If you are planning a quick excursion through the Indiana heartland, the 71.1-mile journey from Southport to Nebraska is an efficient way to traverse the Midwest. Expect a travel time of approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of roughly $11, the route is both budget-friendly and straightforward for any driver. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major roadways, which keeps navigation simple and predictable. Since both locations are firmly within Indiana, you can anticipate a consistent regional feel throughout the entire excursion. Whether you are headed out for business or a brief change of scenery, the lack of required stops ensures you can reach your destination without unnecessary delays.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.5 miles from Southport, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
34.4 mi
37m
SR 7
14.9 mi
22m
US 50
8.7 mi
12m
US Highway 50
3.9 mi
5m
State Street
3.9 mi
5m
Jonathan Moore Pike
2.7 mi
5m
East Southport Road
1.9 mi
4m
East County Road 540 North
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 34.4 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southport, IN and Nebraska, IN.
1
Start on this road
51 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto East Southport Road
1.9 mi·4 min·East Southport Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
4
Merge onto I 65
34 mi·37 min·I 65
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 68Toward SR 46: Columbus, Nashville, Bloomington
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
7
Merge onto SR 46
2.7 mi·5 min·Jonathan Moore Pike
8
Continue on SR 46
3.9 mi·5 min·State Street
9
Continue on SR 7
15 mi·22 min·SR 7
10
Turn left onto US 50
3.9 mi·5 min·US Highway 50
11
Enter roundabout onto US 50
137 ft·2 sec·US 50
12
Continue on US 50
8.6 mi·12 min·US 50
13
Turn left onto East County Road 540 North
56 ft·2 sec·East County Road 540 North
14
Arrive at destination
East County Road 540 North
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time to avoid local traffic spikes. Since the entire drive takes less than two hours, you likely won't need to plan for lengthy rest stops, though it is always wise to check your fuel levels before hitting I-65. Keep in mind that with 87% of the journey on high-speed roads, maintaining a steady pace is key to arriving within the estimated 1 hour and 35 minutes. Given the $11 fuel estimate, consider filling up in Southport to ensure you have enough range to complete the trip without needing to detour for gas. Utilize the 34.4-mile stretch on I-65 to make your primary progress before settling into the final leg on SR-7 and US-50.
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 35.5 miles from Southport, IN, or about 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.4 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 16 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.5 miles or 41m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nebraska, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Southport, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Southport, IN
This is one driving day of about 71.1 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Southport, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 34.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 60.9
North Vernon, Indiana
Hours: 3–9 pm
+18123529898
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 62.4 — 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|East Southport Road
Turn left onto East Southport Road
Navigation decision point
6
36.7 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the exit toward SR 46: Columbus, Nashville, Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 68
Toward SR 46: Columbus, Nashville, Bloomington
5
36.8 mi into trip|~43m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
58.5 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|US 50 / US Highway 50
Turn left onto US 50 / US Highway 50
Navigation decision point
4
62.4 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|US 50
Enter roundabout onto US 50
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.12 one way
$22.23 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.20
$24.41
premium
$4.89
$13.68
$27.37
diesel
$5.61
$15.70
$31.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.3
0
$7.47
$3.41
Efficient EV
17.8
0
$6.22
$2.84
EV Truck/SUV
28.4
0
$9.95
$4.55
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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 17, 2026
Origin
Southport, IN
Late night
in Southport on Sunday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Nebraska, IN
Late night
in Nebraska on Sunday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
68°F
Columbus, IN
36 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
19 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 35m 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 71.1-mile trek is a highway-focused drive that relies heavily on I-65, SR-7, and US-50. With 87% of your time spent on highways, you should prepare for a consistent, fast-paced experience rather than a slow, winding backroad tour. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during a 34.4-mile segment on I-65, where you can settle into a steady rhythm. As you transition from the interstate onto state and US routes, the character of the road shifts, requiring a bit more focus as you navigate toward Nebraska. Expect a functional, direct driving experience that prioritizes efficiency over technical, complex maneuvers.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.4 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and SR 7. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Southport Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 35m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Southport Road): Navigation decision point; at 36.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Southport, IN and Nebraska, IN, road signs point toward Nashville and Bloomington.
Nashville
36.7 mi in|~42m
Bloomington
36.7 mi in|~42m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 71.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 34.4 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: near the start (East Southport Road): Navigation decision point; at 36.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Nebraska, IN before heading back.
