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Trip from Topeka, IN to Greenwood, IN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 23m

Distance

154.6 mi

249 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Fair

3 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 12m ★
6 AM
3h 24m
8 AM
3h 48m
10 AM
3h 32m
12 PM
3h 30m
3 PM
3h 33m
5 PM
3h 47m
8 PM
3h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Topeka, IN, IN

Topeka, IN

Edgar Colomba

Downtown Greenwood, IN, IN

Greenwood, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 154.6-mile drive from Topeka, Indiana, to Greenwood, Indiana, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 23 minutes. You'll navigate a mix of roads, including South Strawtown Pike, SR 9, and I-69, with about 43% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest route is around $24. This drive offers a straightforward travel experience, making it a practical choice for a day excursion. With just one recommended stop, you can cover this distance efficiently.

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

77.3 miles from Topeka, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Strawtown Pike 32.9 mi 38m
SR 9 30.9 mi 38m
I 69 19.5 mi 23m
South State Road 9 17.2 mi 25m
North Baseline Road 16.3 mi 24m
SR 37 12.9 mi 17m
South 600 West 5.3 mi 6m
South Emerson Avenue 4.6 mi 7m
Longest stretch: South Strawtown Pike — 32.9 mi, about 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Topeka, IN and Greenwood, IN.

1

Start on West Lake Street

88 ft · 8 sec · West Lake Street
2

Turn right onto South Main Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
3

Continue on South 600 West

5.3 mi · 6 min · South 600 West
4

Turn left onto US 6

3.0 mi · 3 min · US 6
5

Turn right onto North 290 West

3.4 mi · 3 min · North 290 West
6

At end of road, turn left onto West Albion Road

2.4 mi · 2 min · West Albion Road
7

Continue on West Jefferson Street

0.3 mi · 27 sec · West Jefferson Street
8

Turn right onto SR 9

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Orange Street
9

Continue on SR 9

16 mi · 24 min · North Baseline Road
10

Continue on SR 9

1.5 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
11

Turn slight right onto SR 9; SR 205

0.2 mi · 20 sec · River Street
12

Continue on SR 9

17 mi · 25 min · South State Road 9
13

Take the ramp onto SR 9

31 mi · 38 min · SR 9
14

Turn slight right onto SR 37

33 mi · 38 min · South Strawtown Pike
15

Enter roundabout onto SR 37

105 ft · 1 sec · SR 37
16

Continue on SR 37

13 mi · 17 min · SR 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Merge onto I 69

3.1 mi · 3 min · I 69
18

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 69
Use the slight right lane.
19

Continue on I 69

15 mi · 18 min · I 69
Exit 200 Toward I 465 South, I 69 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 52 Toward Emerson Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
22

Turn straight onto South Emerson Avenue

4.6 mi · 7 min · South Emerson Avenue
Use the straight lane.
23

Turn right onto East County Line Road South

1.3 mi · 2 min · East County Line Road South
24

Turn left onto North Meridian Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · North Meridian Street
25

Turn right onto Main Street West

95 ft · 1 sec · Main Street West
26

Arrive at destination

Main Street West

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 23 minutes, this route is ideal for a flexible day trip. You can depart Topeka at your convenience, perhaps in the morning to arrive in Greenwood by lunchtime. Plan for that single recommended stop to break up the 154.6 miles, ensuring you stay refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, with an estimated cost of $24, and consider topping off before heading out to avoid any mid-drive worries, especially during the 32.9-mile stretch on South Strawtown Pike.

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 77.3 miles from Topeka, IN, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.9 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 34 miles or 48m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 77.3 miles or 1h 46m 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 46m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greenwood, IN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Topeka, 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 Topeka, IN

This is one driving day of about 154.6 miles and 3h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Topeka, 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 South Strawtown Pike for about 32.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Sweetser, IN, IN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sweetser, IN

77 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

Roanoke, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gas City, IN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 77.3 miles from Topeka, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Oaken Barrel Brewing Company

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Greenwood, Indiana

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 154.6

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13178872287

Visit website

Super Pollo Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Indianapolis, Indiana

0.9 mi

Golden’s Fish & Chicken LLC

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Indianapolis, Indiana

1 mi

Oaken Barrel Brewing Company

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 154.6

Greenwood, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13178872287

Visit website

Super Pollo Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 132.5

Indianapolis, Indiana

Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm

+13175372478

Visit website

Golden’s Fish & Chicken LLC

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 132.5

Indianapolis, Indiana

Hours: 10:30 am–11 pm

+13174368186

Visit website

La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 132.5

Indianapolis, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13175772689

Visit website

Denny's Restaurant

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 132.5

Indianapolis, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13178494867

Visit website

Honest Indianapolis Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 132.5

Indianapolis, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13178272137

Visit website

Bugambilias Mexican Cuisine

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 132.5

Indianapolis, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13175165978

Visit website

Lindo Mexico

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 154.6

Greenwood, Indiana

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13178591336

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 77.3

Marion, Indiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 33.1

Columbia City, Indiana

+18888074522

Visit website

Charge Pro Charging Station

Early in the drive, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 33.1

Columbia City, Indiana

+18888074522

Visit website

Chain O’ Lakes State Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 22.1

Albion, Indiana

Hours: 7 am–11 pm

+12606362654

Visit website

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 0 and 147 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Main Street

Turn right onto South Main Street

Navigation decision point

6
130.4 mi into trip | ~2h 50m in | I 69

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
5
131.4 mi into trip | ~2h 52m in | I 69

Continue onto I 69 toward I 465 South, I 69 South

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 200 Toward I 465 South, I 69 South
7
146.8 mi into trip | ~3h 10m in

Take the exit toward Emerson Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 52 Toward Emerson Avenue
7
147 mi into trip | ~3h 10m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$24.17 one way

$48.34 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 54 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $26.54 $53.08
premium $4.89 $29.75 $59.50
diesel $5.61 $34.13 $68.27

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 54.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 46.4 0 $16.23 $7.42
Efficient EV 38.7 0 $13.53 $6.18
EV Truck/SUV 61.8 0 $21.64 $9.89

Gas CO2

54 kg

EV CO2

18 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

Topeka, IN

Late night in Topeka on Sunday

Local time

5:55 AM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Greenwood, IN

Late night in Greenwood on Sunday

Local time

5:55 AM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 10 to 14 mph 61% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 17 at 11:48AM CDT until April 18 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 17 at 11:04AM CDT until April 23 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

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

12 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 23m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

The drive presents a "mixed drive" profile, meaning you'll experience varied road conditions. While 43% of the route utilizes highways, you'll also spend time on local roads like South Strawtown Pike, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch at 32.9 miles. This blend means you won't be solely on monotonous interstate travel; expect a dynamic driving experience as you transition between faster highway sections and potentially slower, more local routes. The character of the road changes as you progress through different Indiana landscapes.

43% 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: 32.9 mi on South Strawtown Pike.

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 early in the drive near South Main Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 154.6 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: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 130.4 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.4 miles (I 69): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 23m. Total distance: 154.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 32.9 miles on South Strawtown Pike. 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 Greenwood, 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: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 130.4 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.4 miles (I 69): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Greenwood, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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