Terre Haute, IN to Delaware, IN is 148.8 miles and takes about 2h 58m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway and I 74, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest and entirely within Indiana, making it a straightforward drive. Given the relatively short duration, it's ideal for a same-day excursion. You'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface roads, offering a balanced driving experience. Plan for a quick trip that doesn't require an overnight stay.
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
74.4 miles from Terre Haute, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
67.3 mi
1h 13m
I 74
55 mi
59m
SR 129
9.7 mi
17m
West Raymond Street
7.8 mi
12m
Southeastern Avenue
1.8 mi
2m
SR 46
1.5 mi
2m
1st Street
1.3 mi
2m
South 3rd Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 67.3 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Terre Haute, IN and Delaware, 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
67 mi·1 hr 13 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 75Toward Sam Jones ExpresswayUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto Sam Jones Expressway
1.2 mi·1 min·Sam Jones Expressway
10
Continue on West Raymond Street
7.8 mi·12 min·West Raymond Street
Use the left lane.
11
Turn slight right onto Southeastern Avenue
1.8 mi·2 min·Southeastern Avenue
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on I 74; US 421
55 mi·59 min·I 74; US 421
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 149Toward SR 229: Oldenburg, Batesville
14
Turn right onto SR 229
0.1 mi·16 sec·SR 229
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto SR 46
1.5 mi·2 min·SR 46
16
Turn right onto SR 129
9.7 mi·17 min·SR 129
Use the right lane.
17
Turn right onto 3rd Street
433 ft·19 sec·3rd Street
18
Continue on North Delaware College Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·North Delaware College Street
19
Turn right onto East Delaware 2nd Street
44 ft·2 sec·East Delaware 2nd Street
20
Arrive at destination
East Delaware 2nd Street
Trip Plan
With a total drive time under 3 hours, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid early rush hour if any exists near Terre Haute. There's only one recommended stop, suggesting you can push through if desired, or take a brief break at your leisure. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer highway segments, as the estimated fuel cost is $23. The mixed highway and surface road profile means you'll need to adjust your speed and awareness as you transition between road types.
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 74.4 miles from Terre Haute, IN, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.3 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.4 miles or 1h 26m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Delaware, 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 148.8 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 67.3 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 3 and 137.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3 mi into trip|~6m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.3 mi into trip|~6m in|I 70; US 40 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 70; US 40 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
70.6 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward Sam Jones Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 75
Toward Sam Jones Expressway
6
136.9 mi into trip|~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward SR 229: Oldenburg, Batesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 149
Toward SR 229: Oldenburg, Batesville
5
137.3 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|SR 229
Turn right onto SR 229
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.26 one way
$46.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.54
$51.08
premium
$4.89
$28.64
$57.27
diesel
$5.61
$32.85
$65.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.6
0
$15.62
$7.14
Efficient EV
37.2
0
$13.02
$5.95
EV Truck/SUV
59.5
0
$20.83
$9.52
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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
Terre Haute, IN
Morning
in Terre Haute on Tuesday
Local time
8:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Delaware, IN
Morning
in Delaware on Tuesday
Local time
8:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
18 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 58m 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?
This drive is a blend of highway and surface roads, with 45% of the route on major highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 67.3 miles, likely on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. Expect to transition from faster highway speeds to more local road conditions as you progress. The presence of frequent exits on the highway sections means you'll encounter varying traffic patterns and potential slowdowns.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.3 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 148.8 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (I 70; US 40 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Terre Haute, IN to Delaware, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Batesville along the way.
Delaware has beautiful beaches and parks. The more popular beaches are in: Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach. Most parks in Delaware's very extensive and well maintained park system are free or low-cost. The First State National Historical Park a group of historical sites that cover the early colonial history of Delaware and the role Delaware played in the establishment of the United States, leading up to it being the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
It is one of the smallest states in the United States. It has beautiful beaches, and activities vary from business-friendly Wilmington to the rural southern parts of the state.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 148.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.3 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 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 Delaware, 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 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (I 70; US 40 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Delaware, IN before heading back.
