Traveling from Middlebury to Indianapolis covers 173.5 miles through the heart of the Midwest. Expect the journey to take approximately 3 hours and 4 minutes of pure drive time. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than an interstate haul, it is best suited as a comfortable single-day trip. Budget roughly $24 for fuel to complete the trek. Since the entire route stays within Indiana, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition from the northern part of the state down to the capital. It is a straightforward transit that avoids highway congestion, making it a reliable choice if you prefer local roads over high-speed traffic.
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
78.3 miles from Middlebury, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Strawtown Pike
32.9 mi
38m
SR 9
30.9 mi
38m
South State Road 9
17.2 mi
25m
Lincolnway South
14.7 mi
21m
SR 37
12.9 mi
17m
North Baseline Road
9.1 mi
13m
SR 13
7.4 mi
11m
Binford Boulevard
6.4 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
South Strawtown Pike
— 32.9 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Middlebury, IN and Indianapolis, IN.
1
Start on SR 13
5.0 mi·8 min·Main Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto SR 13
0.5 mi·46 sec·SR 13
3
Turn right onto SR 13
6.9 mi·10 min·SR 13
4
Continue on SR 13
244 ft·4 sec·South Benton Street
5
Continue on SR 13
3.0 mi·4 min·State Road 13
6
At end of road, turn left onto CR 50
0.5 mi·40 sec·County Road 50
7
Turn right onto CR 43
1.0 mi·2 min·County Road 43
8
Turn left onto US 6; US 33
4.5 mi·6 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
9
Turn right onto US 33; SR 5
15 mi·21 min·Lincolnway South
10
Turn right onto SR 9
9.1 mi·13 min·North Baseline Road
11
Continue on SR 9
1.5 mi·2 min·North Main Street
12
Turn slight right onto SR 9; SR 205
0.2 mi·20 sec·River Street
13
Continue on SR 9
17 mi·25 min·South State Road 9
14
Take the ramp onto SR 9
31 mi·38 min·SR 9
15
Turn slight right onto SR 37
33 mi·38 min·South Strawtown Pike
16
Enter roundabout onto SR 37
105 ft·1 sec·SR 37
17
Continue on SR 37
13 mi·17 min·SR 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 69
3.1 mi·3 min·I 69
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·13 sec
20
Merge onto I 69
0.3 mi·23 sec·I 69
21
Continue on Binford Boulevard
6.4 mi·9 min·Binford Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive
3.0 mi·5 min·East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive
23
Continue on East Fall Creek Parkway, North Drive
0.2 mi·31 sec·East Fall Creek Parkway, North Drive
24
Turn left onto North Meridian Street
2.4 mi·6 min·North Meridian Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
25
Turn right onto Monument Circle
368 ft·46 sec·Monument Circle
26
Turn left
76 ft·6 sec
27
At end of road, turn right
257 ft·28 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. While the route is short enough to drive in one go, building in at least one planned stop will help you stay refreshed given the technical nature of the local roads. Keep a close eye on your navigation, as the reliance on County Road 50 and State Road 13 means you will be making more turns than you would on a major expressway. Since fuel costs for the trip are estimated at $24, filling up before you leave Middlebury is a smart way to simplify your journey. Use your one designated stop as a chance to stretch your legs, as the continuous turning on these local routes can be more physically demanding than typical highway driving.
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 78.3 miles from Middlebury, IN, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.9 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 34 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.3 miles or 1h 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 2h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indianapolis, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Middlebury, 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 Middlebury, IN
This is one driving day of about 156.6 miles and 3h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Middlebury, 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 South Strawtown Pike for about 32.9 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 5 and 156.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
5 mi into trip|~8m in|SR 13
At end of road, turn left onto SR 13
Navigation decision point
4
15.4 mi into trip|~23m in|CR 50 / County Road 50
At end of road, turn left onto CR 50 / County Road 50
Navigation decision point
4
16.9 mi into trip|~27m in|US 6; US 33 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Turn left onto US 6; US 33 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Navigation decision point
5
156.5 mi into trip|~3h 38m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
156.5 mi into trip|~3h 38m in
At end of road, turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.48 one way
$48.97 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.88
$53.76
premium
$4.89
$30.14
$60.27
diesel
$5.61
$34.58
$69.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47
0
$16.44
$7.52
Efficient EV
39.2
0
$13.70
$6.26
EV Truck/SUV
62.6
0
$21.92
$10.02
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Middlebury, IN
Night
in Middlebury on Saturday
Local time
10:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Indianapolis, IN
Night
in Indianapolis on Saturday
Local time
10:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 14 to 17 mph50% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 2:09AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 12:06AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
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
15 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 39m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Forget the monotony of the interstate; this route is defined by a turn-heavy, local character that keeps you actively engaged behind the wheel. You will navigate via South Benton Street, State Road 13, and County Road 50, with a highway share of 0%. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on South Benton Street, you should anticipate frequent turns and a slower, more deliberate pace. This path offers a genuine look at the Indiana landscape rather than a blurred view from a high-speed lane. Staying attentive is essential as you transition through these secondary roads, providing a driving experience that feels far more hands-on than a standard highway commute.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.9 mi on South Strawtown Pike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5 miles in near SR 13.
Driving Effort6/10
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 156.6 miles you will encounter 17 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 5 miles (SR 13): Navigation decision point; at 15.4 miles (CR 50 / County Road 50): Navigation decision point; at 16.9 miles (US 6; US 33 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway): Navigation decision point.
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 3h 39m. Total distance: 156.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.9 miles on South Strawtown Pike. 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 Indianapolis, 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 5 miles (SR 13): Navigation decision point; at 15.4 miles (CR 50 / County Road 50): Navigation decision point; at 16.9 miles (US 6; US 33 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Indianapolis, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
