Origin
Redkey, IN
Late night in Redkey on Sunday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Redkey, IN to South Bend, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 12m
Distance
141.7 mi
228 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 1m
★
6 AM
3h 13m
8 AM
3h 36m
10 AM
3h 21m
12 PM
3h 19m
3 PM
3h 22m
5 PM
3h 35m
8 PM
3h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Redkey, IN
Szabó Viktor
South Bend, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Redkey, IN to South Bend, IN is 141.7 miles and takes about 3h 12m via US 31, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Indiana. Expect a mixed drive, offering a blend of highway speeds and more local road conditions as you make your way north. With a recommended one-day trip, you'll have ample time to complete this journey without needing an overnight stay, making it a convenient option for a quick excursion.
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
70.8 miles from Redkey, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 31 | 54.1 mi | 1h 6m |
| SR 18 | 27.9 mi | 32m |
| Merdian Street | 13.6 mi | 20m |
| South Wabash Street | 11.8 mi | 17m |
| East 1000 North | 11.1 mi | 15m |
| North 500 West | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| North Wabash Road | 4.8 mi | 7m |
| State Road 16 | 3.1 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
US 31
— 54.1 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Redkey, IN and South Bend, IN.
1
Start on SR 1
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Meridian Street
2
Continue on SR 1
14 mi
·
20 min
·
Merdian Street
3
Turn left onto SR 18
28 mi
·
32 min
·
SR 18
4
Turn right onto SR 9; SR 15
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Baldwin Avenue
5
Turn left onto SR 15
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Wabash Avenue
6
Continue on SR 15
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
North Wabash Road
7
Continue on SR 15
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
County Road 187 West
8
Continue on SR 15
12 mi
·
17 min
·
South Wabash Street
9
Turn left onto SR 15
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
West Market Street
10
Turn right onto SR 15
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cass Street
11
Continue on SR 15
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cass Street
12
Continue on SR 15
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
County Road 500 West
13
Continue on SR 15
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
North 500 West
14
Turn left onto SR 16
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
State Road 16
15
Continue on SR 16
11 mi
·
15 min
·
East 1000 North
16
Turn right onto US 31
54 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
US 31
17
Enter roundabout onto BUS US 31
128 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Michigan Street
18
Continue on BUS US 31
2.5 mi
·
6 min
·
South Michigan Street
19
Continue on South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
20
Enter roundabout onto SR 933
124 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Michigan Street
21
Continue on SR 933
454 ft
·
17 sec
·
North Michigan Street
22
Turn right onto East Navarre Street
131 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Navarre Street
23
Arrive at destination
East Navarre Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a manageable 1-day trip of just over three hours, flexibility is on your side. You can depart Redkey in the morning and still arrive in South Bend with plenty of daylight left. The route includes a recommended stop, so consider breaking up the 141.7 miles around the halfway point for a brief rest. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 54.1-mile stretch on US 31, as services might be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $22 is a good budget benchmark for this drive.
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 70.8 miles from Redkey, IN, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.1 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 31 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.8 miles or 1h 36m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Bend, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Redkey, 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 Redkey, IN
This is one driving day of about 141.7 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Redkey, 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 US 31 for about 54.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 70.8 miles from Redkey, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 60.7 and 141.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
60.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
SR 15 / West Market Street
Turn left onto SR 15 / West Market Street
Navigation decision point
4
60.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
SR 15 / South Cass Street
Turn right onto SR 15 / South Cass Street
Navigation decision point
4
84.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
|
US 31
Turn right onto US 31
Navigation decision point
4
138.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 3m in
|
BUS US 31 / South Michigan Street
Enter roundabout onto BUS US 31 / South Michigan Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
141.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 12m in
|
East Navarre Street
Turn right onto East Navarre Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.15 one way
$44.31 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.32 | $48.65 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.27 | $54.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.29 | $62.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.5 | 0 | $14.88 | $6.80 |
| Efficient EV | 35.4 | 0 | $12.40 | $5.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.7 | 0 | $19.84 | $9.07 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Destination
South Bend, IN
Late night in South Bend on Sunday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Peru, IN
71 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
2 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
3h 12m 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 141.7-mile journey features a significant portion on highways, with 58% of the drive utilizing them. You'll encounter stretches of faster driving, including a longest uninterrupted segment of 54.1 miles along US 31. The 'Mixed drive' profile indicates that you'll transition between these quicker highway sections and potentially more local or slower-paced roads, especially as you approach your destination. This variation means you'll need to adjust your driving style throughout the 3h 12m trip.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.1 mi on US 31.
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 around 60.7 miles in near SR 15 / West Market Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Redkey, IN to South Bend, IN is easy. At 3h 12m with 58% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 60.7 miles (SR 15 / West Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 60.9 miles (SR 15 / South Cass Street): Navigation decision point; at 84.2 miles (US 31): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 141.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.1 miles on US 31. 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: at 60.7 miles (SR 15 / West Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 60.9 miles (SR 15 / South Cass Street): Navigation decision point; at 84.2 miles (US 31): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at South Bend, 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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