Traveling from Saint Joseph to Southport covers 97.8 miles across the heart of the Indiana Midwest. Expect a quick transit time of roughly 1 hour and 55 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will primarily rely on I-65 and US-31 to navigate between these two points. With fuel costs estimated at around $15, it is an affordable excursion for a single day of travel. Because the route is straightforward and efficient, you can easily complete the round trip without feeling exhausted by long hours behind the wheel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.9 miles from Saint Joseph, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
86.7 mi
1h 33m
US 31
2.9 mi
4m
Perry Crossing Road
2.7 mi
6m
East Southport Road
2.2 mi
5m
State Road 111
1.8 mi
3m
Memphis-Blue Lick Road
0.6 mi
1m
State Road 60
0.2 mi
<1m
Grant Line Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 86.7 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph, IN and Southport, IN.
1
Start on Grant Line Road
233 ft·4 sec·Grant Line Road
2
Continue on State Road 111
1.8 mi·3 min·State Road 111
3
Turn right onto SR 60
0.2 mi·24 sec·State Road 60
4
Turn left onto Perry Crossing Road
2.7 mi·6 min·Perry Crossing Road
5
Turn left onto US 31
2.9 mi·4 min·US 31
6
Turn left onto Memphis-Blue Lick Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Memphis-Blue Lick Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
8
Merge onto I 65
87 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 65
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 103Toward Southport RoadUse the slight right lane.
10
At end of road, turn left onto East Southport Road
2.2 mi·5 min·East Southport Road
11
Turn right
51 ft·3 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is under two hours, you have significant flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak local traffic. I recommend checking live traffic reports before you leave, especially when transitioning off the main interstate onto the local roads near Southport. Because you will be spending nearly 87 miles on I-65, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before hitting the highway to keep your $15 budget on track. There are no mandatory stops scheduled for this 97.8-mile stretch, but feel free to pull off early if you need to stretch your legs. Keeping a steady pace will make the transition from the heavy highway flow to the local roads feel much smoother.
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 48.9 miles from Saint Joseph, IN, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.7 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 22 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.9 miles or 59m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southport, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Joseph, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Joseph, IN
This is one driving day of about 97.8 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Saint Joseph, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 86.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 97.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in|SR 60 / State Road 60
Turn right onto SR 60 / State Road 60
Navigation decision point
4
2 mi into trip|~3m in|Perry Crossing Road
Turn left onto Perry Crossing Road
Navigation decision point
3
4.7 mi into trip|~10m in|US 31
Turn left onto US 31
Navigation decision point
7
95.2 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward Southport Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 103
Toward Southport Road
4
97.8 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.29 one way
$30.58 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.79
$33.58
premium
$4.89
$18.82
$37.64
diesel
$5.61
$21.59
$43.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.3
0
$10.27
$4.69
Efficient EV
24.5
0
$8.56
$3.91
EV Truck/SUV
39.1
0
$13.69
$6.26
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Saint Joseph, IN
Late night
in Saint Joseph on Sunday
Local time
3:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 5 to 8 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 3:01PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 16 at 12:24PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Southport, IN
Late night
in Southport on Sunday
Local time
3:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Austin, IN
49 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
5 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
1h 55m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This journey is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of your time spent on high-speed roads. The core of the drive consists of a long, uninterrupted 86.7-mile stretch on I-65, which defines the character of the trip as a consistent, efficient interstate run. While you will eventually transition onto US-31 and Perry Crossing Road to reach your destination, the vast majority of your time is spent maintaining steady speeds. You should anticipate a predictable, functional driving experience rather than a winding or technical backroads tour. It is a no-nonsense path designed for getting from point A to point B quickly.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.7 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and US 31. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near SR 60 / State Road 60.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Saint Joseph, IN to Southport, IN is easy. At 1h 55m with 92% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (SR 60 / State Road 60): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (Perry Crossing Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (US 31): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 97.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 86.7 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (SR 60 / State Road 60): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (Perry Crossing Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (US 31): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Southport, IN before heading back.
