Spanning 266.5 miles from northern to southern Indiana, this cross-state journey connects Portage to Clarksville in about 5 hours of driving time. You will primarily navigate via I-65, I-80, and the Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, making it a straightforward trek across the Midwest. Because the duration is manageable, this trip works perfectly as a one-day excursion for most travelers. Expect to spend roughly $40 on fuel to complete the transit between these two distinct points in the state. Whether you are heading south for business or a change of scenery, this direct route offers a reliable path that keeps you on major thoroughfares for the duration of the trip.
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
133.2 miles from Portage, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
130 mi
2h 21m
I 65
126.9 mi
2h 23m
I 80
3.7 mi
5m
Indiana Toll Road
2.6 mi
3m
Willowcreek Road
0.6 mi
1m
Central Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
US 31
0.3 mi
<1m
Eastern Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
— 130 mi, about 2h 21m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 120 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,947 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,538
Quietest
1 AM
~328 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Portage, IN and Clarksville, IN.
1
Start on Central Avenue
0.4 mi·53 sec·Central Avenue
2
Turn right onto Willowcreek Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Willowcreek Road
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp
434 ft·11 sec
Toward I 80, I 90
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
5
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·47 sec·this road
6
Merge onto I 80; I 90
2.6 mi·3 min·Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto I 80
0.6 mi·1 min·I 80
Exit 21Toward I 80 West, I 94, US 6: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
0.1 mi·13 sec·I 80
Toward I 94 West, I 80 West, SR 51, US 6 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
2.9 mi·4 min·I 80
Toward I 94 West, I 80 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·51 sec
Exit 12Toward I 65: Gary, Toll Road, IndianapolisUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·9 sec
Toward I 65 South, I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Indianapolis, Chicago
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I 65 South: IndianapolisUse the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto I 65
130 mi·2 hr 21 min·Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
17 mi·22 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 65
1.9 mi·2 min·I 65
Exit 112AToward I 70 East: Dayton
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
108 mi·1 hr 58 min·I 65
Use the slight left lane.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Eastern Boulevard
18
Turn straight onto US 31
0.3 mi·27 sec·US 31
19
Turn right onto Eastern Boulevard
0.2 mi·34 sec·Eastern Boulevard
20
Turn left onto East Brooks Avenue
32 ft·1 sec·East Brooks Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
East Brooks Avenue
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple since the 5-hour duration allows for plenty of flexibility throughout the day. While the trip is short enough to tackle in one go, you should account for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the 266.5-mile trek. Aim to time your departure to avoid peak traffic hours, especially when navigating the junctions where the Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway meets the interstate system. Keep your $40 fuel budget in mind, and consider filling up before hitting the longest 130-mile stretch to avoid any mid-route stress. By pacing yourself with that single planned break, you will arrive in Clarksville feeling much more energized than if you pushed through without a pause.
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 133.2 miles from Portage, IN, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130 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 59 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.2 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksville, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Portage, 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 Portage, IN
This is one driving day of about 266.5 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Portage, 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 Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway for about 130 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 8.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
4 mi into trip|~6m in|I 80
Take the exit onto I 80 toward I 80 West, I 94, US 6: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21
Toward I 80 West, I 94, US 6: Des Moines
8
4.6 mi into trip|~7m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 94 West, I 80 West, SR 51, US 6 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West, I 80 West, SR 51, US 6 East
8
4.7 mi into trip|~7m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 toward I 94 West, I 80 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West, I 80 West
8
7.7 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward I 65: Gary, Toll Road, 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 12
Toward I 65: Gary, Toll Road, Indianapolis
7
8.4 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.31 one way
$88.62 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$48.26
$96.53
premium
$5.18
$54.38
$108.76
diesel
$5.35
$56.13
$112.27
Estimated Tolls: $0.18
Indiana Toll Road
(2.6 mi)$0.18
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80
0
$27.98
$12.79
Efficient EV
66.6
0
$23.32
$10.66
EV Truck/SUV
106.6
1
$37.31
$17.06
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Portage, IN
Afternoon
in Portage on Wednesday
Local time
3:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Chance Rain Showers
NNE 5 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 9:10PM EDT until June 2 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 9:10PM EDT until June 3 at 12:48PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Clarksville, IN
Afternoon
in Clarksville on Wednesday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 1 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 9:10PM EDT until June 2 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 9:10PM EDT until June 3 at 12:48PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
3 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
5h 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
Lake Michigan's might has influenced Indiana Dunes for millennia. Wind and waves have shaped the land, leaving a rich mosaic of habitats along these 15 miles of Indiana coast. Over 50 miles of trails...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
$20
Park Closure: Partial Closures to Marquette Greenway Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving profile that balances high-speed interstate travel with regional highway segments. You will spend 49% of your time on highways, providing a consistent pace as you move through the state. The most significant portion of your journey involves a 130-mile stretch along the Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, which serves as your longest uninterrupted segment. Because you are primarily utilizing major arteries like I-65, the character of the road is functional and efficient rather than technical. You should prepare for a drive that shifts from the industrial corridors of the north to the more varied landscape of the southern Midwest, keeping you focused on the road ahead.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 130 mi on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 4 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 266.5 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 4 miles (I 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Clarksville is a city in Clark County in Southern Indiana, directly across the Ohio River from Louisville. It is the oldest town in the Indiana Territory with a population of 21,000. The city is served by an overlay complex of two area codes: 812 and 930.
Top landmarks
•Old Clarksville Site — archaeological site in Clarksville, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h. Total distance: 266.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 130 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.18 in tolls one way, starting with Indiana Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Clarksville, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles (I 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Indiana Dunes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Clarksville, IN before the return drive.
