Origin
Nebraska, IN
Morning in Nebraska on Tuesday
Local time
11:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nebraska, IN to Lawrence, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 43m
Distance
77.7 mi
125 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 36m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 58m
8 PM
1h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nebraska, IN
Sam McCool
Lawrence, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Nebraska, IN to Lawrence, IN is 77.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 43 minutes via US 421 and US 50, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive entirely within Indiana, moving you across the Midwest region. With an 86% highway share, expect a focused, efficient journey. Given its relatively short duration, this trip is ideal for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.8 miles from Nebraska, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 421 | 53.2 mi | 1h 4m |
| Old Michigan Road | 8.6 mi | 16m |
| US 50 | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| I 69 | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| North Michigan Avenue | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| US 36 | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Ireland Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| I 74 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 421
— 53.2 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nebraska, IN and Lawrence, IN.
1
Start on East County Road 540 North
56 ft
·
7 sec
·
East County Road 540 North
2
Turn left onto US 50
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
US 50
3
Turn left onto Old Michigan Road
8.6 mi
·
16 min
·
Old Michigan Road
4
Turn right onto West County Road 850 North
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
West County Road 850 North
5
Turn left onto US 421
13 mi
·
20 min
·
US 421
6
Turn right onto US 421
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
North Ireland Street
7
Turn left onto US 421
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Michigan Avenue
8
Turn right onto US 421
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 421
9
Take the ramp onto US 421
39 mi
·
41 min
·
US 421
Toward I 74 West, US 421: Indianapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto I 74; US 421
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 74; US 421
Toward I 465, I 74 West: Shadeland Avenue
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 421
Toward I 465 North: Shadeland Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 421
Toward I 465 North
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 69; I 465
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
I 69; I 465
14
Take the exit onto US 36; SR 67
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 36; SR 67
Exit 42
Toward US 36 East, SR 67 North: Pendleton Pike
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36; SR 67
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 36; SR 67
Toward US 36 East, SR 67 North: Lawrence
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto McCoy Street
416 ft
·
19 sec
·
McCoy Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left
59 ft
·
6 sec
18
Turn right
77 ft
·
5 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this trip is just under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Nebraska, IN in the morning allows you to arrive in Lawrence, IN with plenty of day left. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, filling up before you leave is a sensible approach. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan for brief breaks as needed, especially during the 53.2-mile stretch on US 421. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as longer highway stretches can sometimes mean fewer immediate services.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.8 miles from Nebraska, IN, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.2 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 17 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.8 miles or 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lawrence, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Nebraska, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Nebraska, IN
This is one driving day of about 77.7 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Nebraska, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 421 for about 53.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.8 miles from Nebraska, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 30.8 and 76.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
30.8 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
US 421
Take the ramp onto US 421 toward I 74 West, US 421: Indianapolis
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 74 West, US 421: Indianapolis
7
69.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
US 421
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421 toward I 465 North: Shadeland Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 465 North: Shadeland Avenue
7
70.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
US 421
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421 toward I 465 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 465 North
8
76.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
US 36; SR 67
Take the exit onto US 36; SR 67 toward US 36 East, SR 67 North: Pendleton Pike
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 42
Toward US 36 East, SR 67 North: Pendleton Pike
8
76.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
US 36; SR 67
Keep slight right at fork onto US 36; SR 67 toward US 36 East, SR 67 North: Lawrence
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 36 East, SR 67 North: Lawrence
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.15 one way
$24.30 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.34 | $26.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.95 | $29.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.16 | $34.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.3 | 0 | $8.16 | $3.73 |
| Efficient EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.80 | $3.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.1 | 0 | $10.88 | $4.97 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Lawrence, IN
Morning in Lawrence on Tuesday
Local time
11:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Shelbyville, IN
39 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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 43m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 86% of the journey utilizing faster roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 53.2 miles on US 421, offering a consistent pace for a substantial portion of your trip. The route primarily follows US 421 and then transitions to Old Michigan Road and US 50. Expect a practical, no-frills driving experience designed for efficient travel between these two Indiana points.
86% 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: 53.2 mi on US 421.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 421 and Old Michigan Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.8 miles in near US 421.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.7 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 30.8 miles (US 421): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.7 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.2 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 77.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m 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 53.2 miles on US 421. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Lawrence, IN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 30.8 miles (US 421): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.7 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.2 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lawrence, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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