Terre Haute, IN to Burlington, IN is 125 miles and takes about 2 hours 43 minutes via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway and North Michigan Road, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Indiana, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a turn-heavy local experience for much of the journey, rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop and a short duration, this trip is ideal for a single-day excursion when you want a straightforward drive between two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.5 miles from Terre Haute, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
62.1 mi
1h 7m
North Michigan Road
17.5 mi
26m
SR 29
13.9 mi
20m
65
7.3 mi
8m
South Michigan Road
6.3 mi
9m
I 74
5.5 mi
6m
Zionsville Road
2.5 mi
4m
1st Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 62.1 mi, about 1h 7m
Traffic on I-465
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 66 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~4,442 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,164
Quietest
2 AM
~364 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Terre Haute, IN and Burlington, IN.
1
Start on US 41; US 150
295 ft·15 sec·North 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto US 150
0.1 mi·18 sec·Cherry Street
3
Turn left onto 1st Street
1.3 mi·2 min·1st Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto Hulman Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·Hulman Street
5
Turn right onto US 41; US 150
1.3 mi·2 min·South 3rd Street
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·25 sec
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 70; US 40
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
8
Take the exit
2.3 mi·4 min
Exit 69Toward I 465, I 74Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 465, I 74Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 465 North, I 74 West: PeoriaUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 74; I 465
5.5 mi·6 min·I 74; I 465
12
Keep slight left at fork onto 65
7.3 mi·8 min·65
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 23Toward 86th StreetUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
385 ft·11 sec
Exit 23Toward 86th StreetUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto West 86th Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·West 86th Street
16
Turn left onto Zionsville Road
2.5 mi·4 min·Zionsville Road
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on South Main Street
0.1 mi·17 sec·South Main Street
18
Turn right onto East Sycamore Street
1.1 mi·1 min·East Sycamore Street
19
Turn left onto US 421
6.3 mi·9 min·South Michigan Road
Use the left lane.
20
Enter roundabout onto US 421
131 ft·2 sec·North Michigan Road
21
Continue on US 421
17 mi·25 min·North Michigan Road
22
Continue on SR 29
14 mi·20 min·SR 29
23
Turn right onto SR 22
78 ft·1 sec·SR 22
24
Arrive at destination
SR 22
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour 43-minute duration, leaving Terre Haute, IN in the morning allows plenty of time for your destination of Burlington, IN. With only one stop recommended over 125 miles, you can be flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $20. A specific tip for this route: be mindful of the frequent turns as you transition onto North Michigan Road and SR 29, as these segments may require more attention.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.5 miles from Terre Haute, IN, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.1 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.5 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burlington, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Terre Haute, 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 Terre Haute, IN
This is one driving day of about 125 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Terre Haute, 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 Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 62.1 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 65.4 and 83.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
65.4 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 465, I 74
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 69
Toward I 465, I 74
8
67.6 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 465, I 74
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 465, I 74
8
68.9 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 465 North, I 74 West: Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 465 North, I 74 West: Peoria
7
82.7 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward 86th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 23
Toward 86th Street
8
83.1 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 86th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 23
Toward 86th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.84 one way
$43.68 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.80
$23.63
$47.26
premium
$5.37
$26.42
$52.84
diesel
$5.52
$27.18
$54.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-25.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.5
0
$13.13
$6.00
Efficient EV
31.3
0
$10.94
$5.00
EV Truck/SUV
50
0
$17.50
$8.00
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Terre Haute, IN
Evening
in Terre Haute on Wednesday
Local time
7:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Burlington, IN
Evening
in Burlington on Wednesday
Local time
7:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Sunny
SSE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
85°F
Clermont, IN
63 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
3 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
2h 43m 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 trip offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, with only 16% of the route on highways. You'll spend most of your time navigating local roads, which means frequent turns and a more intimate connection with the landscape. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 62.1 miles on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. Be prepared for a varied driving pace as you transition between the highway and the more winding local segments.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.1 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 65.4 miles in.
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 18 significant decision points across 125 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 65.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Terre Haute is a city of 61,000 people (2019) in west-central Indiana, about 180 mi (300 km) south of Chicago and 1 hour southwest of Indianapolis. Terre Haute is one of the largest cities in the Wabash Valley and is known as the "Queen City of the Wabash". The city is home to several higher education institutions, including Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana.
Top landmarks
•Vigo County Courthouse — historical courthouse in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States
•Citizens' Trust Company Building — historic building in Terre Haute, Indiana, USA
•Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church — church building in Terre Haute, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 125 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.1 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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.
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 Burlington, 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. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 65.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Burlington, IN before heading back.
