Origin
Shelbyville, IN
Late night in Shelbyville on Sunday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shelbyville, IN to Indianapolis, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
28.5 mi
46 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shelbyville, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Shelbyville to Indianapolis, you are looking at a straightforward 32.2-mile journey through the heart of the Midwest. Expect to spend approximately 37 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via local roads, including the Public Square, North Harrison Street, and North Riley Highway, rather than high-speed interstates. With a fuel budget of just $5, this is a highly economical way to connect these two Indiana locations. Because the route is entirely contained within the state, it offers a consistent regional experience without the complexity of crossing state lines. Overall, this trip is best suited for those who prefer local driving over long highway hauls.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 74 | 18.6 mi | 19m |
| Southeastern Avenue | 5 mi | 7m |
| North Riley Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| East Washington Street | 1 mi | 3m |
| North Harrison Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Harrison Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Illinois Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 18.6 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shelbyville, IN and Indianapolis, IN.
1
Start on SR 9; SR 44
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
South Harrison Street
2
Enter roundabout onto SR 9
400 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Harrison Street
3
Continue on SR 9
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Harrison Street
4
Continue on North Riley Highway
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
North Riley Highway
5
Keep slight right at fork onto North Riley Highway
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
North Riley Highway
6
Turn slight right onto SR 9
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Riley Highway
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
8
Merge onto I 74; US 421
19 mi
·
19 min
·
I 74; US 421
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on this road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 94
Toward Southeastern Avenue
10
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Southeastern Avenue
11
Enter roundabout onto Southeastern Avenue
106 ft
·
5 sec
·
Southeastern Avenue
12
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeastern Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto East Washington Street
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East Washington Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto North Illinois Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Illinois Street
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto West Market Street
351 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Market Street
16
At end of road, turn right
257 ft
·
28 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 28.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SR 9 / North Harrison Street
Enter roundabout onto SR 9 / North Harrison Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
2.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 74; US 421
Merge onto I 74; US 421
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
27.3 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
28.3 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
North Illinois Street
Turn right onto North Illinois Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.46 one way
$8.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.89 | $9.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.48 | $10.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.29 | $12.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Indianapolis, IN
Late night in Indianapolis on Sunday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
37m 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 32.2-mile trek is defined by a turn-heavy local profile rather than a monotonous interstate grind. You will spend 0% of your time on highways, meaning you should prepare for a series of transitions through local streets and intersections. Because the route relies on Public Square, North Harrison Street, and North Riley Highway, your pace will be dictated by local traffic patterns rather than open-road cruising. There is no single long, uninterrupted stretch on this drive, so stay alert for frequent turns as you navigate toward Indianapolis. It is a practical, functional drive that keeps you engaged with the local road network for the entire 37-minute duration.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.6 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and Southeastern Avenue. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near SR 9 / North Harrison Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 28.5 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 0.2 miles (SR 9 / North Harrison Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles (I 74; US 421): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
858 ft
715 ft
Total Climb
139 ft
Total Descent
186 ft
Highest Point
858 ft
~20.4 mi in
Elevation Range
143 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Indianapolis, IN
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 28.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.6 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 0.2 miles (SR 9 / North Harrison Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles (I 74; US 421): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Indianapolis, IN before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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