This 201.1-mile drive from Thorntown, Indiana, to Evansville, Indiana, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 49 minutes on the road, primarily utilizing I-69 and US-52, with a brief stint on I-465. With a fuel cost estimated at $31, this trip through the Midwest is budget-friendly for a day excursion. The route is designed for efficient travel, making it a practical option for getting between these two Indiana cities without significant detours.
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
100.6 miles from Thorntown, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
151.7 mi
2h 45m
US 52
17.6 mi
20m
I 465
13.7 mi
15m
I 65
5.9 mi
6m
East Lloyd Expressway
3.9 mi
4m
North Burkhardt Road
2.5 mi
4m
IN-47
2 mi
3m
East Walnut Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 151.7 mi, about 2h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thorntown, IN and Evansville, IN.
1
Start on SR 47
0.4 mi·37 sec·West Main Street
2
Continue on SR 47
2.0 mi·3 min·IN-47
3
Turn right onto US 52
4.8 mi·7 min·US 52
4
Take the ramp onto US 52
13 mi·13 min·US 52
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
5.9 mi·6 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
7
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 123Toward I 465 South
8
Merge onto I 465
14 mi·15 min·I 465
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 5Toward I 69 South: EvansvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 69
47 mi·53 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
104 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 69
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·39 sec
Exit 10Toward Lynch Road
13
Turn slight right
153 ft·4 sec
14
Turn straight onto Lynch Road
498 ft·15 sec·Lynch Road
15
Turn left onto North Burkhardt Road
2.5 mi·4 min·North Burkhardt Road
16
Turn right onto SR 66
3.9 mi·4 min·East Lloyd Expressway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward US 41 South
18
Merge onto US 41; SR 66
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 41; SR 66
19
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Walnut Street
20
Turn right
332 ft·25 sec
21
At end of road, turn right
123 ft·9 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 49-minute duration, this drive is ideal as a single-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Starting early can help you avoid any potential traffic, especially as you navigate the I-465 portion. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your breaks strategically, perhaps after the longest stretch on I-69, to refuel and stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the 151.7-mile segment on I-69, to ensure a smooth journey.
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 100.6 miles from Thorntown, IN, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.7 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 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.6 miles or 1h 57m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evansville, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Thorntown, 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 Thorntown, IN
This is one driving day of about 201.1 miles and 3h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Thorntown, 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 I 69 for about 151.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 20 and 193.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
20 mi into trip|~25m in|I 65
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
25.9 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward I 465 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 123
Toward I 465 South
7
40.5 mi into trip|~49m in
Take the exit toward I 69 South: Evansville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
5
88.8 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|I 69
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69 toward I 69 South: Evansville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 69 South: Evansville
5
193.1 mi into trip|~3h 36m in
Take the exit toward Lynch Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 10
Toward Lynch Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.44 one way
$62.88 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.52
$69.04
premium
$4.89
$38.70
$77.40
diesel
$5.61
$44.40
$88.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.3
0
$21.12
$9.65
Efficient EV
50.3
0
$17.60
$8.04
EV Truck/SUV
80.4
1
$28.15
$12.87
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 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 18, 2026
Origin
Thorntown, IN
Morning
in Thorntown on Sunday
Local time
10:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Evansville, IN
Morning
in Evansville on Sunday
Local time
9:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 5 to 14 mph88% chanceLive forecast
74°F
Bloomington, IN
101 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
15 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
3h 49m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The British flag would not be raised above Fort Sackville Feb. 25, 1779. At 10 A.M., the garrison surrendered to American Colonel George Rogers Clark. His American army, aided by French residents of t...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 152.6
Abraham Lincoln grew from youth to manhood on this southern Indiana soil. Many character and moral traits of one of the world's most respected leaders was formed and nurtured here. Explore Lincoln's b...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 173.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
For the most part, this is a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the route on high-speed roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 151.7 miles on I-69, offering a consistent pace. While predominantly interstate, there are transitions between major highways like I-69, US-52, and I-465, which will break up the uniformity. This route prioritizes direct travel, meaning the focus is on covering ground efficiently rather than winding through small towns or along scenic byways.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 151.7 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and US 52. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20 miles in near I 65.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 201.1 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 20 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 40.5 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 49m. Total distance: 201.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 151.7 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Evansville, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 20 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 40.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — George Rogers Clark National Historical Park and Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Evansville, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
