Origin
Kendallville, IN
Morning in Kendallville on Sunday
Local time
6:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kendallville, IN to South Bend, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 38m
Distance
75.8 mi
122 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 31m
★
6 AM
1h 39m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 44m
12 PM
1h 42m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 53m
8 PM
1h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kendallville, IN
Wikimedia Commons
South Bend, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Kendallville to South Bend is 75.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 38 minutes via Indiana Toll Road and SR 9, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Indiana, moving you from one Midwest locale to another. Expect a route that involves a good number of turns, making it feel more like navigating local roads than a straight shot on a major highway. Given its relatively short length and manageable duration, this trip is perfect for a single-day excursion, allowing you ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.9 miles from Kendallville, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Toll Road | 43.5 mi | 46m |
| SR 9 | 22.2 mi | 33m |
| County Road 700 North | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| West North Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| North Michigan Street | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Navarre Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Rush Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Indiana Toll Road
— 43.5 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kendallville, IN and South Bend, IN.
1
Start on East Rush Street
47 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Rush Street
2
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 6
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West North Street
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
West North Street
5
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road 700 North
6
Turn right onto SR 9
22 mi
·
33 min
·
SR 9
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
9
Merge onto I 80; I 90
43 mi
·
46 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
10
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
3 min
Toward SR 933, BUS US 31: South Bend, Notre Dame
11
Turn right onto SR 933
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Michigan Street
12
Enter roundabout onto SR 933; BUS US 31
156 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Michigan Street
13
Continue on SR 933; BUS US 31
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Michigan Street
14
Turn left onto East Navarre Street
131 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Navarre Street
15
Arrive at destination
East Navarre Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 38 minute drive time, you can comfortably leave Kendallville any time of day and still arrive in South Bend with plenty of daylight left. Since this is a shorter trip, there's no need to split it with overnight stops; your $12 fuel budget should be sufficient for the entire journey. Keep an eye on your navigation, especially as you transition from the Indiana Toll Road to SR 9 and County Road 700 North, as the 'turn-heavy' nature of this route requires attention. A good tip is to ensure your phone or GPS is fully charged before departing, as frequent direction changes can drain battery faster than on a highway-centric route.
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 37.9 miles from Kendallville, IN, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.5 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 17 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.9 miles or 54m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Bend, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kendallville, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kendallville, IN
This is one driving day of about 75.8 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Kendallville, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Indiana Toll Road for about 43.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.9 miles from Kendallville, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 72.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Main Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 6 / West North Street
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 / West North Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
28.3 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
28.6 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
72.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward SR 933, BUS US 31: South Bend, Notre Dame
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 933, BUS US 31: South Bend, Notre Dam...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.85 one way
$23.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.01 | $26.02 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.59 | $29.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.74 | $33.47 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.04
Indiana Toll Road
(43.5 mi)
$3.04
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.96 | $3.64 |
| Efficient EV | 19 | 0 | $6.63 | $3.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.3 | 0 | $10.61 | $4.85 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
South Bend, IN
Morning in South Bend on Sunday
Local time
6:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 15 mph
96% chance
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
10 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
1h 38m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, with only 29% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a mix of Indiana Toll Road, SR 9, and County Road 700 North, meaning you'll be adjusting speed and direction frequently. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 43.5 miles on the Indiana Toll Road, providing a brief period of consistent travel before you're back to navigating more varied local roads. This characteristic means you should be prepared for more frequent turns and changes in scenery as you progress toward South Bend.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.5 mi on Indiana Toll Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Main Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 75.8 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 6 / West North Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 28.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 75.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (29%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.5 miles on Indiana Toll Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.04 in tolls one way, starting with Indiana Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 6 / West North Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 28.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at South Bend, 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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