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Trip from Nashville, IN to Fort Wayne, IN

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

Drive Time

3h 27m

Distance

170.7 mi

275 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Good

7 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 15m ★
6 AM
3h 27m
8 AM
3h 52m
10 AM
3h 36m
12 PM
3h 34m
3 PM
3h 37m
5 PM
3h 51m
8 PM
3h 20m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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capital and largest city of Tennessee, United States

Nashville, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 170.7-mile drive from Nashville, Indiana, to Fort Wayne, Indiana, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 27 minutes. The majority of your journey, 89% of it, will be on highways, primarily I-69. With an estimated fuel cost of $27, this route offers a straightforward and efficient way to travel between two points within the Midwest. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, it's a practical choice for a quick excursion or connecting visit, with only one recommended stop along the way.

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

85.3 miles from Nashville, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 69 130.1 mi 2h 23m
IN-135 21.5 mi 32m
North Van Buren Street 12.3 mi 18m
South Meridian Street 3 mi 4m
South East Street 1.1 mi 1m
East Edgewood Avenue 0.5 mi <1m
US 31 0.4 mi <1m
East Washington Center Road 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 69 — 130.1 mi, about 2h 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Nashville, IN and Fort Wayne, IN.

1

Start on Main Street

0.2 mi · 1 min · Main Street
2

Turn left onto SR 135

12 mi · 18 min · North Van Buren Street
3

Turn slight left onto SR 135

0.3 mi · 26 sec · SR 135
4

Turn right onto SR 135; SR 252

0.3 mi · 23 sec · West Washington Street
5

Turn straight onto SR 135; SR 252

22 mi · 32 min · IN-135;IN-252
Use the right lane.
6

Continue on SR 135

3.0 mi · 4 min · South Meridian Street
7

Turn right onto East Edgewood Avenue

0.5 mi · 54 sec · East Edgewood Avenue
8

Turn left onto US 31

1.1 mi · 1 min · South East Street
Use the left lane.
9

Take the ramp onto US 31

0.1 mi · 13 sec · US 31
Toward I 465 West, I 74 West, I 465 East, I 74 East, US 31 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto US 31

0.3 mi · 37 sec · US 31
Toward I 465 East, I 74 East, US 31 North Use the slight right lane.
11

Merge onto I 69; I 74; I 465

5.9 mi · 6 min · I 69; I 74; I 465
12

Continue on I 69; I 465

12 mi · 13 min · I 69; I 465
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69

4.2 mi · 5 min · I 69
Exit 37 Toward I 69 North: Fort Wayne
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69

108 mi · 1 hr 57 min · I 69
Use the straight lane.
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 36 sec
Exit 312A Toward Coldwater Road South
16

Turn right onto Coldwater Road

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Coldwater Road
Use the right lane.
17

Turn left onto East Washington Center Road

0.3 mi · 40 sec · East Washington Center Road
Use the left lane.
18

Turn right onto Dartmouth Drive

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Dartmouth Drive
19

Arrive at destination

Dartmouth Drive

Trip Plan

Since this drive is a manageable 3 hours and 27 minutes, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best, perhaps aiming for a mid-morning departure to avoid the earliest rush. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 130.1 miles on I-69, plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly. Keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is a good idea, especially before embarking on that longer highway segment. The estimated fuel cost of $27 makes budgeting straightforward for this 170.7-mile trip.

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 85.3 miles from Nashville, IN, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.1 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 38 miles or 58m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 85.3 miles or 1h 53m 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 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Wayne, IN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Nashville, 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 Nashville, IN

This is one driving day of about 170.7 miles and 3h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Nashville, 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 I 69 for about 130.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Marion County, Indiana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lawrence, IN

85 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

Greenwood, IN

Fuel and coffee

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

Pendleton, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 85.3 miles from Nashville, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 69 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 130.1 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Artists Colony Inn & Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Nashville, Indiana

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

+18125778565

Visit website

The Restaurant at Hard Truth

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Nashville, Indiana

0.8 mi

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Anderson, Indiana

1.3 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Black Forest Cat Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 170.7

Hours: 9:30 am–6 pm

+12604982988

Visit website

Firefly Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fort Wayne, Indiana

1.7 mi

Old Crown Coffee Roasters

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fort Wayne, Indiana

1.7 mi

Artists Colony Inn & Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Nashville, Indiana

+18125778565

Visit website

The Restaurant at Hard Truth

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30

Nashville, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18127204840

Visit website

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 85.3

Anderson, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+17656426424

Visit website

Margaritas Mexican Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 36.6

Indianapolis, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13178591009

Visit website

Sahm's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 61

Fishers, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13178421577

Visit website

Portillo’s Indianapolis-IN

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour Inexpensiv mile 36.6

Indianapolis, Indiana

Hours: 10 am–10:30 pm

+13177439364

Visit website

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 170.7

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+12604891855

Visit website

Food Court

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 170.7

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

Black Forest Cat Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 170.7

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 9:30 am–6 pm

+12604982988

Visit website

Firefly Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 170.7

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+12603730505

Visit website

Old Crown Coffee Roasters

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 170.7

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+18887627837

Visit website

The Hive Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 158.5

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 6:30 am–5:30 pm

+12602409911

Visit website

Fortezza Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 170.7

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+12602034103

Visit website

The Light House coffee bar

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 170.7

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+12604333710

Visit website

Falls Perk Coffee House

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 73.1

Pendleton, Indiana

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+17657783423

Visit website

Tall Rabbit Cafe + Community

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 170.7

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+12607459164

Visit website

InCharge Energy Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 170.7

Fort Wayne, Indiana

+18333994638

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 158.5

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 158.5

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 158.5

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 158.5

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 158.5

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 158.5

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Rest area

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Petro Stopping Centers

0.3 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.3 mi from route

Speedco Indianapolis

1.6 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

1.9 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

2 mi from route

Mr. Fuel Travel Center

2 mi from route

Mississinewa 1812

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 121.9

Marion, Indiana

+17656139248

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 39.3 and 170 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
39.3 mi into trip | ~1h in | US 31

Take the ramp onto US 31 toward I 465 West, I 74 West, I 465 East, I 74 East, US 31 North

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 465 West, I 74 West, I 465 East, I 74...
9
39.4 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | US 31

Keep slight right at fork onto US 31 toward I 465 East, I 74 East, US 31 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 465 East, I 74 East, US 31 North
6
57.4 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in | I 69

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 North: Fort Wayne

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 37 Toward I 69 North: Fort Wayne
6
61.6 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in | I 69

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
170 mi into trip | ~3h 25m in | Coldwater Road

Turn right onto Coldwater Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.69 one way

$53.37 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 60 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $29.30 $58.60
premium $4.89 $32.85 $65.70
diesel $5.61 $37.69 $75.38

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 59.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 51.2 0 $17.92 $8.19
Efficient EV 42.7 0 $14.94 $6.83
EV Truck/SUV 68.3 0 $23.90 $10.92

Gas CO2

60 kg

EV CO2

20 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 14, 2026

Origin

Nashville, IN

Late night in Nashville on Sunday

Local time

3:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fort Wayne, IN

Late night in Fort Wayne on Sunday

Local time

3:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

73°F

Lawrence, IN

85 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

29 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 27m 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?

Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 170.7-mile route, with 89% of the travel occurring on major roads like I-69 and IN-135. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 130.1 miles on I-69, offering a consistent pace. While predominantly highway, the inclusion of local roads like North Van Buren Street near your destination adds a touch of local flavor as you arrive. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes efficiency over winding backroads, allowing you to cover ground quickly.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 130.1 mi on I 69.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and IN-135. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 39.3 miles in near US 31.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 170.7 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 39.3 miles (US 31): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.4 miles (US 31): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.4 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

About the Cities

Arriving in Fort Wayne, IN

Full guide →

Fort Wayne is a city in the northeastern part of Indiana, a state of the United States of America. It is 30 minutes from the western Ohio border and 70 minutes from the southern border of Michigan. With a population of around 260,000 in the city and 615,000 in the metropolitan area, it's Indiana's second largest city. Fort Wayne is a metropolitan city with a small community feel. It provides the rush of urban activity while never losing an intimate personal connection with those who live or visit here. Fort Wayne is the second largest city in the state of Indiana, located in Allen County, the largest county in the state by geography. It is the regional commerce and industry center for Northeast Indiana and also impacts the economies of Southwestern Michigan and Western Ohio. Fort Wayne has been and is a breeding ground for entrepreneurs and high tech industries.

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 3h 27m. Total distance: 170.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 130.1 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 13 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 Fort Wayne, 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 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 39.3 miles (US 31): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.4 miles (US 31): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.4 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Wayne, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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