Mishawaka to Bedford is 226 miles and takes about 4 hours 40 minutes via US 31 and I-69, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Indiana, moving you from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. With an 86% highway share, expect a fairly direct trip, ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll be covering a significant distance, so it's a practical choice if you want to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
113.1 miles from Mishawaka, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 31
99.1 mi
2h 4m
I 69
47.5 mi
53m
South Michigan Street
24.9 mi
29m
I 465
24.4 mi
28m
SR 37
18.9 mi
24m
Saint Joseph Valley Parkway
3.6 mi
4m
16th Street
1.8 mi
3m
Bremen Highway
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 31
— 99.1 mi, about 2h 4m
Traffic on I-465
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 66 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~4,442 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,164
Quietest
2 AM
~364 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mishawaka, IN and Bedford, IN.
1
Start on SR 933
1.1 mi·1 min·Lincoln Way East
2
Turn left onto Church Street
0.4 mi·47 sec·Church Street
3
Continue on Union Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Union Street
4
Continue on Bremen Highway
1.3 mi·2 min·Bremen Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward US 20 West
6
Merge onto US 20
3.6 mi·4 min·Saint Joseph Valley Parkway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 31 South: Plymouth, Indianapolis
8
Merge onto BUS US 31
25 mi·29 min·South Michigan Street
9
Merge onto US 31
0.9 mi·1 min·US 31
10
Turn slight right
512 ft·6 sec
11
Continue on US 31
85 mi·1 hr 44 min·US 31
12
Turn right onto East 226th Street
270 ft·10 sec·East 226th Street
13
Turn left
320 ft·50 sec
14
Continue on this road
320 ft·25 sec·this road
15
Turn right onto East 226th Street
270 ft·9 sec·East 226th Street
16
Turn right onto US 31
13 mi·17 min·US 31
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto US 31
0.6 mi·55 sec·US 31
Exit 123Toward I 465, US 31 SouthUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 465 WestUse the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto I 465
4.8 mi·5 min·I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 465
20 mi·23 min·I 465
Toward I 465 South
21
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 69
47 mi·53 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 37
19 mi·24 min·SR 37
Exit 114Toward SR 37 South: Bedford
24
Turn left onto US 50
1.8 mi·3 min·16th Street
25
Turn left onto L Street
47 ft·0 sec·L Street
26
Arrive at destination
L Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour 40 minute drive time, leaving Mishawaka in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Bedford with plenty of daylight. The fuel cost is estimated at $34, so be sure to factor that into your budget. You'll encounter one longest stretch of 99.1 miles on US 31, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you hit that section. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility, but it's wise to start with a full tank of gas.
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 113.1 miles from Mishawaka, IN, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.1 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 50 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.1 miles or 2h 21m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bedford, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mishawaka, 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 Mishawaka, IN
This is one driving day of about 226.1 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Mishawaka, 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 US 31 for about 99.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First break
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
$10 to $20
Argos, Indiana
Hours: 11 am–11 pm
+15748926845
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 118.4 and 205.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
118.4 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|US 31
Turn right onto US 31
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
131.4 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|US 31
Take the exit onto US 31 toward I 465, US 31 South
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 123
Toward I 465, US 31 South
7
132.1 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 465 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 465 West
7
157.1 mi into trip|~3h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 69 South: Evansville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
6
205.4 mi into trip|~4h 12m in|SR 37
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 37 toward SR 37 South: Bedford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 114
Toward SR 37 South: Bedford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.39 one way
$66.78 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$36.86
$73.72
premium
$4.72
$41.98
$83.96
diesel
$4.80
$42.69
$85.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.8
0
$23.74
$10.85
Efficient EV
56.5
0
$19.78
$9.04
EV Truck/SUV
90.4
1
$31.65
$14.47
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Mishawaka, IN
Late night
in Mishawaka on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 15 mph38% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 2:50PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued July 18 at 12:23PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Bedford, IN
Late night
in Bedford on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
W 8 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 2:50PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued July 18 at 12:23PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
4 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
4h 40m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 86% of the 226 miles on high-speed roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 99.1 miles on US 31 before transitioning to I-69. Expect a steady pace on these main arteries, with many exits and entry points as you navigate through Indiana. Surface roads will make up the remaining portion of your trip.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.1 mi on US 31.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 31 and I 69. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 118.4 miles in near US 31.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 226.1 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 118.4 miles (US 31): Lane positioning matters here; at 131.4 miles (US 31): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 132.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mishawaka is in Northern Indiana. The town is named after Princess Mishawaka of the Potowatomi tribe. Its adjacent twin city is South Bend, Indiana, which is west of the city. The St. Joseph River runs through downtown where a new riverwalk is still being constructed. Though South Bend has a great deal to offer in terms of tourist attractions, Mishawaka also has quite a few things to see and do. Notre Dame and South Bend are a short drive away if boredom begins to take over.
Between South Bend and Mishawaka, Mishawaka has more wealth and business despite a smaller population. AM General has a plant on the south side of town and there are many suburban-style strip malls and outlet malls along north Grape Rd. and Main St.
Top landmarks
•Old Mishawaka Carnegie Library — Carnegie library in Indiana
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 40m. Total distance: 226.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.1 miles on US 31. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Bedford, 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. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 118.4 miles (US 31): Lane positioning matters here; at 131.4 miles (US 31): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 132.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Bedford, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
