Topeka, IN to Terre Haute, IN is 220.3 miles and takes about 4h 41m via I 70, South Strawtown Pike, and SR 9, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Indiana, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mixed driving experience, with a significant portion on interstate highways but also some time on state roads. It's a manageable one-day trip, perfect for those looking to cover ground efficiently without an overnight commitment.
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
110.1 miles from Topeka, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
73.8 mi
1h 22m
South Strawtown Pike
32.9 mi
38m
SR 9
30.9 mi
38m
South State Road 9
17.2 mi
25m
North Baseline Road
16.3 mi
24m
SR 37
12.9 mi
17m
Binford Boulevard
6.4 mi
9m
South 600 West
5.3 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 73.8 mi, about 1h 22m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 66 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,354 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,954
Quietest
2 AM
~397 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 48 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 Topeka, IN and Terre Haute, 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 left at fork
0.2 mi·13 sec
19
Merge onto I 69
0.3 mi·23 sec·I 69
20
Continue on Binford Boulevard
6.4 mi·9 min·Binford Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive
0.2 mi·22 sec·East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive
22
Turn left onto North Keystone Avenue
2.5 mi·5 min·North Keystone Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·35 sec
Toward I 70 West
24
Merge onto I 70
3.4 mi·4 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
74 mi·1 hr 22 min·I 70
Toward I 70: St Louis, Indianapolis International AirportUse the slight right lane.
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 7Toward US 41, US 150: Terre Haute, Evansville
27
Turn right onto US 41; US 150
2.4 mi·5 min·South 3rd Street
28
Arrive at destination
US 41; US 150
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 41m estimated duration, departing Topeka, IN in the morning allows ample time to reach Terre Haute, IN before evening. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your break strategically along the 73.8-mile stretch of I 70. Keep an eye on your fuel as you move between the interstate and state roads; the estimated $34 fuel cost is a good benchmark. This is a comfortable one-day drive, so you have flexibility in your departure time.
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 110.1 miles from Topeka, IN, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.8 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 48 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.1 miles or 2h 25m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Terre Haute, 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 220.3 miles and 4h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 I 70 for about 73.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 217.6 — 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
4
5.8 mi into trip|~8m in|US 6
Turn left onto US 6
Navigation decision point
5
137.5 mi into trip|~3h 1m in|North Keystone Avenue
Turn left onto North Keystone Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
143.8 mi into trip|~3h 12m in|I 70
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 toward I 70: St Louis, Indianapolis International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70: St Louis, Indianapolis Internation...
6
217.6 mi into trip|~4h 35m in
Take the exit toward US 41, US 150: Terre Haute, Evansville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 7
Toward US 41, US 150: Terre Haute, Evansville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.53 one way
$65.07 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$35.92
$71.83
premium
$4.72
$40.90
$81.81
diesel
$4.80
$41.60
$83.19
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: 77.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.1
0
$23.13
$10.57
Efficient EV
55.1
0
$19.28
$8.81
EV Truck/SUV
88.1
1
$30.84
$14.10
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Topeka, IN
Afternoon
in Topeka on Sunday
Local time
1:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Partly Sunny
NW 15 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:55PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 4:47PM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Terre Haute, IN
Afternoon
in Terre Haute on Sunday
Local time
1:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
W 9 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:55PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 4:47PM EDT until July 19 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
84°F
Cicero, IN
110 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 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
4h 41m 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 220.3-mile journey offers a mixed driving profile, with 56% of the route utilizing interstate highways. You'll experience a 73.8-mile stretch primarily on I 70, providing a chance for consistent speed. As you transition to South Strawtown Pike and SR 9, the character of the drive will shift to more local roads. This blend means you'll get both efficient highway travel and a feel for the Indiana landscape on state routes.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.8 mi on I 70.
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 16 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 Effort6/10
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 220.3 miles you will encounter 16 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 5.8 miles (US 6): Navigation decision point; at 137.5 miles (North Keystone Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
941 ft501 ft
Total Climb
107 ft
Total Descent
533 ft
Highest Point
941 ft
~15.7 mi in
Elevation Range
440 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Topeka, IN to Terre Haute, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Indianapolis International Airport along the way.
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 41m. Total distance: 220.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.8 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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 Terre Haute, 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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles (US 6): Navigation decision point; at 137.5 miles (North Keystone Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Terre Haute, IN, but most travelers stay overnight.
