Terre Haute, IN to Hartford, IN is 167.4 miles and takes about 3h 30m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway and I 74, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mix of interstate cruising and surface roads, making it a straightforward, single-day excursion. It’s a practical option if you're looking for a relatively short drive with minimal complexity.
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
83.7 miles from Terre Haute, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
67.3 mi
1h 13m
I 74
38 mi
40m
South Michigan Avenue
22.4 mi
33m
US 50
18.6 mi
24m
West Raymond Street
7.8 mi
12m
Cole Lane
2.7 mi
6m
US 421
2.5 mi
4m
Southeastern Avenue
1.8 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 Hartford, 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
38 mi·40 min·I 74; US 421
13
Take the exit onto US 421
0.4 mi·55 sec·US 421
Exit 132Toward US 421: Greensburg
14
Turn right onto US 421
0.1 mi·11 sec·US 421
15
Continue on US 421
1.9 mi·2 min·US 421
16
Turn right onto US 421
0.4 mi·38 sec·North Ireland Street
17
Turn left onto US 421; SR 46
0.4 mi·36 sec·West Main Street
18
Turn slight right onto US 421
22 mi·33 min·South Michigan Avenue
19
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; US 421
1.0 mi·1 min·US 50; US 421
20
Continue on US 50; SR 129
18 mi·23 min·US 50; SR 129
21
Continue on US 50
477 ft·7 sec·US 50
Use the right lane.
22
Turn right onto Cole Lane
2.7 mi·6 min·Cole Lane
Use the right lane.
23
Continue on Nelson Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·Nelson Road
24
Turn right onto Hartford Pike
0.3 mi·1 min·Hartford Pike
25
Turn left onto Hartford Ridge Road
40 ft·1 sec·Hartford Ridge Road
26
Arrive at destination
Hartford Ridge Road
Trip Plan
Given the 3.5-hour drive time, leaving Terre Haute, IN in the morning allows ample time to reach Hartford, IN before evening. With only one recommended stop implied by the data, you can choose to make it a quick break or skip it altogether and enjoy the flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel as the longest stretch without services could be up to 67.3 miles on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The $26 fuel estimate should give you a good baseline for budgeting.
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 83.7 miles from Terre Haute, IN, or about 1h 39m 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 37 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.7 miles or 1h 39m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hartford, 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 167.4 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 164.2 — 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
5
119.9 mi into trip|~2h 18m in|US 421
Take the exit onto US 421 toward US 421: Greensburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 132
Toward US 421: Greensburg
5
164.2 mi into trip|~3h 22m in|Cole Lane
Turn right onto Cole Lane
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.17 one way
$52.34 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.73
$57.47
premium
$4.89
$32.21
$64.43
diesel
$5.61
$36.96
$73.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.2
0
$17.58
$8.04
Efficient EV
41.9
0
$14.65
$6.70
EV Truck/SUV
67
0
$23.44
$10.71
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Terre Haute, IN
Morning
in Terre Haute on Tuesday
Local time
7:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hartford, IN
Morning
in Hartford on Tuesday
Local time
7:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Sunny
NW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 3:27PM EDT until April 26 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 11:49AM EDT until April 23 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
71°F
Greenwood, IN
84 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
10 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
3h 30m 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 36% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch covering 67.3 miles on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. You'll transition from interstate to surface roads as you approach your destination. Expect a more rural feel once you leave the main highways, with fewer exits and a more relaxed pace.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 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 17 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 167.4 miles you will encounter 17 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 167.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
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 14 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 Hartford, 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 14 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Hartford, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
