This 159.1-mile drive from Scott, Indiana, to Indianapolis, Indiana, is manageable as a single-day trip, taking an estimated 3 hours and 43 minutes. You'll be navigating primarily via South Strawtown Pike and SR 9, with about 37% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest journey is around $25. The route offers a mixed driving experience, making it a straightforward option for a day trip. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the drive.
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
79.6 miles from Scott, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Strawtown Pike
32.9 mi
38m
SR 9
30.9 mi
38m
South State Road 9
17.2 mi
25m
North Baseline Road
16.3 mi
24m
SR 37
12.9 mi
17m
South 600 West
11.7 mi
17m
Binford Boulevard
6.4 mi
9m
State Route 5
3.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
South Strawtown Pike
— 32.9 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scott, IN and Indianapolis, IN.
1
Start on this road
150 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn right
135 ft·14 sec
3
Turn left onto North 675 West
0.5 mi·1 min·North 675 West
4
At end of road, turn right onto SR 120
1.2 mi·1 min·State Road 120
5
Turn left onto SR 5
3.0 mi·5 min·State Route 5
6
Continue on SR 5
1.4 mi·2 min·North Van Buren Street
7
Continue on SR 5
0.6 mi·1 min·State Route 5
8
Turn left onto US 20
2.3 mi·3 min·US 20
9
Turn right onto South 600 West
3.0 mi·6 min·South 600 West
10
At end of road, turn right onto South 600 West
3.4 mi·4 min·South 600 West
11
Continue on North Main Street
1.2 mi·2 min·North Main Street
12
Continue on South 600 West
5.3 mi·6 min·South 600 West
13
Turn left onto US 6
3.0 mi·3 min·US 6
14
Turn right onto North 290 West
3.4 mi·3 min·North 290 West
15
At end of road, turn left onto West Albion Road
2.4 mi·2 min·West Albion Road
16
Continue on West Jefferson Street
0.3 mi·27 sec·West Jefferson Street
17
Turn right onto SR 9
0.6 mi·1 min·North Orange Street
18
Continue on SR 9
16 mi·24 min·North Baseline Road
19
Continue on SR 9
1.5 mi·2 min·North Main Street
20
Turn slight right onto SR 9; SR 205
0.2 mi·20 sec·River Street
21
Continue on SR 9
17 mi·25 min·South State Road 9
22
Take the ramp onto SR 9
31 mi·38 min·SR 9
23
Turn slight right onto SR 37
33 mi·38 min·South Strawtown Pike
24
Enter roundabout onto SR 37
105 ft·1 sec·SR 37
25
Continue on SR 37
13 mi·17 min·SR 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto I 69
3.1 mi·3 min·I 69
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·13 sec
28
Merge onto I 69
0.3 mi·23 sec·I 69
29
Continue on Binford Boulevard
6.4 mi·9 min·Binford Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
30
Continue on East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive
3.0 mi·5 min·East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive
31
Continue on East Fall Creek Parkway, North Drive
0.2 mi·31 sec·East Fall Creek Parkway, North Drive
32
Turn left onto North Meridian Street
2.4 mi·6 min·North Meridian Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
33
Turn right onto Monument Circle
368 ft·46 sec·Monument Circle
34
Turn left
76 ft·6 sec
35
At end of road, turn right
257 ft·28 sec
36
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 43-minute drive, departing in the morning will allow you to reach Indianapolis with ample time for activities. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of approximately $25, this trip is quite flexible. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 32.9-mile stretch on South Strawtown Pike, as services might be less frequent. The mixed driving profile means you should be prepared for changes in speed limits and road conditions as you transition between SR 9 and other local roads.
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 79.6 miles from Scott, IN, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.9 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 35 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.6 miles or 1h 57m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indianapolis, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Scott, 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 Scott, IN
This is one driving day of about 159.1 miles and 3h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Scott, 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 South Strawtown Pike for about 32.9 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 159.1 — 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
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 120 / State Road 120
At end of road, turn right onto SR 120 / State Road 120
Navigation decision point
4
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in|SR 5 / State Route 5
Turn left onto SR 5 / State Route 5
Navigation decision point
5
159.1 mi into trip|~3h 43m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
159.1 mi into trip|~3h 43m in
At end of road, turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.87 one way
$49.75 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.31
$54.62
premium
$4.89
$30.62
$61.23
diesel
$5.61
$35.13
$70.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.7
0
$16.71
$7.64
Efficient EV
39.8
0
$13.92
$6.36
EV Truck/SUV
63.6
0
$22.27
$10.18
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Scott, IN
Night
in Scott on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Indianapolis, IN
Night
in Indianapolis on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 12 mph17% chanceLive forecast
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
16 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 43m 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?
The drive features a mixed profile, blending highway stretches with more local road segments. With 37% of the route on highways, you'll experience periods of faster travel, interspersed with the character of rural roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 32.9 miles on South Strawtown Pike, offering a good opportunity to settle into the rhythm of the road. This variation in driving conditions means you won't be stuck in a monotonous highway grind for the entire trip.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.9 mi on South Strawtown Pike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort6/10
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 159.1 miles you will encounter 21 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: Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (SR 120 / State Road 120): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (SR 5 / State Route 5): Navigation decision point.
Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana and also the state’s largest city. Efforts to beautify and modernize the city have brought Indianapolis into the 21st century as a world-class destination for everything from business meetings and trade conventions to backpackers making their way across the States.
Indianapolis is widely hailed as the "Racing Capital of the World" because of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500 and Brickyard 400 at the Brickyard, and as the "Amateur Sports Capital of America" for hosting the NCAA Hall of Champions. The city has several attractions outside of sports, including museums, a large zoo, over 100 ethnic restaurants, several arts and historic districts, and a revitalized downtown. Although Indy has been mocked with the epithet "India-noplace", visitors will encounter a mix of a large metropolitan city and a simple Midwestern community.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 43m. Total distance: 159.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.9 miles on South Strawtown Pike. 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.
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 Indianapolis, 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (SR 120 / State Road 120): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (SR 5 / State Route 5): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Indianapolis, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
