Origin
Sims, IN
Morning in Sims on Tuesday
Local time
8:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sims, IN to Indianapolis, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 30m
Distance
60.1 mi
97 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 24m
★
6 AM
1h 31m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 34m
3 PM
1h 36m
5 PM
1h 44m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sims, IN
Pascal 📷
Trip Overview
Sims to Indianapolis is 60.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes via SR 37 and SR 13, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Indiana and the Midwest region, offering a straightforward transition from a more rural starting point to the state capital. It's a practical choice for a quick trip, perfect for a same-day excursion without feeling rushed. You'll find the route generally easy to navigate, making it a stress-free option for getting from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
30 miles from Sims, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| SR 37 | 15.3 mi | 19m |
| SR 13 | 9.3 mi | 11m |
| Binford Boulevard | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| North 900 West | 6 mi | 8m |
| South 800 West | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| I 69 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| State Road 13 | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive | 3 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
SR 37
— 15.3 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sims, IN and Indianapolis, IN.
1
Start on South Washington Street
301 ft
·
18 sec
·
South Washington Street
2
Turn left onto East Howard Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
East Howard Street
3
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
4
Turn left onto West 400 South
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West 400 South
5
Turn right onto SR 13; SR 19
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
South 800 West
6
Continue on SR 13
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
State Road 13
7
Continue on SR 13
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
North 900 West
8
Continue on SR 13
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
North Anderson Street
9
Turn right onto SR 37; SR 13
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
SR 37; SR 13
10
Continue on SR 13; SR 37
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
SR 13; SR 37
11
Enter roundabout onto SR 37
105 ft
·
1 sec
·
SR 37
12
Continue on SR 37
13 mi
·
17 min
·
SR 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 69
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
I 69
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
15
Merge onto I 69
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
I 69
16
Continue on Binford Boulevard
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Binford Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive
18
Continue on East Fall Creek Parkway, North Drive
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
East Fall Creek Parkway, North Drive
19
Turn left onto North Meridian Street
2.4 mi
·
6 min
·
North Meridian Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto Monument Circle
368 ft
·
46 sec
·
Monument Circle
21
Turn left
76 ft
·
6 sec
22
At end of road, turn right
257 ft
·
28 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour 30 minutes, this trip is ideal for a single-day adventure, offering flexibility in your departure time. You won't need many stops, but it's wise to fuel up before you leave Sims or shortly after hitting SR 37, especially considering the $9 estimated fuel cost. Keep an eye on local traffic, particularly as you get closer to Indianapolis, as congestion can impact your travel time. The longest stretch of 15.3 miles on SR 37 means you can enjoy a solid period of driving before needing to adjust your navigation for the final approach.
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 30 miles from Sims, IN, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.3 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 13 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30 miles or 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 1h 11m
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 Sims, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sims, IN
This is one driving day of about 60.1 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Sims, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on SR 37 for about 15.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30 miles from Sims, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 60 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Howard Street
Turn left onto East Howard Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Main Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
West 400 South
Turn left onto West 400 South
Navigation decision point
5
60 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
60 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
At end of road, turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.40 one way
$18.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.32 | $20.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.57 | $23.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.27 | $26.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18 | 0 | $6.31 | $2.88 |
| Efficient EV | 15 | 0 | $5.26 | $2.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24 | 0 | $8.41 | $3.85 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Indianapolis, IN
Morning in Indianapolis on Tuesday
Local time
8:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live 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
3 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
1h 30m 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 route features a mixed drive, with 52% on highways. You'll experience stretches on SR 37, SR 13, and Binford Boulevard, offering varied driving conditions. The longest continuous segment is 15.3 miles on SR 37, providing a good opportunity to settle in. As you approach Indianapolis, expect the road character to evolve, likely becoming more urbanized with increased traffic and more developed surroundings. It's not an entirely monotonous journey, but rather a blend of more open roads and approaching city environments.
52% 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: 15.3 mi on SR 37.
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 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Howard 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 60.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.1 miles (East Howard Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (West 400 South): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Indianapolis, IN
Full guide →Founded 1821
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.
Top landmarks
- • The Children's Museum of Indianapolis — museum
- • Indiana Statehouse — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Indiana
- • Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument — monument in Indianapolis
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 1h 30m. Total distance: 60.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.3 miles on SR 37. 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 0.1 miles (East Howard Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (West 400 South): Navigation decision point.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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