Palo to Indiana, IA is 129.9 miles and takes about 2h 51m via I 80 and State Highway 14, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, connecting two points in Iowa. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, it's a straightforward journey suitable for a single day. Expect mostly interstate driving, making it a functional option for getting from point A to point B efficiently. The estimated fuel cost of $20 suggests it's an economical drive for most vehicles.
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
65 miles from Palo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
59.9 mi
1h 4m
State Highway 14
23.5 mi
34m
W Avenue
9 mi
13m
IA 5
7.5 mi
11m
U Avenue
5.5 mi
7m
Covington Road
3.8 mi
6m
IA 100
3.6 mi
4m
Amana Road Southwest
3.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 59.9 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palo, IA and Indiana, IA.
1
Start on Vinton Street
85 ft·9 sec·Vinton Street
2
Turn left onto 1st Street
0.5 mi·2 min·1st Street
3
Turn left onto CR W36
3.8 mi·6 min·Covington Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward IA 100 west: To US 30
5
Merge onto IA 100
3.6 mi·4 min·IA 100
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward Fairfax
7
Turn right onto 80th Street Southwest
1.8 mi·4 min·80th Street Southwest
8
Turn right onto US 151
1.4 mi·2 min·Williams Boulevard
9
Continue on US 151
3.4 mi·4 min·Amana Road Southwest
10
Continue on US 151
0.4 mi·43 sec·Co Trunk Rd E68
11
Continue on US 151
0.1 mi·12 sec·1st Avenue
12
Continue on US 151
2.4 mi·3 min·79th Street
13
Continue on US 151
9.0 mi·13 min·W Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto US 151
5.5 mi·7 min·U Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
16
Merge onto I 80
60 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 80
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe
18
Turn left onto State Highway 14
11 mi·16 min·State Highway 14
19
Continue on IA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·Monroe Street
20
Continue on IA 14
13 mi·18 min·State Highway 14
21
Continue on IA 14
2.3 mi·3 min·North Lincoln Street
22
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
23
Merge onto IA 5; IA 92
1.2 mi·1 min·IA 5; IA 92
24
Take the exit onto IA 5
0.5 mi·1 min·IA 5
25
Turn right onto IA 5
5.8 mi·8 min·IA 5
26
Turn sharp right onto CR G76
0.2 mi·24 sec·County Highway G76
27
Continue on CR G76
1.9 mi·3 min·County Highway G76
28
Arrive at destination
CR G76
Trip Plan
With a duration under three hours, this drive offers plenty of flexibility; leaving in the morning or afternoon works well. You'll want to keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a significant break is nearly 60 miles on I 80. While there's only one recommended stop, consider timing it around the transition from I 80 to State Highway 14 to refuel or stretch your legs. The $20 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always check current prices before departing to ensure you stay within budget for this straightforward Iowa connection.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65 miles from Palo, IA, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.9 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 29 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65 miles or 1h 25m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indiana, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Palo, IA 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 Palo, IA
This is one driving day of about 129.9 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Palo, IA.
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 80 for about 59.9 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 127.9 — 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|1st Street
Turn left onto 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
8.2 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Fairfax
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Fairfax
6
27.1 mi into trip|~42m in|US 151 / U Avenue
Turn left onto US 151 / U Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
92.9 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Take the exit toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe
5
127.9 mi into trip|~2h 48m in|CR G76 / County Highway G76
Turn sharp right onto CR G76 / County Highway G76
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.31 one way
$40.62 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.30
$44.60
premium
$4.89
$25.00
$50.00
diesel
$5.61
$28.68
$57.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39
0
$13.64
$6.24
Efficient EV
32.5
0
$11.37
$5.20
EV Truck/SUV
52
0
$18.19
$8.31
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 16, 2026
Origin
Palo, IA
Morning
in Palo on Sunday
Local time
9:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Indiana, IA
Morning
in Indiana on Sunday
Local time
9:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Brooklyn, IA
65 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
23 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
2h 51m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route leans heavily on highway driving, with 73% of the journey on major roads like I 80. You'll experience a significant stretch of 59.9 miles on I 80, offering a consistent pace. The inclusion of State Highway 14 and W Avenue suggests a shift to more local roads as you approach your destination, potentially offering a change of scenery from the interstate. Overall, anticipate a drive that prioritizes speed and directness, with the latter portion offering a slightly different feel.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.9 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and State Highway 14. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 1st Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 129.9 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: near the start (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 27.1 miles (US 151 / U Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Palo, IA and Indiana, IA, road signs point toward Fairfax and Monroe.
Fairfax
8.2 mi in|~13m
Monroe
92.9 mi in|~1h 55m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 129.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.9 miles on I 80. 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 (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 27.1 miles (US 151 / U Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Indiana, IA before heading back.
