Mishawaka to Terre Haute is 221.8 miles and takes about 4h 32m via US 31 and Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads, making it a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a solid option for a quick trip between these two cities, offering a practical way to cover the distance without needing an overnight stay.
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
110.9 miles from Mishawaka, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 31
99.1 mi
2h 4m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
63.1 mi
1h 8m
South Michigan Street
24.9 mi
29m
I 465
20.2 mi
24m
Saint Joseph Valley Parkway
3.6 mi
4m
South 3rd Street
2.4 mi
5m
Bremen Highway
1.3 mi
2m
Lincoln Way East
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 31
— 99.1 mi, about 2h 4m
Traffic on I-465
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 132 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~5,086 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,110
Quietest
2 AM
~448 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 91 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 Terre Haute, 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
15 mi·18 min·I 465
Toward I 465 South
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 9A-BToward I 70: Saint Louis, Indianapolis International Airport, IndianapolisUse the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork
2.6 mi·5 min
Exit 9BToward I 70 West: Saint Louis, Indianapolis International AirportUse the straight / slight left lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 70 West: Saint LouisUse the slight left lane.
24
Merge onto I 70
63 mi·1 hr 8 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 7Toward US 41, US 150: Terre Haute, Evansville
26
Turn right onto US 41; US 150
2.4 mi·5 min·South 3rd Street
27
Arrive at destination
US 41; US 150
Trip Plan
For this 4.5-hour drive, leaving Mishawaka in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Terre Haute. Since it's a single-day trip, you can be flexible with your departure time. Plan for one stop along the way, perhaps around the halfway point or where you feel ready to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 99.1-mile stretch on US 31, as services might be less frequent there. The estimated fuel cost of $34 is a good budget to keep in mind.
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 110.9 miles from Mishawaka, IN, or about 2h 18m 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 49 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.9 miles or 2h 18m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Terre Haute, 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 221.8 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 131.4 and 155.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8
152.8 mi into trip|~3h 12m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Saint Louis, Indianapolis International Airport, Indianapolis
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 9A-B
Toward I 70: Saint Louis, Indianapolis Internat...
9
153.1 mi into trip|~3h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 West: Saint Louis, Indianapolis International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 9B
Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis, Indianapolis Int...
7
155.7 mi into trip|~3h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.00 one way
$74.00 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$40.37
$80.74
premium
$5.25
$45.87
$91.74
diesel
$6.28
$54.80
$109.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.5
0
$23.29
$10.65
Efficient EV
55.5
0
$19.41
$8.87
EV Truck/SUV
88.7
1
$31.05
$14.20
Gas CO2
78 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Mishawaka, IN
Morning
in Mishawaka on Thursday
Local time
7:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
S 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Terre Haute, IN
Morning
in Terre Haute on Thursday
Local time
7:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Patchy Fog then Sunny
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
62°F
Arcadia, IN
111 mi in
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 32m 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?
About 55% of this 221.8-mile route is on highways. You'll experience a long stretch of 99.1 miles on US 31, which will likely feel like more rural cruising. The drive transitions from highway segments to surface streets, meaning you'll encounter more local traffic and intersections as you approach your destination. Be prepared for varying speed limits and more frequent stops after leaving the main highway.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 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 route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 131.4 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 20 significant decision points across 221.8 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 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; at 152.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
900 ft500 ft
Total Climb
318 ft
Total Descent
537 ft
Highest Point
900 ft
~112 mi in
Elevation Range
400 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Mishawaka, IN and Terre Haute, IN, road signs point toward Indianapolis International Airport and Indianapolis.
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
Terre Haute is a city of 61,000 people (2019) in west-central Indiana, about 180 mi (300 km) south of Chicago and 1 hour southwest of Indianapolis. Terre Haute is one of the largest cities in the Wabash Valley and is known as the "Queen City of the Wabash". The city is home to several higher education institutions, including Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana.
Top landmarks
•Vigo County Courthouse — historical courthouse in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States
•Citizens' Trust Company Building — historic building in Terre Haute, Indiana, USA
•Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church — church building in Terre Haute, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 221.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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 16 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 Terre Haute, 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 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 152.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Terre Haute, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
