your planning. Since the drive is relatively short, you don't need to worry about splitting it into multiple days, allowing you to arrive at your destination with plenty of time to spare. A helpful tip for this specific route is to prioritize your single planned stop along the US 65 portion, as that is where you will spend the bulk of your time on the road.
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 52.4 miles from Iowa Falls, IA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.4 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 23 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.4 miles or 1h 16m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indiana, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Iowa Falls, 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 Iowa Falls, IA
This is one driving day of about 104.8 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Iowa Falls, 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 65 for about 40.4 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
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 102.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Rocksylvania Avenue
Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|US 65 / Oak Street
Turn left onto US 65 / Oak Street
Navigation decision point
5
11.7 mi into trip|~17m in|US 65
At end of road, turn right onto US 65
Navigation decision point
5
80.1 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Take the exit toward IA 14: Monroe, Newton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 14: Monroe, Newton
5
102.7 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|CR G76 / County Highway G76
Turn sharp right onto CR G76 / County Highway G76
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.38 one way
$32.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.99
$35.98
premium
$4.89
$20.17
$40.34
diesel
$5.61
$23.14
$46.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.4
0
$11.00
$5.03
Efficient EV
26.2
0
$9.17
$4.19
EV Truck/SUV
41.9
0
$14.67
$6.71
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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
Iowa Falls, IA
Morning
in Iowa Falls on Sunday
Local time
6:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Indiana, IA
Morning
in Indiana on Sunday
Local time
6:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Colfax, IA
52 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
21 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 33m 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 drive is heavily highway-focused, with roughly 82% of your time spent on main thoroughfares. You will find yourself settling into a steady pace, particularly during the longest uninterrupted segment: a 40.4-mile stretch along US 65. Because the route relies on a mix of state highways and federal roads, you get a balance between efficient transit and the feel of regional driving. The road personality is functional and direct, allowing you to focus on the changing landscape rather than complex navigation. Expect a reliable, consistent experience behind the wheel as you transition between these key Iowa roadways.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.4 mi on US 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 65 and State Highway 117. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Rocksylvania Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 33m drive. You will face about 14 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 (East Rocksylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 65 / Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.7 miles (US 65): Navigation decision point.
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 Iowa Falls, IA to Indiana, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Newton along the way.
Newton
80.1 mi in|~1h 56m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 104.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 40.4 miles on US 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 (East Rocksylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 65 / Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.7 miles (US 65): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Indiana, IA before heading back.
