Origin
Middletown, IN
Morning in Middletown on Sunday
Local time
10:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Middletown, IN to Indianapolis, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
36.4 mi
59 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Middletown, IN
Waddle Aero
Trip Overview
This straightforward 36.4-mile drive from Middletown to Indianapolis, Indiana, is easily manageable in about 47 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll spend about 67% of your journey on the highway, primarily utilizing I-74. The estimated fuel cost for this short hop is around $6, so budget accordingly. Given the short distance and duration, there's no need for an overnight stay; you can depart and arrive within the same day. This route keeps you within the Midwest region, offering a familiar driving experience as you head toward Indiana's capital city.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 74 | 24.4 mi | 26m |
| Southeastern Avenue | 5 mi | 7m |
| East Michigan Road | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| East Washington Street | 1 mi | 3m |
| East 200 South | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Illinois Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 24.4 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Middletown, IN and Indianapolis, IN.
1
Start on East Michigan Road
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
East Michigan Road
2
Turn sharp right onto SR 244
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
East 200 South
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
4
Merge onto I 74; US 421
24 mi
·
26 min
·
I 74; US 421
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on this road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 94
Toward Southeastern Avenue
6
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Southeastern Avenue
7
Enter roundabout onto Southeastern Avenue
106 ft
·
5 sec
·
Southeastern Avenue
8
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeastern Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto East Washington Street
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East Washington Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto North Illinois Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Illinois Street
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto West Market Street
351 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Market Street
12
At end of road, turn right
257 ft
·
28 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.2 miles from Middletown, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 36.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
SR 244 / East 200 South
Turn sharp right onto SR 244 / East 200 South
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
4.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
5
4.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 74; US 421
Merge onto I 74; US 421
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
35.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
36.1 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
North Illinois Street
Turn right onto North Illinois Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.69 one way
$11.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.25 | $12.50 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.00 | $14.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.04 | $16.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 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 | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.10 | $2.33 |
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.
Destination
Indianapolis, IN
Morning in Indianapolis on Sunday
Local time
10:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
WSW 13 mph
5% chance
Live forecast
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
25 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
47m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 67% of the 36.4 miles on faster roads like I-74. You'll experience an uninterrupted stretch of 24.4 miles on I-74, providing a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. Southeastern Avenue and East Michigan Road will likely offer a change of pace as you approach and enter Indianapolis, transitioning from the interstate to more local thoroughfares. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, minimizing time on slower, winding roads.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.4 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and Southeastern Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in near SR 244 / East 200 South.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 47m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles (SR 244 / East 200 South): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.4 miles (I 74; US 421): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
853 ft
715 ft
Total Climb
109 ft
Total Descent
242 ft
Highest Point
853 ft
~2.6 mi in
Elevation Range
138 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Indianapolis, IN
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 36.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.4 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 3.8 miles (SR 244 / East 200 South): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.4 miles (I 74; US 421): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Indianapolis, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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