Origin
Thorntown, IN
Morning in Thorntown on Sunday
Local time
10:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thorntown, IN to Indianapolis, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
37.1 mi
60 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thorntown, IN
Vladislav Anchuk
Trip Overview
This straightforward 37.1-mile drive from Thorntown, IN, to Indianapolis, IN, is easily manageable in about 50 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. Primarily utilizing US 52 and I-65, with a brief segment on IN-47, this route keeps you on well-maintained roads for the majority of the journey. With highway travel accounting for 95% of the route, you'll experience an efficient commute between these two Midwest locations. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $6, so you won't need to budget heavily for gas. Given its short distance and quick duration, this trip is ideal for a spontaneous outing or a convenient connection.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 52 | 17.6 mi | 20m |
| I 65 | 15.4 mi | 19m |
| IN-47 | 2 mi | 3m |
| North West Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Indiana Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Capitol Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Market Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 52
— 17.6 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thorntown, IN and Indianapolis, 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
15 mi
·
19 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 114
Toward Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on North West Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North West Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn slight left onto Indiana Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Indiana Avenue
9
Turn right onto North Capitol Avenue
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Capitol Avenue
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left onto West Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Market Street
Use the left lane.
11
At end of road, turn right
257 ft
·
28 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.6 miles from Thorntown, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 20 and 37.1 — 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.
7
35.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 114
Toward Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street
4
36.7 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
North Capitol Avenue
Turn right onto North Capitol Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
36.9 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
West Market Street
Turn left onto West Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
37.1 mi into trip
|
~50m in
At end of road, turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.80 one way
$11.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.37 | $12.74 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.14 | $14.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.19 | $16.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.90 | $1.78 |
| Efficient EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.25 | $1.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.19 | $2.37 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Indianapolis, IN
Morning in Indianapolis on Sunday
Local time
10:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21 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
50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for nearly the entire 37.1 miles, with 95% of the journey on major roads. You'll spend a significant uninterrupted stretch of 17.6 miles on US 52, offering a consistent pace before merging onto I-65. The transition between US 52 and I-65 is smooth, characteristic of efficient Midwest highway systems. This route is designed for direct travel rather than scenic exploration, prioritizing speed and ease of navigation.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.6 mi on US 52.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 52 and I 65. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 20 miles in near I 65.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 50m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 35.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.7 miles (North Capitol Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Indianapolis, IN
Full guide →Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana and also the state’s largest city. Efforts to beautify and modernize the city have brought Indianapolis into the 21st century as a world-class destination for everything from business meetings and trade conventions to backpackers making their way across the States. Indianapolis is widely hailed as the "Racing Capital of the World" because of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500 and Brickyard 400 at the Brickyard, and as the "Amateur Sports Capital of America" for hosting the NCAA Hall of Champions. The city has several attractions outside of sports, including museums, a large zoo, over 100 ethnic restaurants, several arts and historic districts, and a revitalized downtown. Although Indy has been mocked with the epithet "India-noplace", visitors will encounter a mix of a large metropolitan city and a simple Midwestern community.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 37.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.6 miles on US 52. 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 20 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.7 miles (North Capitol Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Indianapolis, IN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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