Terre Haute, IN to Meridian Hills, IN is 85.8 miles and takes about 1h 49m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, making it a straightforward trip within Indiana. Given its relatively short duration and local road character, this route is ideal for a single day of travel. You'll primarily navigate surface streets and local highways, so don't expect a high-speed interstate journey. Plan for a relaxed pace as you make your way to Meridian Hills.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.9 miles from Terre Haute, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
69.1 mi
1h 16m
Kessler Boulevard North Drive
4.5 mi
9m
Kessler Boulevard West Drive
3.1 mi
6m
South Holt Road
2.1 mi
3m
North Meridian Street
2 mi
3m
1st Street
1.3 mi
2m
South 3rd Street
1.3 mi
2m
North Tibbs Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 69.1 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Terre Haute, IN and Meridian Hills, 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
69 mi·1 hr 16 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 77Toward Holt RoadUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto South Holt Road
2.1 mi·3 min·South Holt Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto West 10th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West 10th Street
11
Turn left onto North Tibbs Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·North Tibbs Avenue
12
Turn right onto West 16th Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·West 16th Street
13
Turn left onto Kessler Boulevard North Drive
4.5 mi·9 min·Kessler Boulevard North Drive
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Kessler Boulevard West Drive
3.1 mi·6 min·Kessler Boulevard West Drive
15
Turn left onto North Meridian Street
2.0 mi·3 min·North Meridian Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto East 75th Street
168 ft·4 sec·East 75th Street
17
Arrive at destination
East 75th Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours, this route offers significant flexibility. You can depart anytime that suits your schedule, and there's no need to rush stops. Since the drive is relatively short and largely on local roads, consider leaving mid-morning to avoid peak commuter times in Terre Haute and Meridian Hills. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 69.1-mile stretch on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, as services might be less frequent on these local roads. Given the low fuel cost estimate of $13, filling up before you leave Terre Haute should be sufficient.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.9 miles from Terre Haute, IN, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.1 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.9 miles or 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meridian Hills, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Terre Haute, IN
This is one driving day of about 85.8 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Terre Haute, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 69.1 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 76.1 — 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
72.4 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward Holt Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 77
Toward Holt Road
6
72.8 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|South Holt Road
Turn left onto South Holt Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
76.1 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|Kessler Boulevard North Drive
Turn left onto Kessler Boulevard North Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.41 one way
$26.83 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.73
$29.46
premium
$4.89
$16.51
$33.02
diesel
$5.61
$18.94
$37.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.7
0
$9.01
$4.12
Efficient EV
21.5
0
$7.51
$3.43
EV Truck/SUV
34.3
0
$12.01
$5.49
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 17, 2026
Origin
Terre Haute, IN
Morning
in Terre Haute on Sunday
Local time
11:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Meridian Hills, IN
Morning
in Meridian Hills on Sunday
Local time
11:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°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
2 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
1h 49m 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 is a turn-heavy local drive, with 0% of the route on highways. Expect frequent turns and changes in scenery as you navigate through towns and residential areas. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 69.1 miles along the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, offering a decent period of consistent driving before you transition back to more local roads. The profile suggests a journey that requires your attention, as you'll be managing traffic signals and varying speed limits frequently. It's less about open road and more about engaging with the local infrastructure.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.1 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort5/10
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 85.8 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 72.4 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 1h 49m. Total distance: 85.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.1 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 72.4 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 Meridian Hills, IN before heading back.
