Terre Haute to Galveston is 140.8 miles and takes about 2h 53m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway and North Meridian Street, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Indiana, connecting two points in the Midwest region. You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, making it a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate trip. With a duration under three hours and a low fuel cost, this is a very manageable one-day excursion.
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
70.4 miles from Terre Haute, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
62.1 mi
1h 7m
North Meridian Street
42 mi
52m
65
14.5 mi
17m
US 35
6.3 mi
9m
I 74
5.5 mi
6m
1st Street
1.3 mi
2m
South 3rd Street
1.3 mi
2m
US Highway 31 North
1.3 mi
1m
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 Galveston, 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
14 mi·17 min·65
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·23 sec
Exit 31Toward US 31 North: Meridian Street South, Westfield, KokomoUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward US 31 North: Westfield, Kokomo
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 31
0.2 mi·19 sec·US 31
Toward US 31 North: Westfield, Kokomo
16
Merge onto US 31
2.4 mi·3 min·North Meridian Street
17
Continue on US 31
1.3 mi·1 min·US Highway 31 North
18
Continue on US 31
40 mi·49 min·North Meridian Street
19
Take the exit onto US 35
0.3 mi·42 sec·US 35
Exit 166Toward US 35 North: Galveston, Logansport
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 35
6.0 mi·9 min·US 35
21
Turn left onto SR 18
122 ft·2 sec·West Jackson Street
22
Arrive at destination
SR 18
Trip Plan
Given the short drive time of under three hours, you have flexibility with your departure. Leaving Terre Haute in the morning allows ample time to reach Galveston well before evening. The route has only one recommended stop, and with a fuel cost around $25, you won't need to worry about frequent fill-ups. Pay attention to speed limit changes as you transition from highway to surface roads, especially as you approach and pass through towns. The 62.1-mile segment on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway is your longest continuous stretch before hitting local streets.
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 70.4 miles from Terre Haute, IN, or about 1h 23m 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 31 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.4 miles or 1h 23m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Galveston, 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 140.8 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 3 and 89.8 — 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.
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
8
89.8 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward US 31 North: Meridian Street South, Westfield, Kokomo
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 31
Toward US 31 North: Meridian Street South, West...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.41 one way
$46.82 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$25.50
$51.00
premium
$5.18
$28.73
$57.46
diesel
$5.35
$29.66
$59.31
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: 49.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.2
0
$14.78
$6.76
Efficient EV
35.2
0
$12.32
$5.63
EV Truck/SUV
56.3
0
$19.71
$9.01
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 May 27, 2026
Origin
Terre Haute, IN
Evening
in Terre Haute on Wednesday
Local time
5:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
NNE 5 mph59% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 27 at 12:26PM EDT until May 28 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 27 at 12:26PM EDT until May 28 at 9:30PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Galveston, IN
Evening
in Galveston on Wednesday
Local time
5:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
85°F
Clermont, IN
70 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
6 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
2h 53m 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 route features a highway share of 9%, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest stretch on a highway is 62.1 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. After this segment, you'll transition to city streets like North Meridian Street. Expect a mostly surface road profile with frequent intersections and varying speed limits as you move through towns.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 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?
10/10
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 3 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 140.8 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 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
911 ft501 ft
Total Climb
483 ft
Total Descent
184 ft
Highest Point
911 ft
~110.6 mi in
Elevation Range
411 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Terre Haute, IN and Galveston, IN, road signs point toward Westfield and Kokomo.
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 53m. Total distance: 140.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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 12 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 Galveston, 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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Galveston, IN before heading back.
