Trip from Trail Creek, IN to Alaska, IN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 7m
Distance
205.1 mi
330 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trail Creek, IN
Istvan Gerenyi
Alaska, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Trail Creek, IN to Alaska, IN is 205.1 miles and takes about 4h 7m via Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway and I 94, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on surface roads, making it a practical choice for a single-day excursion. You'll find this route offers a familiar feel, connecting two points within the same state.
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
102.5 miles from Trail Creek, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway | 130 mi | 2h 21m |
| I 94 | 21.5 mi | 24m |
| Dwight D Eisenhower Highway | 19.2 mi | 20m |
| I 465 | 9.5 mi | 10m |
| I 65 | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| SR 42 | 5.4 mi | 9m |
| US 20 | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Franklin Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 98 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,173 veh/hr typical · worst 2,837
Quietest
2 AM
~307 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 104 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 Trail Creek, IN and Alaska, IN.
Start on Whipporwill Avenue
Turn left onto South Roeske Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto East Coolspring Avenue
Turn left onto South Woodland Avenue
Turn right onto US 20
Turn left onto US 421
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 94
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 65
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 465
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 70
Take the exit
Turn left onto North Little Point Road
At end of road, turn right onto SR 42
Turn left onto SR 42
Turn right onto SR 42
Continue on North Craver Road
Continue on Awbrey Road
Turn right onto North Wilson Road
Turn right onto Lewisville Road
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a duration of just over 4 hours, this is a comfortable one-day drive. You can easily start in the morning and arrive in Alaska, IN by the afternoon, leaving plenty of daylight. The fuel cost is estimated at $32, so ensure your tank is full before you depart. Since it's a shorter drive with only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when you depart. Keep an eye out for the transition from highway to surface roads, as this can change your pace.
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.
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 45 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.5 miles or 1h 58m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alaska, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
Open the route before leaving Trail Creek, 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 Trail Creek, IN
This is one driving day of about 205.1 miles and 4h 7m.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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
A short stop after about 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 102.5 miles from Trail Creek, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 130 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
Rest Area
I-65 Rest Stop (northbound)
I-65 Rest Stop (southbound)
TA
TA
Rest Area
Rest Area
Rest Area
Love's Travel Stop
Flying J Travel Center
Plainfield Rest Area (Wesbound)
Rest Area
Rest Area
Petro Stopping Centers
Pilot Travel Center
Love's Travel Stop
Love's
Wolcott Rest Area - I-65 NB
Flying J Travel Center
Pilot Travel Center
Service Plaza
Love's Travel Stop
Service Plaza
Wolcott Rest Area - I-65 SB
TA
Road Ranger
Pilot Travel Center
J.T. McCutcheon Travel Plaza
Service Plaza
Mr. Fuel Travel Center
TA
TA
Flying J Travel Center
George Ade Travel Plaza
Love's Travel Stop
Service Plaza
Petro Stopping Centers
Service Plaza
Love's Travel Stop
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 255 decision points cluster between mile 26 and 176.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 65: Gary, Toll Road, Indianapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 South: Indianapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 70: Saint Louis, Indianapolis International Airport, Indianapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 West: Saint Louis, Indianapolis International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.21 one way
$68.43 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $37.18 | $74.37 |
| premium | $5.26 | $42.47 | $84.93 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $49.89 | $99.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.5 | 0 | $21.54 | $9.84 |
| Efficient EV | 51.3 | 0 | $17.95 | $8.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82 | 1 | $28.71 | $13.13 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Origin
Trail Creek, IN
Morning in Trail Creek on Monday
Local time
8:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Sunny
Destination
Alaska, IN
Morning in Alaska on Monday
Local time
9:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Sunny
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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 7m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
Lake Michigan's might has influenced Indiana Dunes for millennia. Wind and waves have shaped the land, leaving a rich mosaic of habitats along these 15 miles of Indiana coast. Over 50 miles of trails...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 21% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest stretch on a single highway is 130 miles, primarily on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface road navigation, with frequent intersections and local traffic once you leave the interstate. The profile is mostly surface roads, so plan for a more local driving experience.
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 26 miles in.
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 25 significant decision points across 205.1 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 26 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 173.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
470 ft
Total Descent
310 ft
Highest Point
928 ft
~142.6 mi in
Elevation Range
301 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Trail Creek, IN and Alaska, IN, road signs point toward Indianapolis, Chicago and Indianapolis International Airport.
Indianapolis
Chicago
Indianapolis International Airport
About the Cities
Starting in Trail Creek, IN
Full guide →Arriving in Alaska, IN
Full guide →Alaska is by far the largest state of the United States by land area. Nicknamed "the last frontier", Alaska is sparsely populated with a harsh climate but incredible scenery. Separated from the "lower 48" by Canada, Alaska can be a challenging destination; most of the state is in the Arctic. Besides vast forests and frozen tundra, Alaska contains the ten highest mountain peaks in the United States, including Denali, the highest in all of North America.
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 4h 7m. Total distance: 205.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More from Trail Creek, IN
Explore more options from Trail Creek, IN or browse trips ending in Alaska, IN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IN road trips.