South Bend, IN to Troy, IN is 304.3 miles and takes about 6h 25m via US 31 and I-69, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, traversing the Midwest region from start to finish. Expect a drive that is predominantly on highways, making it a straightforward journey. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive detours. The $48 fuel estimate should help you budget for this specific drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
152.1 miles from South Bend, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 31
99.1 mi
2h 4m
I 69
74.4 mi
1h 22m
South Michigan Street
28.2 mi
38m
I 465
24.4 mi
28m
US 231
23.1 mi
30m
West 6th Street
16.4 mi
19m
Mill Street
14.3 mi
16m
SR 245
4.6 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
US 31
— 99.1 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Bend, IN and Troy, IN.
1
Start on East Navarre Street
131 ft·12 sec·East Navarre Street
2
Turn left onto SR 933; BUS US 31
444 ft·12 sec·North Michigan Street
3
Enter roundabout onto North Michigan Street
125 ft·7 sec·North Michigan Street
4
Continue on North Michigan Street
196 ft·6 sec·North Michigan Street
5
Continue on North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
0.6 mi·2 min·North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
6
Continue on South Michigan Street
2.5 mi·6 min·South Michigan Street
7
Enter roundabout onto BUS US 31
125 ft·7 sec·South Michigan Street
8
Continue on BUS US 31
0.6 mi·1 min·South Michigan Street
9
Continue on BUS US 31
25 mi·29 min·South Michigan Street
10
Merge onto US 31
0.9 mi·1 min·US 31
11
Turn slight right
512 ft·6 sec
12
Continue on US 31
85 mi·1 hr 44 min·US 31
13
Turn right onto East 226th Street
270 ft·10 sec·East 226th Street
14
Turn left
320 ft·50 sec
15
Continue on this road
320 ft·25 sec·this road
16
Turn right onto East 226th Street
270 ft·9 sec·East 226th Street
17
Turn right onto US 31
13 mi·17 min·US 31
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit onto US 31
0.6 mi·55 sec·US 31
Exit 123Toward I 465, US 31 SouthUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 465 WestUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto I 465
4.8 mi·5 min·I 465
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 465
20 mi·23 min·I 465
Toward I 465 South
22
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 69
47 mi·53 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
27 mi·28 min·I 69
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Exit 87Toward US 231: Bloomfield, Crane
26
Keep slight left at fork
106 ft·2 sec
27
Turn left onto US 231
17 mi·23 min·US 231
28
Turn right onto US 50; US 150; US 231
0.2 mi·11 sec·West Broadway Street
Use the right lane.
29
Continue on US 50; US 150; US 231
14 mi·16 min·Mill Street
30
Continue on US 231; SR 56
6.1 mi·7 min·US 231; SR 56
31
Turn right onto US 231; SR 56
16 mi·19 min·West 6th Street
32
Take the exit
226 ft·8 sec
33
Turn slight left onto County Road 300 East
0.2 mi·26 sec·County Road 300 East
34
Continue on West Medcalf Street
1.4 mi·2 min·West Medcalf Street
35
Turn right onto SR 245
4.6 mi·8 min·SR 245
36
Turn left onto SR 162; SR 245
3.1 mi·5 min·County Road 1600 North
Use the straight / right lanes.
37
Continue on SR 245
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
38
Continue on SR 245
4.5 mi·8 min·County Road 800 East
39
Continue on SR 70
2.7 mi·4 min·County Road 800 North
40
Turn straight onto SR 66
3.1 mi·5 min·SR 66
41
Turn left onto SR 545
0.2 mi·27 sec·Main Street
42
Turn right onto Sycamore Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·Sycamore Street
43
Arrive at destination
Spring Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 25m estimated drive time, starting your journey in the morning is advisable to ensure you arrive with daylight to spare. This route is manageable in a single day, so you have flexibility with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 99.1 miles on US 31, as services might be more spaced out there. A single planned stop should be sufficient for a break or refueling, aligning with the route's efficient nature. The $48 fuel cost is a good baseline for your budget, but always check current prices.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 152.1 miles from South Bend, IN, or about 3h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.1 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 67 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.1 miles or 3h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Troy, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Bend, 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 South Bend, IN
This is one driving day of about 304.3 miles and 6h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from South Bend, 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 99.1 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 114.8 and 228.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
114.8 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|US 31
Turn right onto US 31
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
127.8 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|US 31
Take the exit onto US 31 toward I 465, US 31 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 123
Toward I 465, US 31 South
7
128.4 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 465 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 465 West
7
153.5 mi into trip|~3h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 69 South: Evansville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
6
228.7 mi into trip|~4h 40m in
Take the exit toward US 231: Bloomfield, Crane
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 87
Toward US 231: Bloomfield, Crane
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.57 one way
$95.15 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$52.23
$104.47
premium
$4.89
$58.56
$117.12
diesel
$5.61
$67.19
$134.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.3
1
$31.95
$14.61
Efficient EV
76.1
0
$26.63
$12.17
EV Truck/SUV
121.7
1
$42.60
$19.48
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
South Bend, IN
Night
in South Bend on Saturday
Local time
9:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Troy, IN
Evening
in Troy on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
7 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
6h 25m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
National Memorial
Abraham Lincoln grew from youth to manhood on this southern Indiana soil. Many character and moral traits of one of the world's most respected leaders was formed and nurtured here. Explore Lincoln's b...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 283.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with about 75% of the route utilizing major roadways like US 31 and I-69. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including one segment of 99.1 miles solely on US 31. While the highway share is high, the route still offers a sense of progression through Indiana's landscape. The feel is less about winding scenic byways and more about covering ground efficiently. It's a route designed for steady progress rather than frequent stops for sightseeing.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.1 mi on US 31.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 31 and I 69. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 114.8 miles in near US 31.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 304.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 114.8 miles (US 31): Lane positioning matters here; at 127.8 miles (US 31): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from South Bend, IN to Troy, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Crane along the way.
Crane
228.7 mi in|~4h 40m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 25m. Total distance: 304.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 25m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.1 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.
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 Troy, 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: at 114.8 miles (US 31): Lane positioning matters here; at 127.8 miles (US 31): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Troy, IN before the return drive.
