If you are planning a quick excursion from Southport to Utah, Indiana, you are looking at a straightforward 88-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 57 minutes to complete. This drive is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you can easily head out and return without needing an overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $13 for fuel makes this an economical choice for a weekend getaway. Navigating this route keeps you entirely within the Midwest, offering a consistent regional feel as you transition between these Indiana locations. Since the entire journey is highway-focused, you will find it to be a very practical and efficient way to travel across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44 miles from Southport, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
56.3 mi
1h
SR 48
10.1 mi
17m
SR 101
6.2 mi
9m
East Edgewood Avenue
5.8 mi
10m
SR 148
5.1 mi
9m
East Southport Road
2.4 mi
5m
South Emerson Avenue
1 mi
1m
Southeastern Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 56.3 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southport, IN and Utah, IN.
1
Start on this road
51 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto East Southport Road
2.4 mi·5 min·East Southport Road
3
Turn left onto South Emerson Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·South Emerson Avenue
4
Turn right onto East Edgewood Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·East Edgewood Avenue
5
Enter roundabout onto South Arlington Avenue
93 ft·1 sec·South Arlington Avenue
6
Continue on South Arlington Avenue
113 ft·2 sec·South Arlington Avenue
7
Continue on East Edgewood Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·East Edgewood Avenue
8
Enter roundabout onto East Edgewood Avenue
86 ft·1 sec·East Edgewood Avenue
9
Continue on East Edgewood Avenue
1.4 mi·2 min·East Edgewood Avenue
10
Enter roundabout onto South Franklin Road
133 ft·2 sec·South Franklin Road
11
Continue on South Franklin Road
127 ft·2 sec·South Franklin Road
12
Turn straight onto East Edgewood Avenue
2.4 mi·4 min·East Edgewood Avenue
13
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Southeastern Avenue
14
Turn left onto Acton Road
319 ft·11 sec·Acton Road
15
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 74 East, US 421 South: Cincinnati
16
Merge onto I 74; US 421
56 mi·1 hr·I 74; US 421
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 156Toward SR 101: Sunman, Milan
18
Turn right onto SR 101
6.2 mi·9 min·SR 101
19
Turn left onto SR 48
10 mi·17 min·SR 48
20
Turn right onto SR 148
5.1 mi·9 min·SR 148
Use the right lane.
21
Turn right onto US 50
0.1 mi·18 sec·Green Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto George Street
468 ft·24 sec·George Street
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
George Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, allowing you to easily avoid peak traffic hours. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops since the total duration is under two hours, but it is always wise to ensure your tank is ready for the $13 fuel investment before you hit the road. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition from I-74 onto the state route network, as these turns require more attention than staying on a single interstate. Taking advantage of the quick travel time means you can dedicate your energy to your arrival in Utah rather than spending the day exhausted from behind the wheel.
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 44 miles from Southport, IN, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.3 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 19 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44 miles or 55m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Utah, 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 88 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Southport, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 74 for about 56.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 82.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.5 mi into trip|~9m in|South Arlington Avenue
Enter roundabout onto South Arlington Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
6.9 mi into trip|~13m in|South Franklin Road
Enter roundabout onto South Franklin Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
9.6 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the ramp toward I 74 East, US 421 South: Cincinnati
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 East, US 421 South: Cincinnati
6
66.1 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward SR 101: Sunman, Milan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 156
Toward SR 101: Sunman, Milan
5
82.6 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|SR 148
Turn right onto SR 148
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.76 one way
$27.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.11
$30.21
premium
$4.89
$16.93
$33.87
diesel
$5.61
$19.43
$38.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.4
0
$9.24
$4.22
Efficient EV
22
0
$7.70
$3.52
EV Truck/SUV
35.2
0
$12.32
$5.63
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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 20, 2026
Origin
Southport, IN
Late night
in Southport on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Utah, IN
Late night
in Utah on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Greensburg, IN
44 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
4 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 57m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive defined by its highway-focused nature, as 100% of your 88-mile journey takes place on major roads. Your route relies on a combination of I-74, SR 48, and SR 101 to get you to your destination. You will spend a significant chunk of the trip on the longest uninterrupted stretch, which covers 56.3 miles along I-74. This allows for steady, consistent speeds for the majority of your time behind the wheel. As you transition from the interstate onto state routes, the character of the drive shifts, providing a change of pace from the faster, heavy-traffic environment of the initial highway segment.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.3 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and SR 48. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in near South Arlington Avenue.
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 57m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles (South Arlington Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.9 miles (South Franklin Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Southport, IN to Utah, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Milan along the way.
Milan
66.1 mi in|~1h 19m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 88 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 56.3 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 4.5 miles (South Arlington Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.9 miles (South Franklin Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Utah, IN before heading back.
