Terre Haute, IN to Pierceton, IN is 199.1 miles and takes about 4h 12m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway and SR 13, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, traversing the Midwest region. You'll primarily be on surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion when you want to avoid extensive highway time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
99.5 miles from Terre Haute, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
62.1 mi
1h 7m
North Meridian Street
58.8 mi
1h 13m
SR 13
28.6 mi
42m
Wabash Road
18.7 mi
23m
65
14.5 mi
17m
I 74
5.5 mi
6m
1st Street
1.3 mi
2m
South 3rd 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 Pierceton, 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
56 mi·1 hr 10 min·North Meridian Street
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 24 East: Peru, Fort Wayne
20
Merge onto US 24
19 mi·23 min·Wabash Road
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn left onto SR 13
29 mi·42 min·SR 13
22
Arrive at destination
SR 13
Trip Plan
Aim to depart Terre Haute in the morning to make the most of the 4h 12m drive time and arrive in Pierceton with plenty of daylight. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; however, planning for one stop is recommended. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $31, and it's wise to refuel before hitting longer stretches of surface roads. Pay attention to local traffic patterns, especially as you navigate through towns on SR 13.
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 99.5 miles from Terre Haute, IN, or about 2h 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 44 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.5 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pierceton, 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 199.1 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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
$33.10 one way
$66.20 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$36.06
$72.11
premium
$5.18
$40.63
$81.25
diesel
$5.35
$41.94
$83.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.7
0
$20.91
$9.56
Efficient EV
49.8
0
$17.42
$7.96
EV Truck/SUV
79.6
0
$27.87
$12.74
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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 14, 2026
Origin
Terre Haute, IN
Evening
in Terre Haute on Wednesday
Local time
5:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
ESE 1 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 14 at 12:49PM EDT until May 16 at 3:12AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Pierceton, IN
Evening
in Pierceton on Wednesday
Local time
5:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Clear
NE 5 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 14 at 12:49PM EDT until May 16 at 3:12AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 12m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 is mostly surface roads, with only an 18% highway share. You'll spend the majority of your time on local streets and state routes. The longest continuous stretch on a main highway is 62.1 miles on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. Expect to encounter more intersections and varied speed limits as you transition from highway driving to surface streets for the bulk of the trip.
Only 18% 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 199.1 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
927 ft501 ft
Total Climb
674 ft
Total Descent
248 ft
Highest Point
927 ft
~199.1 mi in
Elevation Range
426 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 Pierceton, IN, road signs point toward Westfield, Kokomo and Fort Wayne.
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 4h 12m. Total distance: 199.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 12m 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 15 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 Pierceton, 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 15 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Pierceton, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
