Spanning 204.4 miles across Indiana, this trip connects Knox to Evansville in approximately 3 hours and 24 minutes. You will primarily navigate via McCullum, I-465 South, and I-69 South as you traverse the Midwest. Given the duration, this route is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion, saving you the need for an overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at around $28, it remains an affordable option for travelers moving between the northern and southern parts of the state. Expect a straightforward transition as you move through the heart of the Midwest, making this a practical choice for a direct commute or a quick getaway.
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
101.1 miles from Knox, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
165.9 mi
3h 1m
I 70
25 mi
27m
East Lloyd Expressway
3.9 mi
4m
North Burkhardt Road
2.5 mi
4m
McCullum
1.2 mi
1m
East Walnut Street
0.7 mi
1m
South Grant City Road
0.4 mi
1m
US 41
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 165.9 mi, about 3h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knox, IN and Evansville, IN.
1
Start on South Grant City Road
0.4 mi·1 min·South Grant City Road
2
Turn left onto SR 109
1.2 mi·1 min·McCullum
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
4
Merge onto I 70
25 mi·27 min·I 70
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 90Toward I 465 South, I 465 NorthUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 465 SouthUse the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto I 69; I 465
4.4 mi·5 min·I 69; I 465
8
Continue on I 69; I 74; I 465
8.7 mi·10 min·I 69; I 74; I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
48 mi·54 min·I 69
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
104 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 69
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·39 sec
Exit 10Toward Lynch Road
12
Turn slight right
153 ft·4 sec
13
Turn straight onto Lynch Road
498 ft·15 sec·Lynch Road
14
Turn left onto North Burkhardt Road
2.5 mi·4 min·North Burkhardt Road
15
Turn right onto SR 66
3.9 mi·4 min·East Lloyd Expressway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward US 41 South
17
Merge onto US 41; SR 66
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 41; SR 66
18
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Walnut Street
19
Turn right
332 ft·25 sec
20
At end of road, turn right
123 ft·9 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For a smooth journey, plan for at least one stop to break up the 204.4-mile trip and keep your energy levels consistent. Since this is a turn-heavy drive, departing during daylight hours is highly recommended to better navigate the local road segments comfortably. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $28 estimated cost can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and local traffic patterns. Because the route relies on local roads rather than interstates, use a reliable GPS to stay on track through the various turns. Taking advantage of the flexibility this shorter trip offers will allow you to adjust your pace as needed throughout the day.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 101.1 miles from Knox, IN, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.9 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 44 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.1 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evansville, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Knox, 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 Knox, IN
This is one driving day of about 202.2 miles and 3h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Knox, IN.
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 I 69 for about 165.9 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 26.9 and 194.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
26.9 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit toward I 465 South, I 465 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 90
Toward I 465 South, I 465 North
7
27.1 mi into trip|~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 465 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 465 South
8
41.3 mi into trip|~48m in|I 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 South: Evansville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
5
89.8 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|I 69
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 South: Evansville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
5
194.1 mi into trip|~3h 35m in
Take the exit toward Lynch Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 10
Toward Lynch Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.61 one way
$63.22 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.71
$69.42
premium
$4.89
$38.91
$77.82
diesel
$5.61
$44.64
$89.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.7
0
$21.23
$9.71
Efficient EV
50.6
0
$17.69
$8.09
EV Truck/SUV
80.9
1
$28.31
$12.94
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 20, 2026
Origin
Knox, IN
Late night
in Knox on Tuesday
Local time
5:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Evansville, IN
Late night
in Evansville on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
5 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
3h 48m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The British flag would not be raised above Fort Sackville Feb. 25, 1779. At 10 A.M., the garrison surrendered to American Colonel George Rogers Clark. His American army, aided by French residents of t...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 153.4
Abraham Lincoln grew from youth to manhood on this southern Indiana soil. Many character and moral traits of one of the world's most respected leaders was formed and nurtured here. Explore Lincoln's b...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 174.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features no significant highway-only stretches. You will navigate a series of local roads, starting with the navigation of McCullum where you will encounter frequent turns rather than long, uninterrupted highway segments. Because the highway share is 0%, your focus will be on local road management rather than high-speed cruising. The driving experience requires constant engagement as you transition through various local thoroughfares. This path offers a more hands-on driving experience compared to a standard highway-heavy journey, so stay alert for changing road conditions.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 165.9 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and I 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 202.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 26.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.3 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Evansville is the largest city in Southern Indiana and the third-largest city in the state. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for the Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois tri-state area. In 2010, the city had a population of 117,000. In 2008 the Evansville metropolitan area was home to 350,000 people.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 48m. Total distance: 202.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 165.9 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Evansville, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 26.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.3 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — George Rogers Clark National Historical Park and Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Evansville, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
