This 220.2-mile drive from Sullivan, Indiana, to Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a manageable one-day adventure, taking approximately 4 hours and 18 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 61% of your journey on major roadways like I-69 and US 41. Expect a fuel cost of around $34 for this trip. Given its duration and straightforward path through the Midwest, it's an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. This drive offers a practical way to connect two points within Indiana.
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
110.1 miles from Sullivan, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
110.9 mi
2h
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
70.8 mi
1h 20m
US 41
16.2 mi
22m
Binford Boulevard
6.4 mi
9m
SR 641
5.5 mi
6m
North Section Street
2.8 mi
5m
North Keystone Avenue
2.7 mi
5m
I 70
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 110.9 mi, about 2h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sullivan, IN and Fort Wayne, IN.
1
Start on South State Street
29 ft·6 sec·South State Street
2
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·East Washington Street
3
Turn right onto North Section Street
2.5 mi·4 min·North Section Street
4
Take the ramp onto North Section Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·North Section Street
5
Merge onto US 41; US 150
16 mi·22 min·US 41; US 150
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Toward SR 641 North
7
Continue on SR 641
5.5 mi·6 min·SR 641
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·58 sec
Toward I-70 East: Indianapolis
9
Merge onto I 70
71 mi·1 hr 20 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
2.3 mi·3 min·I 70
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 85BToward North Keystone AvenueUse the right lane.
12
Turn slight right onto North Rural Street
171 ft·4 sec·North Rural Street
13
Continue on North Keystone Avenue
2.7 mi·5 min·North Keystone Avenue
14
Turn right onto East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive
0.2 mi·20 sec·East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive
15
Continue on Binford Boulevard
6.4 mi·9 min·Binford Boulevard
Use the right lane.
16
Merge onto I 69
2.8 mi·3 min·I 69
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
108 mi·1 hr 57 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Exit 312AToward Coldwater Road South
19
Turn right onto Coldwater Road
0.2 mi·18 sec·Coldwater Road
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto East Washington Center Road
0.3 mi·40 sec·East Washington Center Road
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto Dartmouth Drive
0.2 mi·38 sec·Dartmouth Drive
22
Arrive at destination
Dartmouth Drive
Trip Plan
Starting your 220.2-mile journey from Sullivan early in the morning will give you ample daylight and flexibility for the 4-hour and 18-minute drive. While this route is designed for a single day, there's one recommended stop, so plan your breaks accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 110.9 miles on I-69, as services can be spaced out on interstates. The estimated fuel cost is $34, so budget accordingly. This route is straightforward, so focus on enjoying the progress towards Fort Wayne.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 110.1 miles from Sullivan, IN, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.9 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 48 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.1 miles or 2h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Wayne, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sullivan, 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 Sullivan, IN
This is one driving day of about 220.2 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Sullivan, 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 I 69 for about 110.9 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 0 and 219.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
25.7 mi into trip|~35m in|I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
98.8 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward North Keystone Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 85B
Toward North Keystone Avenue
6
111.1 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|I 69
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
219.5 mi into trip|~4h 17m in|Coldwater Road
Turn right onto Coldwater Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.43 one way
$68.85 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.80
$75.60
premium
$4.89
$42.38
$84.75
diesel
$5.61
$48.62
$97.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.1
0
$23.12
$10.57
Efficient EV
55.1
0
$19.27
$8.81
EV Truck/SUV
88.1
1
$30.83
$14.09
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 14, 2026
Origin
Sullivan, IN
Late night
in Sullivan on Sunday
Local time
12:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Wayne, IN
Late night
in Fort Wayne on Sunday
Local time
12:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 15 mph17% chanceLive 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
27 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
4h 18m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The British flag would not be raised above Fort Sackville Feb. 25, 1779. At 10 A.M., the garrison surrendered to American Colonel George Rogers Clark. His American army, aided by French residents of t...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll experience a predominantly highway-focused drive for this 220.2-mile trip. With 61% of the route on major roads, expect stretches of steady driving, including one continuous segment of 110.9 miles on I-69. The use of Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway (I-69) and US 41 suggests a mix of interstate speeds and potentially some sections on well-maintained US highways. This profile points to a drive characterized by efficiency rather than winding country lanes, making it a direct journey between your starting and ending points.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 110.9 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Washington Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 220.2 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: near the start (East Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 25.7 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Fort Wayne is a city in the northeastern part of Indiana, a state of the United States of America. It is 30 minutes from the western Ohio border and 70 minutes from the southern border of Michigan. With a population of around 260,000 in the city and 615,000 in the metropolitan area, it's Indiana's second largest city.
Fort Wayne is a metropolitan city with a small community feel. It provides the rush of urban activity while never losing an intimate personal connection with those who live or visit here. Fort Wayne is the second largest city in the state of Indiana, located in Allen County, the largest county in the state by geography. It is the regional commerce and industry center for Northeast Indiana and also impacts the economies of Southwestern Michigan and Western Ohio. Fort Wayne has been and is a breeding ground for entrepreneurs and high tech industries.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 18m. Total distance: 220.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 110.9 miles on I 69. 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 Fort Wayne, 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: near the start (East Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 25.7 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Wayne, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
