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Trip from Prairie Creek, IN to Nebraska, IN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 20m

Distance

136 mi

219 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 8m ★
6 AM
3h 20m
8 AM
3h 44m
10 AM
3h 29m
12 PM
3h 26m
3 PM
3h 30m
5 PM
3h 43m
8 PM
3h 13m

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

Downtown Prairie Creek, IN, IN

Prairie Creek, IN

Mahesh Mohan

Downtown Nebraska, IN, IN

Nebraska, IN

Sam McCool

Trip Overview

This 136-mile journey from Prairie Creek, Indiana to Nebraska, Indiana is a manageable one-day road trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes to complete. Primarily utilizing State Road 46, you'll find yourself on a mixed drive that should cost around $21 in fuel. Since both the origin and destination are within the Midwest region of Indiana, you're in for a consistent regional experience. With only one recommended stop, this route is well-suited for a leisurely day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule without the need for an overnight stay.

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

68 miles from Prairie Creek, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Road 46 49.3 mi 1h 13m
SR 46 22.7 mi 35m
East 3rd Street 16.5 mi 19m
SR 7 14.9 mi 22m
US 50 8.7 mi 12m
US 41 6.4 mi 8m
W 158 1/2 Dr 5.8 mi 10m
SR 641 4.3 mi 4m
Longest stretch: State Road 46 — 49.3 mi, about 1h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Prairie Creek, IN and Nebraska, IN.

1

Start on West 158th Drive

151 ft · 8 sec · West 158th Drive
2

Turn right onto South 51st Place

335 ft · 19 sec · South 51st Place
3

Turn left onto SR 246

5.8 mi · 10 min · W 158 1/2 Dr
4

Turn left onto US 41; US 150

6.4 mi · 8 min · US 41; US 150
5

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 42 sec
Toward SR 641 North
6

Continue on SR 641

4.3 mi · 4 min · SR 641
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 41 sec
Toward SR 46: Riley Road
8

Enter roundabout onto SR 46

27 ft · 1 sec · State Road 46
9

Continue on SR 46

33 mi · 47 min · State Road 46
10

Turn left onto US 231; SR 46; SR 67

1.2 mi · 2 min · West Morgan Street
11

Continue on SR 46

7.8 mi · 11 min · State Road 46
12

Continue on SR 46

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Temperance Street
13

Continue on SR 46

8.5 mi · 14 min · State Road 46
14

Turn left onto SR 46

17 mi · 19 min · East 3rd Street
15

Continue on SR 46

0.1 mi · 8 sec · Van Buren St
16

Continue on SR 46; SR 135

23 mi · 35 min · SR 46; SR 135
17

Continue on SR 7

15 mi · 22 min · SR 7
18

Turn left onto US 50

3.9 mi · 5 min · US Highway 50
19

Enter roundabout onto US 50

137 ft · 2 sec · US 50
20

Continue on US 50

8.6 mi · 12 min · US 50
21

Turn left onto East County Road 540 North

56 ft · 2 sec · East County Road 540 North
22

Arrive at destination

East County Road 540 North

Trip Plan

For this 3-hour and 20-minute drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, though an early start will allow for a more relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop, you can easily manage your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 49.3-mile stretch on State Road 46, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $21 is a good baseline for your budget. Since this is a straightforward one-day trip, you can easily adjust your timing based on traffic or your preference for roadside exploration.

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 68 miles from Prairie Creek, IN, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.3 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 30 miles or 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 68 miles or 1h 43m 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 44m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Prairie Creek, 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 Prairie Creek, IN

This is one driving day of about 136 miles and 3h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Prairie Creek, 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 State Road 46 for about 49.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

county seat of Monroe County, Indiana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomington, IN

68 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

Middlebury, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bloomington, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68 miles from Prairie Creek, 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 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 123.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | South 51st Place

Turn right onto South 51st Place

Navigation decision point

4
12.3 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward SR 641 North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward SR 641 North
4
17 mi into trip | ~25m in

Take the exit toward SR 46: Riley Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward SR 46: Riley Road
4
17.4 mi into trip | ~25m in | SR 46 / State Road 46

Enter roundabout onto SR 46 / State Road 46

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

4
123.4 mi into trip | ~3h 1m in | US 50 / US Highway 50

Turn left onto US 50 / US Highway 50

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.26 one way

$42.52 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $23.34 $46.69
premium $4.89 $26.17 $52.34
diesel $5.61 $30.03 $60.05

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.6 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 40.8 0 $14.28 $6.53
Efficient EV 34 0 $11.90 $5.44
EV Truck/SUV 54.4 0 $19.04 $8.70

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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 15, 2026

Origin

Prairie Creek, IN

Late night in Prairie Creek on Sunday

Local time

12:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Nebraska, IN

Late night in Nebraska on Sunday

Local time

12:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

74°F

Bloomington, IN

68 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

4 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 20m 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 mixed drive on this route, with about 45% of it being highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 49.3 miles, primarily on State Road 46. This means you'll experience a combination of faster-paced highway sections interspersed with potentially slower local road segments. As you travel, the road character will likely shift between these two types, offering a varied driving experience rather than a monotonous one.

45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.3 mi on State Road 46.

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 South 51st Place.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Prairie Creek, IN to Nebraska, IN is easy. At 3h 20m 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 (South 51st Place): Navigation decision point; at 12.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 17 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 20m. Total distance: 136 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (45%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 49.3 miles on State Road 46. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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.

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 (South 51st Place): Navigation decision point; at 12.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 17 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Nebraska, 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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