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Trip from Lebanon, IN to West Lafayette, IN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

49m

Distance

38.1 mi

61 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 45m ★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Indiana, United States

Lebanon, IN

Wikimedia Commons

city in Indiana, USA

West Lafayette, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick transition between Lebanon and West Lafayette, Indiana, you can expect a straightforward 38.1-mile journey that typically takes about 49 minutes. This trip is ideally suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is short enough that no overnight stay is required. You will spend roughly $6 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your regional travels within the Midwest. By utilizing I-65 as your primary artery before transitioning onto South and Columbia Streets, you can navigate between these two points efficiently. Since both cities are located in Indiana, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. This route is perfect for travelers who prioritize speed and convenience over scenic detours.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 65 31.1 mi 33m
South Street 3 mi 5m
Columbia Street 1.1 mi 3m
West South Street 1 mi 1m
East State Street 0.5 mi 1m
US 52 0.2 mi <1m
SR 26 0.2 mi <1m
Northwestern Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 65 — 31.1 mi, about 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lebanon, IN and West Lafayette, IN.

1

Start on SR 39

0.1 mi · 23 sec · North Lebanon Street
2

Turn right onto SR 32

1.0 mi · 1 min · West South Street
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec
4

Merge onto I 65; US 52

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 65; US 52
5

Take the exit onto US 52

0.2 mi · 15 sec · US 52
Exit 141 Toward US 52 West
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 9 sec
7

Merge onto I 65

30 mi · 32 min · I 65
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 172 Toward SR 26: Lafayette, Rossville
9

Turn left onto SR 26

0.2 mi · 23 sec · SR 26
10

Continue on South Street

3.0 mi · 5 min · South Street
11

Turn right onto Main Street

426 ft · 14 sec · Main Street
12

Turn slight left onto Columbia Street

1.1 mi · 3 min · Columbia Street
13

Enter roundabout onto East State Street

146 ft · 6 sec · East State Street
14

Continue on East State Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East State Street
Use the straight lane.
15

Turn right onto Northwestern Avenue

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Northwestern Avenue
16

Arrive at destination

Northwestern Avenue

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Lafayette, IN, IN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lafayette, IN

19 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

Lafayette, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Jefferson, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19 miles from Lebanon, 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 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 37.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | SR 32 / West South Street

Turn right onto SR 32 / West South Street

Navigation decision point

5
2.5 mi into trip | ~3m in | US 52

Take the exit onto US 52 toward US 52 West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 141 Toward US 52 West
5
2.8 mi into trip | ~3m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

6
32.8 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit toward SR 26: Lafayette, Rossville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 172 Toward SR 26: Lafayette, Rossville
4
37.4 mi into trip | ~47m in | East State Street

Enter roundabout onto East State Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.96 one way

$11.91 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $6.54 $13.08
premium $4.89 $7.33 $14.66
diesel $5.61 $8.41 $16.82

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.4 0 $4.00 $1.83
Efficient EV 9.5 0 $3.33 $1.52
EV Truck/SUV 15.2 0 $5.33 $2.44

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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

Lebanon, IN

Late night in Lebanon on Sunday

Local time

12:43 AM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

West Lafayette, IN

Late night in West Lafayette on Sunday

Local time

12:43 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

73°F

Lafayette, IN

19 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

3 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

49m 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 drive is heavily focused on highway travel, with 83% of your time spent on major roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm on I-65, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 31.1 miles. Because the vast majority of the trip is on the interstate, expect a consistent pace before the character of the road shifts upon your arrival in West Lafayette. Once you exit the highway, the final segment relies on local thoroughfares like South and Columbia Street to reach your destination. While the interstate portion is efficient and direct, the transition to local streets provides a clear change in pace as you pull into the city.

83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.1 mi on I 65.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and South Street. 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 SR 32 / West South Street.

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 38.1 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 (SR 32 / West South Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (US 52): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

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 Lebanon, IN to West Lafayette, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Rossville along the way.

Rossville

32.8 mi in | ~36m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 38.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 31.1 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 West Lafayette, 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 (SR 32 / West South Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (US 52): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at West Lafayette, 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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