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Trip from Nebraska, IN to Paoli, IN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 1m

Distance

83.7 mi

135 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 53m ★
6 AM
2h 1m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 8m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 56m

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

Best Time
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Nebraska, IN, IN

Nebraska, IN

Sam McCool

Downtown Paoli, IN, IN

Paoli, IN

Engin Deniz Kopan

Trip Overview

The drive from Nebraska, IN to Paoli, IN covers 83.7 miles and takes about 2h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on State Road 56, I 65, US 50 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34.7 miles on State Road 56. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.98 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

41.8 miles from Nebraska, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Road 56 34.7 mi 55m
I 65 20 mi 21m
US 50 17.9 mi 25m
Buckeye Street 3.9 mi 7m
East Main Street 1.6 mi 2m
East Walnut Street 1.3 mi 2m
West Mulberry Street 1.2 mi 1m
East Hackberry Street 1.2 mi 1m
Longest stretch: State Road 56 — 34.7 mi, about 55m

Traffic on I-65

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~1,469 veh/hr typical · worst 2,071

Quietest

2 AM

~230 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.4×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 71 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 Nebraska, IN and Paoli, IN.

1

Start on East County Road 540 North

56 ft · 4 sec · East County Road 540 North
2

Turn right onto US 50

8.6 mi · 12 min · US 50
3

Enter roundabout

264 ft · 4 sec
4

Continue

133 ft · 2 sec
5

Turn straight onto Buckeye Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · Buckeye Street
6

Turn left onto East Walnut Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · East Walnut Street
7

Continue on Buckeye Street

2.6 mi · 4 min · Buckeye Street
8

Enter roundabout onto US 50

247 ft · 8 sec · US 50
9

Continue on US 50

9.2 mi · 12 min · US 50
10

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 65 South: Louisville
11

Merge onto I 65

20 mi · 21 min · I 65
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 29B Toward SR 56 West: Salem
13

Turn straight onto SR 56

0.9 mi · 1 min · West McClain Avenue
14

Continue on SR 56

0.2 mi · 15 sec · West Mount Drive
15

Continue on SR 56

16 mi · 24 min · State Road 56
16

Continue on SR 56; SR 60; SR 135

1.2 mi · 1 min · East Hackberry Street
17

Continue on SR 56; SR 60

1.2 mi · 1 min · West Mulberry Street
18

Continue on SR 56

9.0 mi · 13 min · State Road 56
19

Continue on SR 56

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
20

Continue on SR 56

9.4 mi · 17 min · State Road 56
21

Continue on SR 56

0.4 mi · 35 sec · East Main Street
22

Continue on US 150; SR 56

0.2 mi · 15 sec · East Main Street
23

Enter roundabout onto US 150; SR 37; SR 56

0.2 mi · 12 sec · North Court Street
24

Arrive at destination

SR 37

Trip Plan

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 41.8 miles from Nebraska, IN, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.7 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 18 miles or 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 41.8 miles or 55m 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 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paoli, 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.

+

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 Nebraska, IN

This is one driving day of about 83.7 miles and 2h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Nebraska, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Road 56 for about 34.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

county seat in Indiana

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Scottsburg, IN

42 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

North Vernon, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Scottsburg, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41.8 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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 83.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 50

Turn right onto US 50

Navigation decision point

5
8.6 mi into trip | ~12m in

Enter roundabout

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

4
10.1 mi into trip | ~15m in | East Walnut Street

Turn left onto East Walnut Street

Navigation decision point

5
43.5 mi into trip | ~57m in

Take the exit toward SR 56 West: Salem

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 29B Toward SR 56 West: Salem
6
83.5 mi into trip | ~2h 1m in | US 150; SR 37; SR 56 / North Court Street

Enter roundabout onto US 150; SR 37; SR 56 / North Court Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.98 one way

$25.95 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.32 $14.23 $28.46
premium $4.93 $16.24 $32.48
diesel $5.60 $18.45 $36.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.1 0 $8.79 $4.02
Efficient EV 20.9 0 $7.32 $3.35
EV Truck/SUV 33.5 0 $11.72 $5.36

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% 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 Sep 3, 2026

Origin

Nebraska, IN

Afternoon in Nebraska on Friday

Local time

4:20 PM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Clear

S 2 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 10:05PM EDT until September 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 8:56PM CDT until September 3 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Destination

Paoli, IN

Afternoon in Paoli on Friday

Local time

4:20 PM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Clear

S 1 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 10:05PM EDT until September 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 8:56PM CDT until September 3 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

68°F

Scottsburg, IN

42 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

2h 1m 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?

83.7 mi in 2h 1m — 45% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: State Road 56.

45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.7 mi on State Road 56.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 50.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Nebraska, IN to Paoli, IN is easy. At 2h 1m with 45% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 50): Navigation decision point; at 8.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 10.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

855 ft 542 ft

Total Climb

290 ft

Total Descent

521 ft

Highest Point

855 ft

Elevation Range

313 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Nebraska, IN

Full guide →

Nebraska is a state in the Great Plains region of the United States of America. Nebraska has a reputation of being a flat, monotonous region of farm and ranch land, but this stereotype has come from the many people who drive across Nebraska on the Interstate 80 corridor (the Platte River valley). Those who venture off this heavily traveled road discover that Nebraska does have a subtle, wide-open beauty that is all its own.

Arriving in Paoli, IN

Full guide →

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 2h 1m. Total distance: 83.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (45%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 34.7 miles on State Road 56. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 50): Navigation decision point; at 8.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 10.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Paoli, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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